FROM HELL TO PAW-RADISE: AN ISLAND’S ANIMAL SHELTER WONDER

Undaunted by the pandemic and the ensuing financial and social crisis, the Gouves Animal Shelter, located just ten minutes by car from its capital, Heraklion, and its international airport, provides hope and much-needed help for strays of any species – and that, since 2008. Lately, the Shelter’s efforts are starting to receive the support and recognition they deserve, by partnering with local top resorts – like the Knossos Beach Bungalow & Suites Resort and Spa, a pet-welcoming hotel which organizes every year a visit to the Gouves Shelter for its guests and any interested visitors on the occasion of the International Dog Day (on July), and International Cat Day (on August 8).

Funded entirely by private donations, and initially the dream of an old Greek man, Mr Manolis, the Shelter functions as a network of friends and animal lovers where anybody is welcome to help, by giving pet food, blankets, toys, money – or their own, precious time. Thus, locals, tourists, and foreigners from all over Europe and beyond who come visit the shelter spend anywhere from a couple days to several weeks volunteering there – feeding the hundreds of dogs and cats, taking them on long walks or just spending time playing with the pups and kittens.

On one such visit to the Gouves Shelter, organized by Ms Stavroulas, from the Knossos Beach Bungalow & Suites Spa, to offer guests the opportunity to meet the animals and their caregivers, and also to hand over the hotel’s own donation, we spoke to some of its volunteers like Stephanie or Heleen, who is devoting her holidays to helping at the Shelter.

“I come from The Netherlands, and others are from Germany, Belgium and other countries, as well as Greek volunteers and employees. These animals already are used to humans, and are extremely friendly, social and well-behaved, so they adapt very easily to people interested in adopting a pet from the Shelter,” Heleen points out. “This is because the local population, although they are poor, tries to help, too, by leaving dishes with food and water where they know these strays usually roam, so the animals already trust humans, and are ready to fit in with a new family. What we do is care for them, neuter them, and heal any wounds, broken limbs or maladies they come with –we have a quarantine station– and then we re-socialize them in groups, playing with them, cuddling them and watching them, to learn about their quirks and character, and also, we study which ones would be best suited for a family with kids, or one which already has pets at home.”

“Animals, just like humans, need food, a shelter from the elements and predators, medical care – but, above all, they need company with their own species and humans, and they just bloom when it happens – they make the most carefree, easygoing, and happy pets,” she adds. “We are also trying our best to give them more run-out space, so they can play together and they don’t feel caged up – they are absolutely sweet and, they don’t deserve to feel imprisoned!”

How does one exactly go about choosing a pet – or does a pet choose you? “People, or families, visit the Shelter, have a look at the animals and them choose one, or a few, and go for long walks with a dog, or spend time with a cat, to learn to know each other better. Then, we discuss the specific situation of the interested family – where and how they live, how they can care of a pet at home, if they already are experienced pet owners, or hopeful beginners.” People from all over the European Union, especially Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as the United Kingdom, have adopted hundreds of pets saved by the Gouves Shelter, who acts as collecting hub, refuge, clinic, re-socialization center, and network to create direct contact between animals and families.

Individuals or couples, families with kids, or pensioners – there is a pet for any animal lover looking to help, or adopt. “Once we have agreed on an adoption, it’s a fairly easy and straightforward process: we help to fill out the adoption forms and permits, the owner pays for the adoption certificate, the insurance and the flight for the pet – and we can even help finding a suitable, pet-friendly airline. In some instances, we can even help arrange for a volunteer who is flying back home to his or her country in Great Britain or in the European Union so that the pet is transported on the same flight as the volunteer – and the adoption family just has to collect their new pet at the airport!”

Open every day from 11 a.m. (or even earlier) to 17.00 p.m., the Gouves Shelter is making every Euro, Pound and Dollar count. They are already too short on valuable space, and they are grateful for “any money or in-kind donations: you wouldn´t believe the amount of food, pet beds, broomsticks, cleaning supplies, cages, pet baths and leashes we go through every year! Of course, we are dreaming of things like, for instance, ventilators and fans to make the extreme summer heat more bearable for our animals - and a solar panel would be an absolute God-send, so we could run at least an air-conditioning unit in the quarantine station and some cages that house the most fragile and old animals.”

(Are you listening, Carlos Slim, and any pet food & assorted stuff, and solar panel manufacturing plants out there?)

So if you are holidaying anytime near Heraklion, Crete – or dreaming of helping out from afar, with a few Euros, Pounds of Dollars to an animal shelter which has been improving the living conditions of its stray dog and cat population for fifteen years thanks to people, families, tourists and people just like you, wherever you are in the world – you are welcome to visit the Gouves Animal Shelter, to contact them and help them widen their network or helpful partners, among them:

https://www.gouvesshelter.com/co-operation-partner

The Gouves Animal Shelter (Heraklion, Creete, Greece) Web Site:

https://www.gouvesshelter.com/aboutus

How Can You Help? (Donate, Volunterr, and Gouves Club and Paws of Thought):

https://www.gouvesshelter.com/how-can-you-help

Knossos Beach & Bungalows Resort And Spa: https://www.knossosbeach.com/