Greece Poisoned 50000 Stray Dogs Prior To Olympics

IDA Condemns Cruel Poisoning of 50,000 Stray Dogs Prior To Olympic Games Calls for Olympic Athletes To Speak Out Against Mass Poisoning

In Defense of Animals strongly condemns the deliberate and inhumane poisoning of thousands of homeless dogs in the city of Athens. Estimates suggest approximately 80% of the 30,000 to 50,000 stray and homeless dogs in the streets of Athens have been poisoned in the past year in an effort to 'clean up' the streets prior to the opening of the 2004 Olympic Games on August 13.

Starving dogs have been given food laced with rat poison which often leads to a slow and excruciating death that sometimes takes days.

“Killing animals is not an Olympic sport," said Elliot Katz, DVM, Founder of the national animal advocacy organization, In Defense of Animals based in Mill Valley, Calif., "and Athens cannot be allowed to continue acting as if it is.

The methods of population control currently being used in Greece are simply not acceptable. Poisoning thousands of homeless dogs prior to the Olympic Games flies in the face of everything the Olympics games are supposed to be about. It tarnishes the otherwise positive appeal of the event.

We urge compassionate athletes, and concerned individuals everywhere, to avoid Greece as a travel destination and to actively speak out until this abhorrent practice is abandoned."

Disturbing video taken by Welfare for Animals Global/Welfare for Animals Greece, a New York City advocacy and lobby group, is available showing the gruesome methods being utilized to kill dogs in the city.

Click here to view the video. NOTE: You must have QuickTime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/) installed to watch the clip. 1. Write the following officials and DEMAND that the practice of poisoning dogs in Greece be halted immediately:

Deputy Minister of Agriculture
Alexandros Kontos
ax2u050@minagric.gr

Minister of Tourism
Dimitris Avramopoulos
dimavra@otenet.gr

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Petros Molyviatis
mfa@mfa.gr

Minister Theodoros Roussopoulos
mail@primeminister.gr
For more information contact: LCL@idausa.org

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