Description

Our goal is to create a small patrol team that will undertake to:

- Locate, register and identify all STRAY DOGS of the areas VARYMBOBY and THRAKOMAKEDONES only.
- Create a digital archive of the Stray Dogs and publish it on the web, trying to find potential adaptors.
- Feed (as much as our possibilities allow) and water the dogs.
- Try to build or place shelters for the dogs around the place/ street they frequent.
- Patrol the area to prevent any further animal abandonment. Alert the authorities in such cases.
- Ambulance injured or sick animals either to private doctors or the state animal hospital.
- Prevent poisoning of stray animals.
- Cooperate with the local authorities for improving service and developing new solutions, projects and ideas.

Our initial volunteers will be required to assist in developing this project, patrol the area, photography and identify stray animals, feed and water them - generally any kind of work could be asked of or offered by volunteers.

We will gladly listen to any proposal or suggestions that you may feel will enhance or improve the project and we will attempt in every way, should budgets allow to put plans and proposals into action.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION and SPEECH is welcomed.

You do not need to have SPECIAL skills, nor have done something similar! The most important thing is that you are prepared to share a part of yourself with others!

Highlights

The Northern parts of Athens are considered as the "rich" neighborhood of the city, and although this is a generalization, indeed beautiful villas and apartment buildings, usually with large land and gardens around, are forming the neighborhood. The "Varybomby and Thrakomakedones" area, is part of one of the largest municipalities in Athens as far as the area in s.q concerns. Situated on the foots of the mountain "Parnytha" (considered a national park), at an altitude far higher than the rest of Athens, offer an excellent view over the Athens basin. The area is also situated next to the ex- Royal palace and Gardens, most probably the most beautiful, green and picturesque place in Athens. The Varybomby area is considered to be the winter country-side of Athens and is frequented by thousands of visitors every weekend which come to enjoy the last natural green resort of Athens, have a pick-nick or walk in the forest. Snow is rare in Athens, but if it does snow, thenVarybomby is the place where the snow will stay for more than few minutes and will present the beautiful white landscape, so familiar to Northern counties. This is the reason why the most famous "country-style" restaurants are crowded in this area. Unfortunately one side- effect of the weekend visitors, is the fact that Varybomby became the DOG DUMP place, for every Athenian who wrongly took a dog, just to realise (few months after) that having a dog is a big responsibility, and therefore they decide to dump the dog in these "rich" area where "rich" people would probably take care of them. As an end-result there are hundreds of abandoned STRAY DOGS, trying to survive on the streets and squares, not understanding what they did to deserve being thrown on a street. The STRAY DOG problem is a serious one, both for the animals and Humans. Dogs set free on the streets of Varyboby tend to form packs and attack other animals (very recently a deer of the Parnytha mountain) or become a threat to humans. To make things even worse, some people throw intentionally on the streets poisoned traps (FOLA in Greek) and as a result hundreds of stray animals die a very painful death abandoned on the streets. As it is well understood, poisoned traps do not have the intelligence to end up exclusively on STRAY DOGS and therefore it is very common to have poisoned dogs when they were just walking with their master!

Travel Types

• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Photography
• Volunteering

Qualifications

Well you don't need to know anything about taking care of dogs, we need your hard work and your big smile and of course your enthusiasm, on the other hand if you are or studying to become a vet, then even better! We will take advantage of your knowledge.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

250

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees

Program Fees Include:

Accommodation is offered eiter in a shared room or in a private house close to the project, comfortable, family like place, or in separate rental house/apartment (Depends the number of volunteers)

Volunteers will share a double self catering room with Fridge, and will have access to a small Kitchen for food preparation, bathroom/shower with hot water, fully furnished rooms. (NO CLEANING SERVICE)

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Agriculture
• Animal Welfare
• Recreation
• Veterinary
• Volunteering

Typical Volunteer

A person full of enthusiasm for this project, animal lover, with open mind and very adaptive to new situation, methods, working condition.

Age Range

18-65

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Apartment/Flat
• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 3-4

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

2-3 days

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network

Hellenic Foundation for Youth & Volunteering's Mission Statement

The main aims of the foundation are the promotion of the voluntary idea; social Services to the community such as CIVIL PROTECTION; environmental awareness; youth exchanges; promotion of nautical sports; development of educational materials; development of research action and projects mainly for the protection of the environment.

Year Founded

1998