AZI's center is ready for Christmas!
We are excited to celebrate Christmas and have decorated our center with Christmas cheer!
Happy Tales
Four Kittens available for Adoption
These four adorable kittens are available for adoption. Won’t you consider giving one (or two) a home? If not, we could still use your help! Please be generous and sponsor a kitten; $25 a month will feed and protect one kitten with vaccinations. Donate now--thank you!
News from Our New Temporary Cat Shelter in Chora
After being rescued and saved, the cats of AZI need a safe place to stay prior to being adopted. The Monks of the Monastery kindly offered to lend AZI a piece of their land in Chora as a temporary shelter. A sturdy fence and a indoor space were built especially for the cats. It's a beautiful new home...yet please remember, many of these cats are available for adoption and they would love even more to move from a temporary home to a permanent one. Won't you consider adopting one?
The Argos Fall Benefit 2014
TONIGHT: AZI's Argos Fall Benefit
A Successful Weekend
Working Weekend Ahead
The examination room is ready!
While in New York we are madly preparing for the Annual Argos Fall Benefit, back in Amorgos, Litsa is madly preparing for a weekend of spaying and neutering. She will be working with 4 vets and one vet student to spay/neuter cats from all areas of Amorgos as well as some dogs. Getting the cat population under control is a major step toward achieving a healthy cat community and improved environmental conditions for everyone on the island. We wish Litsa and the vets the very best this weekend!
The ARGOS Fall Benefit 2014
Dear Friends of Animal Zone International, you are cordially invited to our annual ARGOS Fall Benefit event. This year, it is being held on November 12th at Thalassa, an elegant Greek restaurant in Tribeca, New York City.
We will be honoring Jean Shafiroff for her philanthropic work in animal welfare. As usual there will be a silent auction of exceptional artwork, gifts and vacation packages to Greece. Mark your calendars and join us for a night of fun and delicious food! For more information, contact Astic Productions at 212-581-1400 or megan@asticproductions.com.
2-day Spay/Neuter Program
We are currently organizing for a 2 day free spay/neuter program for stray cats. It will be held the weekend of November 8-9 at the rural veterinary clinic οf Chora. Volunteers are needed. If you are available, please contact info@animal-zone.org.
Visiting Schools, Part 2
Litsa Passari, AZI's Local Coordinator, and the president of Filozoiki Angeliki Palioura continue to visit classes in different schools to teach about human treatment of animals and animal rights as a part of World Animal Day.
The children eagerly participated in a discussion about personal experiences and had many questions for the speakers. We are encouraged as they seemed more involved than last year which shows how important this annual visit is. As a part of the day, children also painted their favorite animal (to participate in an AZI-sponsored contest) and also played musical chairs (with a twist).
New temporary shelter
We have built a temporary cat shelter on land that has been lent to AZI by Monks of the famed Monastery of Hozoviotissa. A strong, tall fence has been put up and we plan to move cats, dogs and saved goats there until a permanent place is available.
Even as a temporary shelter, it is very beautifully constructed and we believe our cats will love it here. The first residents—6 cats—arrived this week, and as you can see they are happy to run and play in the trees, sunbathe and enjoy themselves.
World Animal Day, October 4
Volunteers in Aegiali: Anastasia Voulgaridi (second from the left) and Efi Pavlidou (third from left) with the teachers from the schools. We want to thank all teachers for their hospitality and especially the director Maria Anagnostou (fourth from the left) who opened the doors of the schools with great willingness.
In honor of World Animal Day (October 4th), AZI's Program Coordinator Litsa in collaboration with the Filozoiki organized visits to all kindergarden and primary schools of Amorgos, in order to teach children sensitivity toward animals. In addition to lessons in the classroom, the visits included activities such as games and a short film. Also, there will be an essay contest for the older children and an art contest for the younger ones with the theme on animal rights and animals as our friends. We look forward to receiving the entries!
Luna is Adopted!
Luna on the boat
On October 1, 2014, Luna traveled from Amorgos to Athens airport. Later that same day, she flew to Holland where her new family was eagerly awaiting her at the airport. When she arrived, she went to them right away. She was curious about the world which she arrived in but she was tired from the long journey and slept the rest of the way to her new home. She is adored by her family, and she is enjoying everything there from the green grass, cows, riding in the car and sleeping on her new blanket. She loves to play and run and sometimes she is shy, but the cats are getting used to her and the kids love her, so what more can we ask for? We are so happy for her, and wish her the best in her new life!
Luna felt safer in her transport box as we were waiting the car that took us to the airport
Litsa and Luna in the queue for the check-in
Thanasis (Luna's escort from Amorgos) learns the entire procedure
Arrival at the Dutch airport and her new dad gives her some treats
Luna, happy in her new home
Valés is Adopted!
Valés arrived at AZI's center 4 months ago, when he was only 2 months old. He was in very bad shape, suffering from a serious respiratory disease. He was treated and quickly recovered. Valés was then put up for adoption and...On August 30th he traveled from Amorgos to Piraeus, and the following day from Athens to Milan, and then to Venice where he met his new family. He now lives with a dog who adores him and 3 other cats. One of the cats is very excited to have him around, one prefers to ignore him while the third positively hates him. As you can see Valés is quite happy with his new family (humans included: Cesare and Emanuela). Have a happy and healthy life, little Valés!
Photos from our trip to Amorgos, Summer 2014
AZI's Center held an Open House reception at on August 28th. Wine and pizza were served. Sweets were donated by Yanni's pastry shop. Thank you to all who attended! From the left: Mrs Anastasia Voulgaridi, Litsa Passari, Mrs Lily Clevede, Jackie, Mr Lawrence Bianco, and a friend. Anastasia and Lily are our most active volunteers in Aegiali. Larry and his friend Jackie are supporters from New York who came to Amorgos for a visit in August.
Open House reception
Mrs Irene Giannakou and her husband Mr Simos Giannakos are the owners of the building where AZI's center is located in Pera Rachidi. They live in Chora of Amorgos. They also feed some cats in the area.
Mrs Irene Giannakou & Mr Simos Giannakos
Our former rescue dog Sara with her new owner Angeliki Courti at her jewelry shop in Chora.
Sara and Angeliki are always together. You can find them at her shop, on the beach, even at a bar getting a drink!
Litsa (AZI coordinator, right) with Ms Kaliovi Giannakopoulou and her mother Mr Irene Giannakopoulou and in their spa in Aegiali. Theirs is the largest and most luxurious hotel in Amorgos. We are so pleased that they are supporters of AZI.
Rainbow on the Blue Ferry, on the way home.
Lia and Nia
Our newest arrivals are tiny kittens named Nia and Lia. They were rescued by our former assistant Giota in Aegiali. They are about 3 weeks old, they have incredible appetite for food, and they play a lot. They have just started to eat by themselves but they still need the baby bottle for supplemental nutrition and special care. They are absolutely adorable! When they reach the appropriate age, they will be put up for adoption. Contact us if you are interested!
Angie, a kitten with a hernia
This little kitten was recently diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. She is too young for the surgery, but when she is older it will be completed and she will be available for adoption after that. Angie is an active and playful kitten who has no idea that she has a problem. Please help us help Angie by making a donation today. Another way to help is to sponsor her (or another animal) with monthly payments to support her food and medicine. Thank you.
A Kitten's story
Lilian (microchip #941000016719370) was found on the side of the road in Langada-Aegiali, skinny and sick, and with no appetite. We immediately started her on a treatment and in two days she began to eat with gusto. Now she is a healthy kitten full of energy, cute as can be. She is available for adoption; who can resist those adorable eyes? We estimate her age to be about three months old.