Recently two newborn kittens arrived from the area of Rachidi in Katapola. We learned of their existence because their constant crying was keeping people awake for several nights. Fortunately we arrived just in time. These two helpless kittens were not even a month old, malnourished, dehydrated, and clearly abandoned. It seemed that their chances for survival were slim. But, after five days of feedings of two or three drops of milk throughout the day, they began to eat on their own and gained strength and their health. Now, they are feeling better and starting to play together. We welcome them and wish Bolec and Lolec a long and happy life.
Melenia and Marianna
Marianna arrived in our Center in Oct 2019 when she was only two months old, a tiny undernourished kitten both blind and deaf and suffering from a number of neurological problems. Born in a garden in the area of Katapola, Marianna was cared for by the owner of the garden who had allowed a colony of cats and kittens to call his garden home. When he realized that Marianna had serious health issues he turned to AZI for help, and since then she has been under our care. Unfortunately, her eyesight and hearing were permanently damaged so could not be saved, but we felt that she was healthy and happy enough to be adopted.
Melenia had come to our center two months before Marianna, a tiny kitten only two months old with serious injuries from being hit by a car. She was given very low chances of survival but in spite of this, she proved to have great strength and a powerful will to live. Melenia had also lost her vision due to the impact but over time it returned and the only lingering result of her injury now is a slight limp. Her moving story is told here: https://www.animal-zone.org/news/2019/12/2/the-miracle-of-melenia
The stories of Marianna and Melenia merge with the story of two visitors to Amorgos from Germany. During their holidays two years ago they found a very sick cat in the streets of Aegiali and they learned about our center when trying to rescue this cat. Although we tried our best to save this cat, unfortunately, it did not survive.
Time passed, Kris and Lauren were ready to adopt a pet, they decided on a cat from our island in memory of the one they had tried so hard to save. We had only Marianna and Melenia available at that time, both special needs cats, but the caring couple decided to adopt both.
Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the wait to receive these two cats was long but finally, Melenia and Marianna have joined Kris and Lauren to become one family. Our coordinator Litsa traveled with the cats from Amorgos to the airport in Athens and Kris arrived from Munich to take these two sweet cats home.
We give our heartfelt thanks to Kris and Lauren, a lovely and amazing young couple, and we wish the four of them a long and very happy life together. We will miss our sweet special girls but we know that they will be warm and safe and enveloped with love.
Update on Yupi
Yupi arrived safely in his new home in Belgium. The people of the shelter there will do their best in order to give this handsome boy the special care he needs. Thank you all!
Yupi
When he came to Animal Zone International’s Center, he was a bony creature with a respiratory problem and severe diarrhea. After a few days, we discovered he had a very serious condition — partial paralysis of the large intestine and a malfunctioning sphincter, which caused the incontinence and frequent infections, etc.
We’re told it was possibly caused by a stroke. But we know an animal in this condition cannot survive in the streets and adoption is not so easy for special needs cats. So we turned to a shelter in Belgium which is known to take on difficult cases.
Happily, Yupi was accepted and on 29 September 2020, he traveled to the Netherlands where he will stay for a few days before he heads to Belgium in order to be evaluated by experienced rescuers. We hope against hope that he will find his own home as he is an absolute cuddly sweet creature.
We want to acknowledge all the caring people who started the chain of events that saved him. From the tourist who picked him up from the streets of Tholaria, the volunteers who took care of him at our Center, Marina who accompanied him on the ship from Amorgos to Piraeus, Pepi and Daniel who picked him up from the port of Piraeus and hosted him at their house for a few days and accompanied him to the airport, Sophie and Jelle who accompanied him on the flight, Juliet who picked him up in the Netherlands, hosted him for a few days, and drove him all the way to Belgium to deliver him to the shelter who agreed to take him in.
This show of love and care makes us very optimistic, knowing there are many who do not remain indifferent and rather are willing to work together to help a small creature very much in need.
We hope that our little Yupi will be well —as well as possible. We wish you a good start in your new life and we hope that you will soon find your own family who will accept you as you are.
Ntinos
In July 2020, two-month-old Ntinos came to us suffering from an eye infection and respiratory disease. We began an intensive treatment that cured the respiratory problems but the infection left his eye with impaired vision. Still he carries on beautifully and the problem is not a serious one.
Soon we will return sweet Ntinos to his neighborhood unless someone is willing to adopt him. Life in a warm home is always better than the life on the streets, and as friendly kitty, we hope a loving family will come forward and give him the happy life he deserves.
Orfeas, before and after
Orfeas came to our Center in May 2020 after being rescued from the streets along with his sister, Evridiki. They were not quite two months old and were living with their mom in the area of Kastelopetra, next to the central road in Katapola – Chora.
We never like to separate kittens from their mothers but unfortunately both kittens were suffering from respiratory disease and eye infections to such a degree that we feared for their survival. Now, even though their health is greatly improved, they have severely impaired vision or are blind due to the infection.
Blind kittens cannot survive on the streets, much less next to a busy road, so we have kept them with us and they are now playful and happy five month olds. They are healthy aside from their eyesight and would love to be in a new home. Would you consider adopting these sweet siblings?
Our work on Amorgos is dependent on donations and we ask for your help in caring for Orfeas. Please help us as well in finding him a loving home. We and Orfeas would be ever so grateful! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Scenes from AZI's Center
Jerry
In June, Jerry arrived with his siblings at our Center when they were not quite two months old. These small babes suffered from the usual respiratory disease and eye infections but after treatment and intensive care, they have fully recovered and now are active, playful and cuddly kittens—which means that they are available for adoption.
Unfortunately Jerry’s left eye never fully recovered — it is so badly damaged that he must undergo surgery and therefore, it also means that we are searching for cat lovers who can make a contribution to his care.
Please help us to help Jerry and make a contribution today! We and Jerry would be truly grateful! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Heracles
In August 2020, Heracles came to us at the Center with a broken right front leg. Since he was unable to walk, we decided to hold the bone in place with a small cloth cast and to keep him stationary in a hospital cage.
After twenty-five days, Heracles now runs and jumps and plays and his injury is long forgotten. Soon, Heracles will be released back into the area he comes from and the kind owners of a nearby café have promised to care for him. We wish sweet Heracles a long and happy and carefree life.
Zoe and Michael
Zoe and Michael have been adopted! They arrived in our Center as two small kittens (along with two other kittens) on June 5, 2020. After necessary treatment for eye infections and respiratory disease from which they fully recovered (thankfully!), they grew to become active, playful, and very cuddly kittens.
Recently Mr. Evgenikos and his girlfriend, who live year round in Amorgos, came to our Center and immediately fell in love with Zoe and Michael and decided to adopt them. We wish these little devils a long and happy life with their new mom and dad!
Evridiki
Evridiki came to our Center in May after being rescued from the streets along with her brother Orfeas. These kittens were not quite two months old and were living with their mom in the area of Kastelopetra, next to the central road in Katapola, Chora.
We never like to separate kittens from their mothers but unfortunately both kittens were suffering from respiratory disease and eye infections to such a degree that we feared for their survival. Sadly, even though their health has greatly improved, they have both lost their eyesight to the infection.
Blind kittens cannot survive on the streets and so we have kept them with us and they are now healthy playful and happy five month olds and they would be grateful for a new home.
Our work on Amorgos is dependent on donations and we ask for your help in caring for sweet Evridiki. Please consider a virtual adoption! We and Evridiki would be ever so grateful. https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Bonnie & Clyde
Bonnie and Clyde are now one-and-a-half months old and they just had their first adventure outside. They now can eat by themselves in spite of still asking for a baby bottle whenever they see their “mama” Litsa.
These two sweethearts are active and playful — sweet kittens who will soon be ready for adoption. We know they will bring joy to their forever home so send in your application now!!
See the original post here: https://www.animal-zone.org/news/2020/7/22/bonnie-and-clyde-two-orphaned-kittens
Our work on Amorgos is dependent on your donations. Please help us help these innocent creatures and make a contribution today! We and the kittens of Amorgos would be ever so grateful. https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Bonnie and Clyde at one-and-a-half-months old
Bonnie and Clyde’s first time outside
Four Kittens
In June, a young girl from Arkesini called our program coordinator, Litsa, and asked for help with four newborn kittens that she had discovered alone in a field. Litsa gave her advice on how to care for them until they could be brought to our Center the next day.
These tiny kittens were only about three weeks old, not yet able to feed themselves, so we began an intensive care program, feeding them every two and a half hours with a baby bottle. It seemed better for Litsa to care for them at home because of the intensive and time consuming program.
Because Litsa was already caring for two other newborns she asked ten-year-old Melina to come and help with their care. Melina decided to take all four kittens home with her until they could begin to eat soft food by themselves. After that, Fanis, Croket, Ermina and Nala came back into Litsa’s care where they will remain until we can find loving homes for them.
Our work on Amorgos is dependent of your donations. Please help us help these innocent creatures and make a contribution today! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Aris
When Aris was only one month old he was rescued by two kind Italian tourists who brought him to our Center. Aris has grown up with us and he is a calm and tender fellow who is also curious and playful. A kitten this sweet needs a warm and loving home.
A wonderful couple in Holland adopted Aris long distance and now, after a delay of seven months, they came from Holland to bring Aris back home. He will have a loving family and a sweet friend in the six-year-old child that he will play with.
We want, once again, to thank Mirtos Animal Project and their team for all their efforts in helping us find a home for Aris. As well, we want to thank Maura and Cesare, the kind Italian couple who saved his life by bringing him to our Center, and, we give our great thanks to Ruben and Lennie who have opened their home to him.
We wish Aris a long and happy life in Holland!
Our work on Amorgos is dependent of your donations. Please help us help these innocent creatures and make a contribution today! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Georgia
Georgia, the lone survivor of a small feral litter, has no eyesight but she is the sweetest, most joyously playful of all the kittens who have come to stay with us at our Center. Georgia is a confident kitten in spite of her blindness and she loves to be with people and receive their hugs and caresses.
Because of Covid-19 it has been difficult to send Georgia to her new home in Holland but the family has been patient and now, after almost seven months, Georgia is a Dutch citizen and is enjoying the love of her new family.
We want to thank the Mirtos Animal Project and their amazing team for their help in finding a new home for Georgia. Ruben and Lennie were kind enough to escort her to her new home in Holland, and our great great thanks go to Marein and her family who have opened their arms to this beautiful and sweet girl.
We wish Georgia a long and happy new life in Holland.
Our work on Amorgos depends on your donations. Please help us help these innocent creatures and make a contribution today! https://tinyurl.com/Donate-AZI
Bonnie and Clyde, Two Orphaned Kittens
About a week ago, a group of children came to our Center to tell our program director, Litsa, about three newborn kittens whose mother had been killed by a car and were alone and starving.
When Litsa found them, sadly one had already died and the other two were motionless, dehydrated, with sores on their soft paws from trying to walk on the hard asphalt, but thankfully, still alive.
She brought the two survivors to our Center where they received nourishing treatments and constant attention. Now, these two little sweethearts have opened their eyes and are becoming friends with our rescue dog Casper, looking up to him as if he is the mother that they lost.
We have high hopes for long and happy lives for these two innocent kittens!
Two Blind Kittens
In May, we received a report of two small kittens with serious eye infections. The kittens were still with their feral mother in Kastelopetra, next to the main road to Katapola-Chora. When our program coordinator arrived, she found a mother cat with four kittens, two of which were healthy and who scampered away when the coordinator approached.
Sadly, the two other kittens did indeed have severe eye infections and were obviously unable to see. We brought them to our Center where we immediately began treatment with antibiotics and eye drops. We were hoping to save their sight but unfortunately, it was too late.
So now we are looking for a forever home for these two-month-old blind babies. Orfeas is a beautiful red boy and Evridiki is a three-colored girl. They are sweet and playful despite their handicap and they would thrive in a loving home.
Please consider adopting them if you are able, or if not, won’t you help us care and feed them in the meantime, by making a donation on our donation page? Orfeas and Evrdiki deserve a happy and safe life!
Winter Program
Our winter spay/neuter program took place over a three day period in February, and, with the help and dedication of Dr. Adriana Alexandropoulou, we managed to sterilize sixty-seven stray cats.
Thirty-one males and thirty-six females came to us from the areas of Katapola, Chora, Vroutsi, Arkesini (Kato Meria) and Aegiali. All of the cats are in good health and after a recovery period they have been released back into their native areas. One female kitten from Katapola is still with us at our Center due to a few problems that we wanted to clear up before she will be released back into her home area.
We want to thank our amazing vet, Dr. Adriana Alexandropoulou, who worked from morning to night with dedication and goodwill. We thank also the Municipality of Amorgos who covered the expenses for medical supplies and offered a van and driver, Konstantinos Grispos, to transport cats from the Aegiali area to and from our Center.
We also want to thank our amazing volunteers who worked hard in order to help collect and transport the cats as well as to assist at the clinic during the surgeries. We thank as well the awesome Dr. Manos Vorisis and his team “Aegean cats, we live together” for sending extra surgical tools.
We are grateful to all of those who helped us—without you we could never have accomplished this important work. And, good news! We have renewed our appointment for November.
Frou Frou
On the fourth of May, a tiny kitten came to our Center from the region of Aegiali. She was only one month old and she was very frail and wobbly, having been taken away from her mother and abandoned.
The kind Samaritan who rescued her did his best to help but this young kitten was in need of expert care and so he brought her to AZI’s Center.
We named her Frou Frou and with intensive care and proper nutrition she began slowly to improve. After that we began to search for a home for her and Vassiliki responded.
She brought Frou Frou home to be a companion to the sweet dog that Vassiliki had also adopted from our shelter and now these two lucky members of the animal kingdom are in love with one another and keep one another company while Vassiliki is at work. We believe that Frou Frou has found her forever home and we are grateful and thankful to all the kind humans who have intervened in her young life.
The Danger of Empty Cans
Please beware! Discarded cans from pet food pose a deadly threat for stray animals. For this reason we must always compress them before they are discarded.
Some days ago we were called to help a cat with his head trapped in an empty tin. The woman who found him struggling did her best to free him but was not successful. Understandably, the cat was in serious distress and so she contacted us.
The poor cat was exhausted and starved for oxygen. He was extremely fortunate to have been freed from the can and has now returned to his normal life, hunting for food and water. But please keep in mind that an empty can is just another danger in the life of these vulnerable creatures. So please do what you can to prevent this in the future!
