Garage Sale
On a crisp night and under a new moon, PAWS held its first fund-raising event of the year on 16 May on the lovely terraces of Afros Yacht Services, Paroikia. Some 90 friends and supporters attended, enjoying food and drinks donated by restaurants and other merchants and browsing through the merchandise, which included clothes, decorative objects and books from around the world donated by Parian residents. Most of the clothes were brand-new, including a wonderful silk and sequined collection from India donated by Anna Theodoraki.

The event netted 1700 euros, funds that will help pay for vet bills and countless other debts. Thanks to Yiorgos Kastanas for providing the space and for bar service; Jason Gikas for bar help; Yiorgos Kalakonas for the music, Siroco’s and Carrefour for the drinks, and the following for the finger food: Myalo Koukoutsi, Peri Orexeos, Happy Green Cows, Lotofagos and Le Bistrot in Paroikia; To Kafeneio Syndrofias in Lefkes; Magaya at Souvlia Beach; and Anna’s in Dryos, as well as Marta and Elena. Thanks also to volunteers Helen, Albena and Maria. A big thanks to everyone who donated merchandise and last but not least kudos to Stella Kosta for organising the event. The remaining books will be on sale at the Wired Café in Paroikia.

Fewer Kittens: A Coup
Bearing in mind that a cat will give birth at least twice between April and November to at least 10 kittens, PAWS calculates that with 117 females neutered since September, the cat population will be reduced by some 1200 kittens this summer. Altogether PAWS neutered 143 cats during this period, including 26 males. The vet’s costs were 5460 euros, of which 3860 was paid by individuals or neighbourhoods and 1600 by PAWS.

New Web Site
PAWS’ new Web site, www.paws.gr, is intended to create a social network of people interested in animal welfare in Paros and to generate discussion in Greek and in English. Users are invited to sign in and receive the latest news and monthly PAWS newsletter.

Assembly and Elections
PAWS will hold its annual meeting on 30 May and elect a new board. For results, see www.paws.gr

Shelter Needs Volunteers
Tripiti is now accommodating 50 dogs, double the amount it is able to accommodate comfortably and needs to extend its fenced-in area. The materials have been bought and volunteers are urgently needed to help clear weeds and stones from the ground and prepare the pipes. Even 1-2 hours a week will be much appreciated and get the work done. Please call Bram on 693-717-0897 or Matthias on 697-487-0866.

Adopt a Pet
Please call PAWS on 695-185-1575 for kitty adoptions: plenty will be available from now till the end of November: Call the same number for neutering appointments. If you’re a dog-lover, visit the Tripiti shelter to pick a puppy or an adult dog and offer them a nice home. Every day after 12 noon, but call Matthias first on 697-487-0866. Look for directions on the Google map at www.paws.gr

Thumbs Up!
To Lornie for meticulously overseeing the collection boxes around the island; to Manos for his invaluable help to PAWS; to Bram for offering a home to Loukoumi, the 5-month-old kitten featured in the May Paros Life; to Matthias for taking in double the amount of dogs the shelter can handle and loving them all; to Willy and Robert van der Most for adopting Zoe, a young pup found starving on Livadia beach; and to the dozens of unknown Parians who rescue and treat and feed strays.

Nursery Schools Joining In
PAWS has been distributing booklets on animal welfare to nursery schools and the response so far has been very positive. Following the suggested dramatisations, 4 to 6 year-olds impersonate stray cats and dogs, visit the vet for treatment and neutering and learn to express their emotions and their hunger and thirst. The booklets are published by GAWF, the U.K.-based Greek Animal Welfare Fund.

Let Them Drink
Restaurants, shops, hotels and homes, please place a bowl of water outside for strays. It costs nothing and helps cats and dogs immensely in the hot weather!