PAWS held elections during its annual general assembly, one year ahead of the end of the board members term, due to the resignations of three members. As usual the board reflected a majority of Greeks (6 out of 8), as has been the case in previous boards since 2005. PAWS was created in 1999.  The new board is composed of 5 voting members and 3 supplementary ones, listed in the order of number of votes received:

Stella Kosta, Bram Van Spronsen, Vicky Sarrou, Crystal Jones, Yiorgos Maroulakis, Lena Yacoumopoulou, Anna Maria Koumioti, Anthi Aristeraki.

The newly elected board members has two weeks to meet to constitute a board with positions and functions assigned.

Nicolas Stephanou, who has served as chairman for the last five years, did not run for office this time but will continue to volunteer his services in negotiating the acquisition of an official animal shelter from the municipality, cooperating with animal welfare organizations in Greece and abroad and in the communications field.    

The following 2009 figures comprise the principle PAWS activities, which are rescuing and rehoming dogs and neutering and feeding cats during the winter season:  

Revenue and expenses: a record revenue of 64,000 euros was received in 2009 in the form of donations, membership fees, collection boxes, charity and fundraising events. However the running costs – including the animal shelter, vet bills, food, medicine, travelling and transfer costs – were also enormous and PAWS was left with a balance of 900 euros at the end of 2009.

Looking for land for a new animal shelter: PAWS has been informed that its current lease in the animal shelter in Tripiti will not be renewed, therefore it faces an additional task in finding a new shelter as soon as possible. PAWS hopes that the municipality will deliver on its promise to offer land for an animal shelter so that it can accommodate its growing animal refugee population – currently topping 50 dogs in an area that can house only 25.

In conclusion, the Chairman said PAWS is becoming increasingly popular with the local community, as a result of which a record 300 calls were received – including on the mistreatment of animals, lost and found pets, abandoned litters as well as requests for adoptions and sterilizations. In the summer most calls come from tourists reporting stray or mistreated animals and because it’s the birthing season, unfortunately still too many abandoned kittens. While there is some improvement in animal welfare in Paros, the chairman noted that PAWS would continue to serve as a fire brigade for abandoned and mistreated dogs and cats and forced to rehome them in Germany until there is a radical change in the current mentality on the welfare of animals.