NOAH'S ARK FORCED TO CLOSE
I have today received this alarming e-mail from one of Silke's helpers in Crete. We will keep you updated on developments.
For those that do not already know, Noah's Ark Animal Shelter in Chania, Crete has been forced to leave its grounds as of the end of 2001, with a week or so extension to clear everything out completely. In the end the authorities would not help out and as the only likely piece of land to move to was found to have a ban on fencing it off at the last moment there was no option but to close the shelter completely. Trucks have been arriving daily from Germany to take the dogs there for eventual homing. There are now about 80 left which Silke has moved to the old municipal animal shelter at Nerokouro for the time being. This is an illegal occupation so Silke has guards on watch for possible trouble. The cats have been moved to a specially built pen at Silke's own house as well as a few puppies and a couple of large dogs which are in the grounds there. There are birds, puppies and kittens at the information shop in town and the donkeys and a few puppies are still at the old shelter with guards there to prevent trouble. Silke is obviously very distressed and worried.
The only hope is that a piece of land on the Akrotiri, currently designated as a nature reserve but in fact already with permission for a scrapyard to be built there, and with a gas cylinder refill station as a neighbour, might be accepted as a place for a new shelter. The Mayor of Akrotiri is resisting the proposal but the Vice-Prefect is supportive. The ETN (Europäischer Tier- und Naturschutz - European Association for the Protection of Animals and Nature, a very large and wealthy organization) wants to buy the land but needs all the necessary papers and official agreement to make a contract. Anyone wishing to contact Silke can do so via her mobile phone 0946881155 or the information shop 00 30 821 55030. I can pass on general e mails when I see her but am not sure when that will be next as she is running around crazily. If you want to contact her more immediately I suggest you try the phone numbers. Regards, Dawn PS. Perhaps you could circulate the news to other English reading supporters you know as I don't have a huge number of e mail contacts for Silke. Thankyou.
