Greenwich woman rescues stray puppies found in Greece

Lauren Victoria was enjoying her sunny holiday on the Greek island of Zakynthos during the end of September when she noticed a Facebook post appealing for help.

The appeal was asking for help in taking care of a litter of puppies and their mum, who another woman called Emma had found on the streets.

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Both Emma and Lauren were on separate holidays in the same area of Zakynthos where the pups were found, and are now looking for donations in bringing these pups to the UK to find their forever homes.

Lauren told the News Shopper: “Before I stepped in to help, Emma and her partner went to feed the puppies and the rescue mission began.

“Due to the stray problem on the island, the shelters were full, and with no help from the government, Emma felt helpless and worried as her holiday was coming to an end.

“After a dig around, Emma got in contact with the charity Greek Animal Rescue who were able to coordinate help.”

Greek Animal Rescue is a small UK registered charity which is run by a handful of unpaid volunteers who are dedicated to helping the abused, abandoned, and neglected animals of Greece.

A pet taxi was arranged to pick the puppies up to take them to mainland Greece for vet care and a foster home four days after Emma made the call.

However, Emma was heading home, so there was no one to keep the pups safe in these four days, so she released an appeal out to which Lauren responded.

Lauren told the News Shopper: “I had already seen and fed the pups the day before.

“We were able to flee and worm them - this is harder than it seems on wiggly pups - and gave them two lots of food and water each day.

“Originally, we found four puppies, but a man who lived nearby ‘gave one away’ and would not tell us where it was.

“This was incredibly sad, but we needed to focus on getting the three pups and mum safe.”

Lauren says she woke up every morning on holiday feeling anxious and headed to the place they were sleeping every day, which was five minutes away from their hotel, in the hope they would be okay.

She explained: “The puppies were not in a great state.

“Covered in fleas, ticks, and with suspected mange on one pup, these tiny puppies were not getting the care they needed to survive.

“Unfortunately, many puppies born on the street in Greece do not make it as they are so susceptible to infection which their little bodies can’t take.

“Despite this, they were so playful, and mum was so amazing with the pups.”

On the last night of the puppies being in Zakynthos, dog shelter Zante Strays was able to care for them and they were then shipped off to stay with a “lovely” foster carer in mainland Greece, Lauren says.

Lauren added: “The mum and pups have had their first set of jabs but we need to get them to the UK so they can stay in their forever homes.

“This is a very expensive process.

“They have to have all their jabs, blood tests, pet passports, and the mum needs to be spayed.”

Lauren told the News Shopper that the puppies mum has already been adopted, but the three pups Aurora, Belle and Hercules are up for adoption.

She said “We are asking for donations to help with the process.

“This family never been on a sofa, played in a parks, had their own toys, their own bed, and that’s what we want to give them.

“We know times are tight at the moment, but every little helps.”

You can donate to the Crowdfunding page here

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