Perth Voice Interactive

KELLY BOULTER was so shocked at the state of stray cats and dogs on a recent holiday to Greece, she’s founded an organisation to help them.

All funds raised for her not-for-profit Save Greek Cats and Dogs will go to animal shelters in Greece, and after seeing the state of some strays back home, Boulter’s decided to donate money to WA shelters too.

“On a recent trip to Greece I discovered the appalling and massive scale of suffering and cruelty experienced by stray cats and dogs living on the streets,” she says.

“These poor animals often go hungry and starve to death, have little access to water, shelter or veterinary treatment.

“I spent a lot of my trip feeding the stray cats and dogs, and building shelters out of cardboard boxes wrapped in plastic, and putting a cushion inside.

“After I returned from my holiday, I became aware of cat and dog rescue groups in Perth being inundated with surrendered animals, and so have decided to help these groups as well.”

It’s estimated there are more than three million stray dogs and cats in Greece, and Boulter was taken aback at the scale of the crisis on her month-long trip across the ‘cradle of Western civilization’.

“Emaciated cats and dogs rifled through garbage on the ground or in dumpsters; cats and dogs begged at the feet of outdoor diners, eyes pleading for scraps of food; and ravenous dogs crawled sideways through a gap underneath a mesh cage covering dumpsters to lick empty food containers,” she says.

“While locals in certain regions do provide food for stray animals, these offerings can be sporadic, particularly during the off-peak tourist season. Sadly, this often leads to numerous animals facing starvation. 

“From the bustling streets of Athens to the tranquil villages and enchanting island, a consistent and heart-wrenching sight is evident for those willing to see: a desperate fight for survival fought by millions of cats and dogs who are deprived of life’s basic necessities-food, water, shelter and veterinary care.”

Boulter says the extreme temperatures in Greece make life even tougher for stray cats and dogs, and she tried to help out by making makeshift shelters.

“Scavenging cardboard boxes from businesses or dumpsters, I wrapped them in black garbage bags to protect them from the rain, and bought cushions from pet shops to put inside them,” she says,

“The tragedy of a mother dog and her puppies abandoned in Santorini epitomised the crisis for me. Efforts to find help were met with the stark reality of overwhelmed shelters reliant on the support of few volunteers. Worse still, I discovered the disturbing practice of intentional animal abandonment and starvation.”

Boulter will kick off her fundraising with an Aussie Bogan Bash with bogan bingo, quizzes, games and entertainment at the Fremantle Police and Community Youth Centre in Hilton. 

There will be a prize for best-dressed bogan and a bar selling beer, wine and soft drinks, as well as food platters available to pre-order.

The Bogan Bash is on Saturday June 22 at 6.30pm-10pm. Tix at events.humanitix.com/aussie-bogan-bash. To donate directly to Save Greek Cats and Dogs see savegreekcatsanddogs.com