an angel of mercy that moved me dearly
I have included some youtube videos of tragicly sad occasions with seriously abused and frightened dogs that this organisation has helped and turned their lives around. I have cried my eyes out watching some and am always thankful there are these saints alive and helping - and when you consider how many thoughtless and cruel people there are out there to one another - let alone to their animals who cannot fight back, the cruelty metered out is phenominal.
One man in Greece has become something of an angel of mercy to the local dog population after a financial crisis that rocked the country forced people to abandon pets they could no longer afford to keep.
Theoklitos Proestakis, also known as Takis, was once a disc jockey, but he gave up his life’s profession to start an animal shelter, dubbed “Takis Shelter” after his moniker, to help the abandoned local dogs.
To date, Takis has rescued more than 200 dogs [now 500] from various locations. Just to paint a picture of his devotion to the dogs, he tries to find at least one rejected dog a day and does everything to care for them on his own.
His service to the dogs has also not come without a great financial cost to himself. Reportedly, Takis was forced to sell his car and his caravan to help support the dogs.
Working seven days a week, he also uses social media to help find proper, loving homes for the dogs.
According to Hero Viral, the shelter, which is as big as 5,200 square meters [now 33,000], costs over €2,275 in monthly expenses [now over €6,000], which includes food and veterinary costs. 98% of donations come from outside the country, as Greek officials are reportedly either unwilling or unable to help finance the shelter.
Yet recent online fundraising has earned Takis has a lot of supporters. When he developed a campaign on YouTube to promote the shelter, he earned $26,505, far exceeding his goal of $1,705.
Set up over four years ago, and with the sole purpose of rescuing the stray, abandoned animals of Crete, Takis Shelter cares for over 300 dogs and cats.
Based in Ierapetra, the South of Crete, the rescued dogs and cats have up to 33,000 square meters of private, enclosed olive groves to run around in.
With very few people willing to help, there is still an overwhelming amount of stray cats and dogs in the South that need rescuing. In the past, dogs have been left tied-up, often with their puppies in a box, outside of the shelter.
Over 160 of the shelter’s cats and dogs have been neutered with only a remaining few left, due to their age or health.
This shelter receives no help from the authorities and relies solely on donations.
Since 2014, Takis Shelter has re-homed over 200 animals. Yet, there are hundreds of dogs and cats still looking for their Forever Homes, so please visit the Adoption page to find your best friend. Donations here : CLICK HERE
