Creation of inter-municipal kennels progressing very slowly
strays
04 Nov 2021
/ 21:31
CORFU. The act was included in the ‘Philodimos II’ programme a year ago, but the project has not been tendered yet.
The tendering of the project regarding the creation of a shelter for stray animals in Alimatades, which will serve as an inter-municipal kennel, is expected to be delayed more than a year from the moment it was included in the ‘Philodimos II’ programme.
Its operation is expected to provide a solution to the great problem of the rational management of stray animals throughout the island, the number of which is increasing day by day, mainly due to their abandonment by their owners. However, while the inclusion of the project ‘Construction and equipment of facilities for stray animals shelter’, with a total budget of €372,000 (including VAT) and the Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipality as the implementing body, took place on September 30 2020, there is still no submission made to the Finance Committee for the approval of the terms of the tendering to date!
According to the Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipal Primary Sector Service, the project of the shelter is in the final study stage and the tendering is expected at the end of the year.
The kennel
The kennel with a capacity of up to 40 animals, which will accommodate strays for a specific period of time by law, will operate on a property owned by the Central Corfu Municipality. The existing building is expected to be used for the housing of the administrative department and the clinic, where animals will receive treatment, while the surrounding area will be used for their accommodation.
The shelter for stray animals will be a place of temporary residence for them with a view to their adoption and, if this does not happen, they will be returned to their natural environment.
Widespread problem
The stray animal problem, however, exists all over the island. Since 2016 the Central Corfu Municipality has sterilised 600 stray animals, while from May 2020 until today, through the 4th stray animal management cycle and according to the service contract with a private veterinarian, 276 stray dogs have been sterilised.
Animal Welfare Organisations
With the valuable cooperation of animal welfare volunteers, 132 animals were adopted in one year. It should be noted that the process of dealing with a stray animal - from their collection to their proper care and sterilisation - is quite expensive, since the cost that the Municipality has to pay is up to €220 for each dog and €110 for each cat. Of the €20,000 spent on food and animal management, the Municipality received only €3,500 state funding!
North Corfu
According to the Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection Theofanis Skembris, although there is no official count in North Corfu, it is estimated that the stray animals in the wider area are 120, 40-70 of which are dogs and the rest are cats. “We cannot deal with the strays as we should. We want to know if the inter-municipal kennel will operate. Otherwise, we will take our own action. We have not done it so far, since it was expected to operate,” Mr. Skembris told Enimerosi. He also noted that the Animal Welfare Organisations are dealing with the stray animals, but because they have no legal form, the Μunicipality cannot sign a contract with them.
South Corfu
According to the Deputy Mayor Nikos Kourtesis, the problem is also particularly intense in southern Corfu, where small packs of dogs are observed mainly in Kato Pavliana and south of Lefkimmi. “We are trying to deal with the situation with a private veterinarian so that all the necessary procedures are followed. The three Municipalities had jointly submitted a proposal for the creation of an inter-municipal kennel and it was approved by the ‘Philodimos’ programme. Since then, we have not had any further updates,” he said.
It is worth noting, however, that in case a Municipality wishes to operate its own shelter, there is a new call from ‘Philodimos’ until 21 March 2022.
Its operation is expected to provide a solution to the great problem of the rational management of stray animals throughout the island, the number of which is increasing day by day, mainly due to their abandonment by their owners. However, while the inclusion of the project ‘Construction and equipment of facilities for stray animals shelter’, with a total budget of €372,000 (including VAT) and the Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipality as the implementing body, took place on September 30 2020, there is still no submission made to the Finance Committee for the approval of the terms of the tendering to date!
According to the Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipal Primary Sector Service, the project of the shelter is in the final study stage and the tendering is expected at the end of the year.
The kennel
The kennel with a capacity of up to 40 animals, which will accommodate strays for a specific period of time by law, will operate on a property owned by the Central Corfu Municipality. The existing building is expected to be used for the housing of the administrative department and the clinic, where animals will receive treatment, while the surrounding area will be used for their accommodation.
The shelter for stray animals will be a place of temporary residence for them with a view to their adoption and, if this does not happen, they will be returned to their natural environment.
Widespread problem
The stray animal problem, however, exists all over the island. Since 2016 the Central Corfu Municipality has sterilised 600 stray animals, while from May 2020 until today, through the 4th stray animal management cycle and according to the service contract with a private veterinarian, 276 stray dogs have been sterilised.
Animal Welfare Organisations
With the valuable cooperation of animal welfare volunteers, 132 animals were adopted in one year. It should be noted that the process of dealing with a stray animal - from their collection to their proper care and sterilisation - is quite expensive, since the cost that the Municipality has to pay is up to €220 for each dog and €110 for each cat. Of the €20,000 spent on food and animal management, the Municipality received only €3,500 state funding!
North Corfu
According to the Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection Theofanis Skembris, although there is no official count in North Corfu, it is estimated that the stray animals in the wider area are 120, 40-70 of which are dogs and the rest are cats. “We cannot deal with the strays as we should. We want to know if the inter-municipal kennel will operate. Otherwise, we will take our own action. We have not done it so far, since it was expected to operate,” Mr. Skembris told Enimerosi. He also noted that the Animal Welfare Organisations are dealing with the stray animals, but because they have no legal form, the Μunicipality cannot sign a contract with them.
South Corfu
According to the Deputy Mayor Nikos Kourtesis, the problem is also particularly intense in southern Corfu, where small packs of dogs are observed mainly in Kato Pavliana and south of Lefkimmi. “We are trying to deal with the situation with a private veterinarian so that all the necessary procedures are followed. The three Municipalities had jointly submitted a proposal for the creation of an inter-municipal kennel and it was approved by the ‘Philodimos’ programme. Since then, we have not had any further updates,” he said.
It is worth noting, however, that in case a Municipality wishes to operate its own shelter, there is a new call from ‘Philodimos’ until 21 March 2022.
