Hound-helping holidaymakers

Ryers on holiday have made a big difference to a Greek animal charity.
When a group of friends visited a dog sanctuary on the Greek island of Santorini they decided to lend a hand to help with a new shelter for unwanted stray dogs. Emma Shervington, her partner Andy Davidson, Military Road’s Dave and Tracy Wright and their sons Charlie and Louis, all spent a day working on the new sanctuary. Plumber Dave sorted out the irrigation system, Andy, Charlie and Louis did a lot of lifting and Emma and Tracy were chief “poo scrapers”, helping to get the shelter ship-shape.
Their efforts didn’t stop there however as Emma has set up a Just Giving fund-raising page and has raised almost half of the £1,000 target. Emma explained: “The Santorini Animal Welfare Association (SAWA) is a non-governmental, non-profit making organization, founded in 1993 by active and devoted animal lovers. Forced by the State to relinquish the land that the old shelter was on, which had plenty of trees, and therefore shade, the shelter has been forced to relocate to an old pumice mine, totally barren.
“Dog houses have been sourced and cost about £200 each which might seem expensive, but they need to be super-sturdy to withstand the high winds and harsh winter weather experienced at the shelter’s high altitude and exposed location. The houses will provide the dogs with much needed shelter in an otherwise challenging environment.”
In a further boost for the SAWA, dog-owners Dave and Tracy have decided to adopt one of the strays, a pooch nicknamed Martin Brown after the local who found him on the beach. The lucky canine is now being transported to Rye and we’ll let you know when Martin Brown reaches his new home.
To find out more about the SAWA visit their Facebook page.

Photo: Andy Davidson