With winter approaching and the tourist season ending, the animals of Symi become more vulnerable. In cold weather conditions, the immune system of an animal is more susceptible to disease. For animals that live outdoors, the situation is often worse as there are fewer food sources in the winter and they tend to live in larger groups (eating and sleeping together) so the spread of viruses is a lot easier.
There are a number of common diseases amongst cats and dogs (e.g. flu, enteritis, chlamydia for cats, hepatitis, typhus and rabies for dogs) that are very serious and often deadly. For most of them there is no known cure and the survival rate of infected animals is usually very low. It is better to prevent the animal from getting the viruses in the first place and to stop the spread of disease by vaccination.
Last year, a mass epidemic of feline enteritis hit several areas of Symi wiping out a large number of cats. For several weeks the streets and steps of Yialos were littered with excrement from cats infected by the virus. Some people were concerned about public health while others saw it as a nuisance having to clean and disinfect on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the situation gave ammunition to some to put down poison as if it were the cats’ fault for being sick. Poisoning is never the answer and it is also illegal and cruel. We hope this will never happen again. If the sick animals had been vaccinated, none of the problems would have happened in the first place.
The vaccination for cats and dogs involves a single injection that provides immunity for all common diseases (4 for cats and 6 for dogs). The first vaccination can take place any time after the animal is 8-10 weeks old and needs to be repeated after 3-4 weeks to confirm the immunity. It’s important not to miss this second jab otherwise the first will have been wasted and the process has to start all over again. After the second vaccination, the animals are protected for up to three years.
FAROS would like to see all cats and dogs on Symi vaccinated, and we ask everyone who either owns or looks after an animal to call FAROS and have it vaccinated. The vaccinations are free and can take place during the vet visits at the FAROS clinic but also in between visits as FAROS can supply and administer the vaccines at any time. Each vaccine costs FAROS 6 Euros which is paid for by voluntary donations.
A healthy animal population is an asset to the island and should be looked after all year round. Please vaccinate your own animals as well as any animals you look after or feed.
There are a number of common diseases amongst cats and dogs (e.g. flu, enteritis, chlamydia for cats, hepatitis, typhus and rabies for dogs) that are very serious and often deadly. For most of them there is no known cure and the survival rate of infected animals is usually very low. It is better to prevent the animal from getting the viruses in the first place and to stop the spread of disease by vaccination.
Last year, a mass epidemic of feline enteritis hit several areas of Symi wiping out a large number of cats. For several weeks the streets and steps of Yialos were littered with excrement from cats infected by the virus. Some people were concerned about public health while others saw it as a nuisance having to clean and disinfect on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the situation gave ammunition to some to put down poison as if it were the cats’ fault for being sick. Poisoning is never the answer and it is also illegal and cruel. We hope this will never happen again. If the sick animals had been vaccinated, none of the problems would have happened in the first place.
The vaccination for cats and dogs involves a single injection that provides immunity for all common diseases (4 for cats and 6 for dogs). The first vaccination can take place any time after the animal is 8-10 weeks old and needs to be repeated after 3-4 weeks to confirm the immunity. It’s important not to miss this second jab otherwise the first will have been wasted and the process has to start all over again. After the second vaccination, the animals are protected for up to three years.
FAROS would like to see all cats and dogs on Symi vaccinated, and we ask everyone who either owns or looks after an animal to call FAROS and have it vaccinated. The vaccinations are free and can take place during the vet visits at the FAROS clinic but also in between visits as FAROS can supply and administer the vaccines at any time. Each vaccine costs FAROS 6 Euros which is paid for by voluntary donations.
A healthy animal population is an asset to the island and should be looked after all year round. Please vaccinate your own animals as well as any animals you look after or feed.
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CommentsUpdated 02/11/2008, 21:21, 463 hits
SamanthaF said on 03/11/2008, 00:56
Faros - This is a wonderful initiative. As always, thank you.
(PS - How is Princess Barbie?)