Day 2: A Royal Visit 30 April 2008

Tassoula and Christos, Symi’s volunteer vets, had a second day as busy as the first. The first operation of the day was on Fanouris (Nou, for short), Mikroulis’s brother. The pictures from yesterday showing Marios’s neutering will have shown you what to expect when a male cat is neutered. I have been astounded by the level of care and attention to detail that Tassoula and Christos consider essential and important; Nou was is good hands. After the careful process of sedation, I got to witness Nou receiving the final third of the “back, sack and crack” that has gained considerable popularity. I’ve never spent any time considering the best way to prepare a cat’s scrotum in advance of it being emptied. The simple way is to pluck… with the fingers. Christos winced with every tuft of fluff pulled out; Tassoula told me that male veterinary students hate doing it but the female ones don’t mind so much...

Nou’s operation was easier than Marios’s as he was considerably better endowed and this makes the op less fiddly. Christos showed me how the vessel that carries the sperm away from the testicle can be used to tie off the vessels that supply it with blood. Very clever.

While Nou was recovering, Nagia brought in the delightful Boubis to have his vaccinations. He’s a sweety.

The main event of the day, however, was a Royal visit; Princess Plop Alexia I, well known to SymiGreece readers of old, came in for her jabs. I can report that she behaved very regally throughout the procedure. Tassoula and Christos wore special jewel-encrusted velvet gloves, of course.

After a busy afternoon, the final visitor of the day was Rocky. Visitors to Symi who have ever walked through the shops past Syllogos Square in Chorio will know Rocky well. He is the growly mutt that blocks your path and gives you a hard stare if you ever try to go further than the Old Pharmacy, but he’s not really that bad. Tassoula gave Rocky a thorough inspection. She is, I believe, the only person to have ever given Rocky a full scrotal examination. Rocky behaved himself very well throughout, his mummy holding his head and stroking his nose.

There has been a steady stream of people bringing cats and dogs in for vaccinations. These have to be repeated in a month’s time to confirm the animal’s immunity. After my own experience of vaccinating my cats in February Tassoula has inspected my own injecting technique to make sure that at the end of May, I am competent enough to do the rounds and get these done.

Will