October 2005

Total amount of visitors this month:  31                        (total this year: 828)

GENERAL NEWS:

N.B.  news about the Avian Flu is printed in red.

October 1^st:  and again the water-pressure was gone just after 8 a.m. At the end of the morning there was again scanty measure of water, only even that disappeared during the afternoon. In the afternoon 2 visitors: a Dutch woman and her Irish friend.

October 2^nd:  and at 5 a.m. still there was no normal water-supply; at 7 a.m. we were “dry” again. Suddenly there was a Dutch visitor in our court-yard > number 800 from this year. At 11.45 a.m. the water-supply was restored, but we don’t know for how long . . . . After the siesta 6 visitors: 2 Dutch and 4 from Marple Bridge (Cheshire, England). Around 6 p.m. 2 visitors from Plomári.

October 3^rd:  the white one-eyed ex-Tom-cat “Whity” (00-059) was taken today by Ineke to Holland to start e new life over there. After the siesta a phone-call from Mytiléne about a tortoise they had already for 20 years, but now was loosing blood. Due to a “small miracle” in our past (we were able to rescue a Canary-bird, already proclaimed “not-savable” by Vets, and that bird is still alive!) she is coming to bring the tortoise tomorrow. We received the message that “Whity” has arrived well.

October 4^th:  in the siesta some phone-calls from a Vet, who wanted to send-in an injured Pigeon. Showed to be a Collared Dove and came by coach. At 5.40 p.m. the (yesterday announced) Tortoise was brought-in. Those people visited as well the L.W.H.

October 5^th:  the ex-Tom-cat “Cherry” (05-215; September ’05) was this morning micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies. Just before the siesta some phone-calls: the first from Parákoila, about an injured Quail > was brought-in. Just hereafter another phone-call; now from Ánaxos > an injured (?) Pelican in a field. That bird we went for a ride and during the trip back we were covered with feather-parasites (so the Pelican had a lot more ) especially she, who had him/her on her lap . . . . .

It took a complete re-organization of many cages (transferring the “contents”) to lodge this bird. And our goat “MijLa” was complete in panic with such a neighbor > she almost climbed through the door to get away again.

October 6^th:  early in the morning all was quiet and still alive. At the fish-monger we could buy 404 Góppes (small fishes) for Euro 7.= (special price, because it was more than what the balance “said” ). A phone-call came from the Dutch care-taker of the Dog with severe scabies (see September 2^nd): the problem is gone completely and he has found a new home for the dog > by a Dutch rep, who is living in Paralía Thermís. The dog is coming next week for castration. Further more a phone-call about putting down several just-born puppies > will be brought this evening. They were with 7, and two were left by the bitch.

October 7^th: around 12.30 a kitten was brought-in > (maybe ?) Rhinotrachitis. It was one of 5 thrown-away alive in a cardboard-box in Mytiléne. The symptoms however were so vague, we decided to wait and see. Not in the statistics.

October 8^th:  the puppy “Rísvi” (05-204; August ’05) was micro chipped and vaccinated against Rabies this morning > this because he will be re-homed in Holland October 14^th.  The “over-sexed” Quail-cock, we had to transfer from the Aviary to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep” because of “misbehavior” in the Aviary, continued his behavior on such a way, that the Pigeons picked him “irreparable” > we had to put him down. He was with us from before the year 2000.

October 9^th:  around midday a phone-call from Paleochóri about a (wild) cat, serious injured in the face > is going to be brought-in this afternoon. Came in at 4.05 p.m. > prognosis infaust > put down. Luckily we have received enough (??) information about the Avian Flu that is now “knocking on our doors” and with which we possible have been in contact > see further by the White Pelican.

October 10^th:  by way of precaution the whole crew here is vaccinated against Flu. We heard from our colleagues on Páros that the symptoms the White Pelican had, had nothing to do with Avian Flu. In spite of that there remains the risk she was indeed infected > we received messages about other White Pelicans in the same region (as well juveniles), of which at least one was dead already. For the rest the Greek Government had taken no precautionary measures at all . . . . In the afternoon a phone-call from the “Animal Lovers Society” from Mytiléne > someone had delivered a “crow-like” bird > was brought to the Petrol-station. As well a phone-call about the dog (see September 6^th) that should be neutered > is coming tomorrow early in the morning.

October 11^th:  early a phone-call reached us: the dog couldn’t be found ! In principle it will be done tomorrow (if the dog can be found at least). At 9.20 a.m. a phone-call from Skála Sikamínia > for two days an injured White Pelican was staying over there > was picked-up. We received a phone-call from a Vet in Mytiléne with the request to co-operate in actions, necessary by the expected Avian Flu. Of course we reacted positive.

October 12^th:  started with the castration of the announced dog. The rest of the day remained quiet.

October 13^th:  2 Greek visitors from Ágra > they brought-in a shot Quail. After the siesta a visit from a Greek from Athens > she had already heard good words about us. As a member of the “Friends of AEgina” she came to know how many invalid patients of there we could take-over > the whole “business” over there seems to be strike-bound and should be closed. We wrote already in the past over the situation over there. We asked for a female Eagle Owl. In the News we heard that the Avian Flu-virus what’s discovered in Turkey, is the for humans dangerous type H5N1 . . . . The result of this message was, that both our trainees want to stop  their trainee-ship and are leaving as soon as possible !!

October 14^th:  the puppy “Rísvi”  went to Holland today, together with the volunteer Ineke Baarsma. The last one has helped us fantastic from March 19^th till now on > again and again thank you, Ineke ! The medicine Tamiflu (the only remedy for Avian Flu till now on) we could order by the Pharmacy > we were early and have ordered for 3 persons. Later we heard that this medicine isn’t available at all in Greece . . . . !! In the afternoon a new volunteer (and luckily not afraid !) from Holland arrived. She wants to stay till the end of December. We heard on the Dutch News (TV) that the first seven people, contaminated with the H5N1-virus, are discovered in Turkey and taken to Hospital.

October 15^th:  very, very early both trainees started their journey back home. Six Dutch visitors, who joined us by a rescue-operation for a quite heavy Leatherturtle. After the siesta one Dutch visitor. We could arrange that our Goat “MijLa” (of which wretches had told on the internet that she, due to our inadequate treatment, had died !) will be re-homed tomorrow by an animal-lover, under the condition that she (in any case for the present) won’t be slaughtered.  

We need the place, where she was sleeping during the night, as a disinfection-room for Avian Flu-patients. Further we heard on the News, that those patients in Turkey shouldn’t be contaminated.

October 16^th:  it is Sunday and of course during the morning the water-pressure disappeared . . . ! The goat “MijLa” (05-027; March 9^th ’05) is taken at 1.10 p.m. and re-homed outside the village with four colleagues. About 3.30 p.m. we were called by the Coast Guard (Limenarchío) that a dead Pelican was discovered in Skála Mistegná : advices were given how to wrap up the body and to send it to the Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne : she is coordinating the actions.

October 17^th:  this morning we were able to phone all data about the Leatherturtle to the Sea-turtle-centre in Glifáda ( we heard in the same call that “our” Loggerhead-turtle was released well) and to the  Limenarchío. In between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. three earthquake shocks were felt; the monitors were shaking and the chandelier as well. We heard on the Greek News that the strength of the quakes was 6 on the scale of Richter (in the Aegean Sea). From Holland we received the news that Croatia and Macedonia are suspicious, but as well that on our neighbor-island Chíos some positive cases were discovered (on a Turkey-farm) > not yet is known if it is the dangerous H5N1-virus.

October 18^th:  we started the day with buying disinfectant for our shoes etc. Two Dutch visitors. In the Evros-delta (Northern Greece) suspicious cases were send to England. By way of the village-loudspeaker system was announced that all poultry should remain IN their cages > around our house however all poultry is still walking in freedom. From the Department of Agriculture we received official directives: ALL people who are working here or are staying here MUST be vaccinated against the normal flu; those people can receive their vaccinations even free. In the evening we heard, that the virus on the little island close to Chíos indeed is the dreadly H5N1-type.

October 19^th:  we heard today that our visitors from yesterday not only are taking with them the ex-Tom-cat “Cherry” (but that one they are only “delivering”), but as well the, already 2 years staying over here, cat “Fréderíki” (03-064 > she had by intake an immense hole in her side) to their own home. Three Greek visitors from Mória. They brought with then a disabled, tame Sparrow and a Cat. The last will have a surgery tomorrow.

October 20^th:  we started the day with the de-mothering of the cat, which was brought-in yesterday > wasn’t pregnant. The cat  “Fréderíki” (is now named “NeeJa”, because first they didn’t want an extra cat, and later they wanted her) is microchipped and vaccinated against Rabies.  With the same trip we picked-up at the Agrotikí Stégi a Robin, which shouldn’t be able to fly. The “de-mothered” cat was taken back home in the evening > condition was OK > had eaten already. We heard on the Greek News that the Avian Flu-virus, discovered on the island of Chíos is indeed the H5-type, but without the N1. If that is true ?? The whole island is buzzing from the rumours: on our old location (Thermís) should have a positive case > couldn’t be confirmed by Vets.

October 21^st:  from 8 a.m. we were again without water. We were called from Holland: “How the situation here was ?” > it seemed, we had another earth-quake last night (6 on the scale of Richter). Only our volunteer had felt the quake > we were asleep. We have brought 14 little Tortoises (vintages 2004, 2003 & 2002) from the cage to the warmer Terrarium > some had already started to dig themselves in. Around 5.30 p.m. a Greek boy arrived with a puppy > had injuries on both front legs. Cleaned and sprayed. As well the collar was loosened a bit. Because the puppy didn’t want to walk on a line, he was dragged !! When we said that this wasn’t the proper behavior, the comment was: “We shouldn’t be nice to this doggy, because he is going to be a guardian-dog by the sheep” !!! Against such a shit-mentality one can hardly talk (although we have tried !) Not in the statistics.

October 22^nd:  the “hung-by-the-leg” Little Owl (05-151; July ’05) went back to “The Keep” > the stump of the leg is healed to such a degree that this seems to be justified. The Brown Barn-Owl (05-190; August ’05) went as well to “The Keep” > it seems he/she is eating on its own and the body-weight went from 230 gram at intake till 336 gram today. Now the bird must do it on its own, otherwise no release is possible anymore. We could re-home 4 Pigeons from “The Keep” with a Pigeon-fancier here in the village. As well at 11.30 p.m. as at 12.00 p.m. they phoned us (and we were asleep already !) about a (knocked down by a motorcar) Doggy > both times they were told that they could bring the doggy, but that we didn’t run to collect him > of course nobody was seen anymore ! How the doggy is doing . . . . . ??

October 23^rd:  at last we have, after some other phone-calls, picked-up the doggy > it’s not that we are unwilling to treat her, but it’s a question of principle > the municipality is responsible for strays, not we !!

October 24^th:  the Chukar (05-139; June ’05 from Pétra) with the inborn leg-defect on both legs didn’t wake-up anymore this morning. The de-fathered Tom-cat  “Cherry” and the de-mothered Cat “Fréderíki” left with our daughter and son-in-law to Holland. With the same flight left as well our volunteer (home-sickness prevailed to much !). Around 8 p.m. reported at last the “owner” of the knocked-down dog  > he said he kept the bitch in a stable to protect the sheep (against what ??). Agreed we won’t do anything to the dog, without consulting him (in spite of the almost sure prognosis infaust).

October 25^th:  the dog is picked-up by her owner (we couldn’t do anything anymore, but the dog started to be aggressive and had bitten one of us in the face). We heard today that on the flight back to Holland there was such a delay, that the cats passed the Customs at 3.30 a.m. (!!) > of course we hadn’t reckoned with such a delay, giving the sedation. 

October 26^th:  2 Dutch visitors. At nightfall a Collared Dove was taken in.

October 27th:  released 6 Spurr-tighed Tortoises: under which the “tar-victim” (05-193; August ’05), while two were “home-bred” from 2000 & 1998. The other 3 are “plucked-away” before the wheels of traffic (for one of those, see June 5^th ’05). Now released on a spot where no plough can be used.

October 28^th:  except from the daily routine nothing special happened.

October 29^th:  a quite ill kitten was picked-up in the streets and taken to the Hospital.

October 30^th:  we discovered drowned in the water-basin in the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep” the disabled Pigeon (04-167; July ’04 from Mytiléne > inborn leg-defect). The weather was so bleak over here (in contrary with Holland!), we had to switch-on the central heating for the first time; as well in the living as in the sick bay.

October 31^st:  and again the water-pressure disappeared half-way the morning . . . .  A phone-call from a teacher in Skoutáros > the school is planning a project about birds and they want to cooperate > so wait and see. 

Kinds of animals who are mentioned like this were for the first time in treatment in the L.W.H.   

Amount of kilometers (Animal-Ambulance) for bringing-in/releasing animals this month 504 (total this year 3495 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 23 [wild ones: 11; others 12], (total this year 273 > : wild ones 157, others 116; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3227),  of which:

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 2; the first was an adult from Mytiléne > send by a Vet. Old open fracture right wing (pulse) with dislocation. The prognosis isn’t so well > the body-weight is only half of what it should be. After some days of forced-feeding he/she gained some weight. Was transferred October 29^th as an invalid to the Aviary. The 2^nd was discovered in a garden in our village > vague intake-reason > so observation. Showed to have a skin-injury on the throat > due to this is swallowing very difficult.

SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE (Testudo graeca ibera): 1 male from Mytiléne; already from 1980 in the possession of the people who brought him. Has from before 1980 a huge shell-damage > more than half of the horny part has disappeared and one can see the naked bone. The belly-part of the shell is the same.

Observation for blood in the urine. Went back to the owner Oct. 19^th > we hadn’t seen any drop of blood. But the poor soul had been fed with cucumber, on which too much pesticides had been used (and those had been sold in Mytiléne, we could read in the newspaper) > so cause is known now.

WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus onocrotalus): 2; the first was a juvenile from Ánaxos > had landed over there in between the goats and the Greeks were wetting their pants . . . .  Doesn’t seem to be injured, but was “crowded” with feather-parasites > everything was itching by the two of us . . . ! So observation. (N 4). The second day after intake we discovered a bloody exudate from the right nostril > we could remove lots of maggots from inside and as well several blood-sucking parasites from the inner side of the  bill (the “sack”). That same day we were constantly busy removing maggots from that one nostril > reason ?? The bird is refusing to eat well and is vomiting (almost) everything. We had the hope that feeding several times little portions, we could “control” the situation a little bit, but the 3^rd day she vomited in the afternoon all the given food of that day. The situation is critical now. She was still alive in the morning of the 4^th day after intake > continued with feeding little portions. Since the 3^rd day in the afternoon no maggots could be “digged-out”. Died the 9^th against midday. P.M.: because the Avian Flu has reached in the meantime the Turkish Coast of the Aegean Sea, no P.M. is done > the risk is too high. Everything is well cleaned and the carcass is brought-away, well packed. The 2^nd was present for two days in Skála Sikamínia > in spite of the risk we went for a ride. Huge injury in the left flank > cleaned and closed with 6 agrafes. In the right wing close to the elbow as well a huge hole filled with maggots (no fractures) > Dermisol-solution was used. Further Vermox was given against internal parasites and antibiotics (Baytril 5%) was injected.

This one however is refusing as well to eat . . . . . Next morning at 04.55 discovered dead . . . .

QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix): 2; the first was an adult female from  Parákoila > was shot. One shot-injury in the breast and another hole (from the same pellet) through the wing. Hanging-cast was given and antibiotic-spray. The pellet has penetrated  the crop > we don’t hope we’ll have a re-iteration from what we had before with a shot Pigeon (see the 3^rd pigeon in September). The 2^nd day after intake we discovered another shot-hole > left side of the head, so . . . .  Was discovered dead the 5^th day after intake, early in the morning. The second, a female as well, was discovered in Ágra > was changed into “Emmenthaler Cheese” due to shot-pellets > at least 4 shot-holes were discovered. So no good prognosis . . . .  The 6^th day after intake she was sitting with all her feathers “blown up” > . . . . . Was discovered dead at 11.30 a.m.  Plucking the mortal remains more shot-holes were discovered > so a miracle she survived for such a long time.

PUPPIES (Canis familiaris): seven (3-4); * October 4^th. We had to put them down (with pain in our harts, because they were beautiful).

TOM-CAT (Felis catus) 1 ca. 15 years old specimen from Paleochóri > severe injured in the face; the whole nose was gone and a huge part of the upper-lip left & right > put down. By the way, this injury was already one month old !!

HOODED CROW (Corvus corone cornix): 1 adult from Mytiléne (??) > we don’t know exactly what’s wrong, but he/she is very malnourished (only 392 gram in stead of 540-600 gram). Started eating by himself 3 days after intake and was transferred the 13^th to the “Crow-Aviary” in the court-yard of the house-next-door. If he is managing to carry on, the release will be after the hunting-season (2006).

DOG (Canis familiaris): 1 from Lisvóri > “crown-jewels” were removed.

SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 1 male from Mória > already for months in the possession of a woman over there > is a “nest-misfit” , so can’t be released. As soon as possible to the Aviary. Went to there the 21^st. Was taken back the 22^nd > didn’t do it well over there. Died later that morning > showed to be attacked by lots of soldier-ants.

CAT (Felis catus): 1 (probably pregnant) species from Mória > was “de-mothered” the 20^th  > wasn’t pregnant.

ROBIN (Erithacus rubecula): 1 adult from  Kallonís > shouldn’t be able to fly > observation. Next day released; flying well.

BITCH (Canis familiaris): 1 pregnant stray from our village > was hit by a motor-bike late in the evening and everyone was too lazy to bring her. At last picked-up by us > seems to have a fracture of the spinal cord, or a fracture of the pelvis > so observation. The day after intake some reaction could be measured in the left rear-leg. Went the 25^th back to the owner.

KITTEN (Felis catus): 1 quite young female from Ágia Paraskeví > was walking aimless (and without seeing anything) in the streets > severe rhinotrachitis, ear-mites, scabies and bone-thin. Taken with us and started to clean her up, anti-biotics etc.  She is smelling so much of old olive-oil, her name is temporarily “Greasy-cat”.