A few words about an accusation that concerns virtually all organisations that don't know how to ease the misery of stray animals in the Mediterranean area without the re-homing of animals in northern countries. For us it goes without saying that dogs are placed only in appropriate homes. Even so, there is a rumour circulating among the Greek public that all those exported animals are destined for use in German labs that experiment on animals.
We are an animal welfare organisation and you can guess how we feel about animal experiments: not only are they cruel and disrespectful of all living creatures, but in contrast to modern research methods that are free of animal testing, they also deliver misleading results. Anyone looking for verified information about this problematic subject will find comprehensive clarification on the website of the Doctors Against Animal Experiments Germany. Their databank provides tangible proof about e.g. who conducts what animal experiments where in Germany. The extent is quite oppressive.
Dr. Corina Gericke of the Doctors Against Animal Experiments Germany clearly comments on the above mentioned accusation as follows:
"Unfortunately, rumours according to which dogs from southern countries end up in laboratories in northern countries keep popping up. In my opinion, for Germany and most likely for other West European countries as well, this is utterly out of the question.
- The animal protection act stipulates that animals used in experiments must be bred specifically for that purpose. Exceptions are possible but concern farm animals and wildlife. It is highly unlikely that a German authority would grant an exceptional permission for experiments on stray dogs.
- As well as Beagles and Foxhounds, sometimes mongrels are used in experiments. But even those mongrels are specifically bred for this purpose!
- "Identical animal material" (as it is called disrespectfully in the jargon of conductors of animal experiments) is needed for the vast majority of animal experiments. Animals that have an unknown previous medical history and are of different origin, age etc, are useless for experiments.
I think the reason that those rumours won't stop is that many people in southern countries just cannot imagine that so large a number of dogs can be placed in good homes in Germany, especially since our own animal shelters are full of dogs. As far as I know dogs from southern countries are very popular in Germany and unfortunately that often places the local shelter dogs at a disadvantage. Often those shelter dogs are large breeds, Staffordshires, Alsatians, and / or have psychological problems. The southerners, in contrast, are known to be undemanding, grateful, uncomplicated, and on top of that often look very appealing."
We do admit that we are grateful for every Greek stray that we can find a home for in the North. But at the same time we try to coordinate our efforts with German animal shelters and are glad about the good cooperation.
