Join the Movement: Let’s Make Crete Stray-Free Together!
We’re on a mission to end the stray animal problem in Crete by 2031. All it takes is €1 a month. Together, with your support, we can reach our goal of 30,000 subscribers and unlock the next stage!
We have a strong start to achieve our goal! Thanks to 508 incredible supporters, we currently have 5342 monthly subscriptions. Let’s take it to the next level and reach 30,000 together!
5342
30 000€
17.80%
Whats the plan?
The Roadmap to a Stray-Free Crete
Our plan is a comprehensive strategy to eliminate stray animal issue on Crete by 2031. It builds on our proven successes, combining sterilization programs, education, community engagement, and legislative support with the development of a fully equipped welfare center. You can check out summaries of our plans below by clicking the headers.
The 5 year plan:
Animal Welfare Center:
At the heart of our operations, our Animal Welfare Center stands as the headquarters for implementing a variety of programs aimed at bettering the lives of animals and our community. Not only does it provide essential housing for strays and offer grooming, physiotherapy, and veterinary services, but it also serves as a learning center for outreach programs. Through educational initiatives and internship housing opportunities, our center plays a pivotal role in nurturing a compassionate society where animals receive the care and support they deserve.
Our goal is to include the following facilities to the welfare center:
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Veterinary clinic - one that other animal welfare organisations can use as well.
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A Shelter - A place for housing abandoned animals until they can be rehomed.
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Volunteer housing - housing for volunteers, that can be also used to rehabilitate animals and to give them peaceful place for recovery.
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Grooming and Bathing Stations - other animal welfare organisations can use as well.
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Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Stations - other animal welfare organisations can use as well.
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Educational Center - For education, teaching and planning
This is obviously the most costly part of our plan, when it comes to one time costs. But the amazing part is that the local municipality has already agreed to be onboard, meaning they will cover the land where the Animal Welfare Center can be build! Another amazing thing is that R.E.D is giving it their all to help us build the Center!
Our job now is to prove we can get enough subscriptions and support to run the operations! That's why we are now aiming for the 30 000 subscriptions. To prove that this is a movement that people care deeply about and to show that there are tens of thousands of us willing to put our efforts into it.
Trap, Neuter & Release:
We aim to implement a standardized TNR program to purposefully and sustainably manage community cat populations and reduce their numbers through sterilization. We train and support volunteers to trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return community cats to their original locations as well as to ensure data collection and upholding for keeping track of the colonies. We also aim to educate communities about the benefits of TNR in controlling cat overpopulation. One of our main pillars in this project is to include local individuals and businesses involved with the tourist field to benefit from the TNR program and bring them visibility.
The plan:
1. Year:
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Finish the building of the welfare center
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Finalize the collaborations with vets
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Reach out to other animal welfare organizations for cooperation
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Set times for neutering campaigns
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Ensure local community participation
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Map out areas with highest success rate
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Set areas in priority categories
2. Year:
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Ensure volunteer quarters are ready to welcome vets and other volunteers
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Ensure Center clinic is ready for neuterings
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Ensure funding is reaching the needed level
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Start neutering projects
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Collect daily data and monitor progress
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Modify plans and assess most critical issues
3-4 Year:
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Ongoing neutering projects
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Ensure monitoring of colonies and data collections
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Modify plans and assess most critical issues
5. Year:
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Ongoing neutering projects
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Make summaries of previous years results and practices.
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Modify and finalyse a continuity plan to ensure issue does not rise again after project
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Ensure public opinion and attitude has changed:strays are spotted, treated and preferably homes found
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Ensure continuity plan is set for prolonged monitoring
Future:
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Ensure continuity and possibilities for low income families to neuter their pets
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Ensure community activity in spotting and preventing stray issue
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Continue enhancing laws and regulations to better the lives of animals and people
Adoptions
Our adoption services cater to animals within our animal welfare center, as well as those seeking homes through vetted organizations, individuals, and foster networks. The website and services will be available for all welfare groups that share the same goals, values and ideals, providing bigger chance of finding the right home for that individual.
A structured adoption process that includes application screening, counseling, and home visits to ensure that potential adopters are matched with animals that suit their lifestyle, preferences, and living conditions. Cooperation organizations all follow the same and appliance protocol when performing application screening and home visits abroad, ensuring high success rate in adoptions and high quality of life for the animals.
Sponsoring for these animals will be available for all collaboration partners, meaning other animal welfare organisations can seek sponsors and financial help to cover for the care of their animals.
Education & Outreach
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Education
The goal of this initiative is to promote responsible pet ownership, advocate for animal welfare, and foster empathy towards animals through educational outreach and advocacy efforts. By delivering tailored workshops, presentations, and resources, the initiative aims to increase awareness, empower individuals to make informed decisions regarding pet ownership, and engage communities in discussions about animal welfare issues. Through collaborative efforts with schools, community groups, government agencies, and businesses, the initiative seeks to create a comprehensive approach to addressing animal welfare concerns and advocating for legal reforms. Operating primarily on a volunteer basis, the focus remains on achieving positive impact on animal welfare and community engagement rather than financial gain.
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Outreach
Our purpose is to provide essential resources and support to low-income pet owners, addressing their needs and promoting animal welfare within the community. By offering access to pet food banks, veterinary care vouchers, and additional assistance programs, we aim to alleviate financial burdens, strengthen community bonds, and reduce pet surrender rates. Our goal is to ensure that low-income pet owners have the necessary resources and support to care for their pets, ultimately improving the well-being of both pets and their owners. Through collaborative partnerships and targeted outreach efforts, we seek to prevent pet surrenders, strengthen community resilience, and promote a culture of responsible pet ownership and compassion towards animals.
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Engagement
Our goal is to actively engage the community in promoting the multifaceted benefits of pet ownership, fostering positive attitudes towards pets and strengthening the bond between humans and animals. By offering specialized services, expert-led trainings, and promotional events, we aim to enhance pet welfare, improve owner satisfaction, and integrate pets into various aspects of society. The purpose of our engagement program is to highlight the diverse benefits of pet ownership, including mental health improvements, community integration, and skill enhancement for pet owners. Through promotional shows, expert-led trainings, and informational resources, we seek to enhance public perception of pets as valuable companions and contributors to society. By showcasing the positive impact of pets on individual well-being and community cohesion, we aim to promote a culture of responsible pet ownership and foster healthier, happier communities.
Paw Alliance
Paw Alliance is a designation awarded to businesses that have been verified to actively support animal welfare and address the issue of stray animals in humane ways. Businesses bearing the Paw Alliance label demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices and responsible pet care, contributing to the well-being of animals in our community. By partnering with Paw Alliance-certified businesses, consumers can support initiatives that prioritize animal welfare while patronizing establishments that align with their values
We are partnering with Marketing Greece to create and kick start the project and are already in the stages of finalising the first marketing material!
Foster & Response Program
Our Foster & Response program is a network of compassionate individuals who are ready to assist in caring for stray animals in need. Through fostering, volunteers provide temporary homes and nurturing environments for animals awaiting permanent adoption. Additionally, volunteers respond to stray animal emergencies, providing timely assistance and support in situations such as rescues, medical emergencies, and relocations. By mobilizing a dedicated network of volunteers, we aim to provide critical care and support to stray animals, ultimately improving their chances of finding loving homes and receiving the help they need. The fosters can volunteer through any of the organizations or directly from our website.
Catastrophe team
Our Catastrophe team comprises highly skilled professionals who not only respond swiftly to natural disasters and large-scale emergencies affecting animals but also proactively develop comprehensive plans for various catastrophes. Collaborating closely with local authorities and partner organizations, our team creates and implements strategic response plans tailored to different scenarios, ensuring effective coordination and resource allocation during crises. From rescue operations to medical care and sheltering, we work tirelessly to safeguard the well-being of animals, providing vital support and expertise to communities in times of need.
We already have majority of the funding for building the new Animal Welfare Center and the land where we can build it. Now we need to ensure the operations can run smoothly! Are you ready to join the movement and make actual change?
How You Can Make a Difference!
We know where we want to build and the municipality is onboard. We know what to build and R.E.D. is onboard to help us make it happen. The only thing we need to do is prove that we have enough people supporting the cause. Enough people to run the basic operational costs of the shelter and rescue animals - the very same costs we have now! Here is a breakdown of our monthly costs:
Food: 9000€
Medicine: 1000€
6 workers: 6000€
Vet costs: 9000€
Cleaning: 500€
Maintenance: 1000€
Vaccinations: 700€
TNR: 3000€
Cat sand: 1000€
Petrol and transportation: 2000€
Fostering costs: 2000€
Currently we rely heavily on one time donations, are tens of thousands in debt and we cant move forward like that. We need to make sure enough people are supporting the new plan and the new animal welfare center. We have done the calculations and in order to safely move to the next stage, which is building the Welfare Center, we need 85% of our donations coming from monthly subscriptions. Of course we can expect some costs to get higher and add to the list with the new center, like running the vet station. But for funding the additional things we have plans to collaborate with businesses and grants. With the basics, we need the people to be on our side.
We need you!
