KARPATHOS, Greece – Renowned primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall has sent a heartwarming video message to Mayor of Karpathos island John Nisyrios and the volunteers and leadership team of Animal Welfare Karpathos. Known for her international animal advocacy work and scientific contributions, Dr. Jane Goodall is well aware of the significant number of stray animals throughout Greece for years.

Dr. Goodall thanked the mayor for welcoming the programs and ideas that were presented to him by U.S. trained veterinarian and Karpathos-native, Dr. Anna Katogiritis, who collaborated pro bono with the Greek America Foundation on designing a volunteer spay/neuter campaign for the strays. The program is set to take place on Karpathos island this coming June. The U.S.-based Greek America Foundation is known for its significant philanthropic work in Greece.

Dr. Goodall also thanked individually the leadership team of the nonprofit for their invaluable volunteer work: Alf B. Meier, Alexandra Desmond, Luisa Ricaldone, Yvonne Deutch, Sophia Hiras, Angeliki Frangos, Haidee (Theohariti) Pittas, Anja Van Rossum and Evie Moreno. The representatives of the organization, Sophia Hiras-Micros and Dr. Anna Katogiritis have had a series of meetings with the mayor over the past year during which plans for year 2021 and beyond were thoroughly discussed. Among those are the creation of a state of the art animal shelter on the island and the humane management of the stray animal population.

Dr. Jane Goodall with Dr. Anna Katogiritis on a past visit to Athens. (Photo by Fragitsa Katogiritis)

Dr. Jane Goodall, whose scientific discoveries redefined human kind, visited Greece in 2016 and 2018 for a series of lectures in Athens, Crete, and Thessaloniki. The events were organized by her official office in the country- Jane Goodall’s R&S Greece- which was founded by veterinarian Dr. Katogiritis, while she was still a veterinary student. The young veterinarian from Karpathos has voluntarily worked with the Jane Goodall Institute and Dr. Jane Goodall herself since 2014.

The island of Karpathos has over 1000 stray cats and a growing population of dogs. The primatologist thanked all of the volunteers of Animal Welfare Karpathos for their wonderful animal advocacy work and urged Mayor Nisyrios and all the subsequent mayors to continue supporting Animal Welfare Karpathos in the future.

Karpathos Mayor John Nisyrios with co-founders and board members of Animal Welfare Karpathos Sophia Hiras-Micros, at left, and Dr. Anna Katogiritis, at right. (Photo: Courtesy of Animal Welfare Karpathos)

Animal Welfare Karpathos (Φιλοζωική Δράση Καρπάθου) is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization registered in Greece and based on Karpathos island. The volunteers of the organization have been rescuing animals in need on the island for over 20 years. The organization relies solely on donations for the rescue, foster and adoptions of the many animals in need. To find out how you can support the organization, please visit the official website: www.AnimalWelfareKarpathos.com.

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