Location

Mochlos is situated between Agios Nikolaos and Sitia on the north east side of the island. The small village is far away form mass tourism and is idyllic in its beauty, near the Mirabello bay, directly on the coast.

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Situation

Like in most places, animals also form a part of the scenery in Mochlos. A lot of visitors remark on how well they seem to look and find that they form a poitive addition to the total picture of the area. Still, there are the usual problems with strays, especially when cats are searching for nourishment and multiply in large numbers.

Animal Welfare

The German woman Maria Tsagarakis runs the official animal welfare organization 'Animal Freinds of Mochlos', together with Joelle Bernard, Ann Lebrun and Kalioppi Silignaki. The organization has 28 members (the village only has 120 inhabitants!).

Activities

These animal welfare workers consider education and PR work to be their main target, as well as medical care for wounded animals and organizing castration projects. In the years 2000 and 2001, many successful castration campaigns were organized in collaboration with local hotels and thanks to additional support from the German animal welfare society ETN.

A cat from mochlos with a typical castration mark on its ear

They also run three feeding stations, similar to those in Agios Nikolaos and there is an excellent collaboration with the local veterinarian.

Needs & Plans

They need about 200 kg of dried food every month. Also medical equipment and medicine.
The Animal Friends of Mochlos are planning further castration projects and intend to increase their education activities.

Maria Tsagarakis, President of The Animal Friends of Mochlos, with a Mochlos stray

Your Help

If you are travelling to Crete by car, you could take food and materail donations along. Beatrice and Roman Kaiser have founded a support organization and have opened a bank account in Germany:

Volksbank Karlsruhe
Tierfreunde Mochlos e.V. Beatrice Kaiser
Bank account number: 548 682 00
Bank code number: 661 900 00

Noah’s Ark’s Support Organization will support the Animal Friends of mochlos with food donations, veterinary help, castration projects and mediation of the animals.

You can support the animal welfare workers’ activities on Crete by taking on a foster parenthood or by becoming a member of Noah’s Ark’s Support Organization!

--> Foster Parenthood
--> The Support Organization

Contact

Tierfreunde Mochlos
Maria Tsagarakis
GR 72057 Mochlos
Sitia, Crete
Tel.: 0030/2/8430-94660
Tel.: 0030/2/8430-94723
Fax: 0030/2/8430-94179

e-Mail: barbarro@otenet.gr
Website: www.mochlos.net

Further information about animal welfare activities on Crete:

E-mail: info@archenoah-kreta.com

Translation: Susan Brinkmann
04.2003, Text & Fotos: Stefan Grothus