The municipality of Agios Nikolaos hand over a paper to Joan Rapani, founder of PAWS CRETE, so not PAWS that she must pay a fine of 4.000 euor for having two illegal buildings, they were legal when the land was classed as forestry but now they are saying they are in the town. They also have to tear to tear down the shelter or Joan will face another fine. If she does not pay within the time specified she will be arrested. Joan had to put signs up in English and Greek saying:
CLOSED BY THE DIMOS
DO NOT LEAVE DOGS OR PUPPIES HERE - BRING THEM TO THE DIMOS
This will probably make no difference but any new dogs or puppies left there Joan will bring them to the municipality of Agios Nikolaos and leave them in the reception.
She contacted Maria Houstoulakis to see if she can get help appealing the fine. Even if the 4,000 was paid it will cost another 10,000 to make the building legal - then it is just a legal building - not licensed to be a shelter - that is a whole new thing from the beginning so it doesn't matter what Joan and PAWS Crete do, the municipality of Agios Nikolaos will never give up, so Joan and PAWS Crete will end their activity at the end of March.
THIS IS TOTALLY AN INSANE AND RIDICULOUS SITUATION TO FINE AND START LEGEAL ACTIONS AGAINST JOAN AND PAWS CRETE WHO ONLY WANTED TO HELP THE STRAYS AND UNTWANTED DOGS WHAT IS THE RESPONISIBILITY OF THE MUNICIPALITY IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT WHO HAS DONE NOTHING IN THE PAST AT ALL ABOUT THE SITUATION OF THE STRAY ANIMALS.
WE DEMAND THAT THE MUNICIPALITY IN AGIOS NIKOLAOS STOPS THE LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST JOAN AND PAWS CRETE, TO TEAR UP THE FINE AND GIVE HER AND PAWS CRETE THE TIME TO REHOME EVERY DOG THAT IS IN THE SHELTER RIGHT NOW.
Dear madam, sir,
It is got to my attention that the municipality of Agios Nikolaos has fined Joan Rapani of PAWS Crete for 4.000 euro because the shelter of PAWS Crete are illegal buildings (they were legal when the land was classed as forestry but now they you are saying they are in the town) and you have also closed down the shelter. All that PAWS Crete did was helping the loads of stray dogs, what is the responsibility of the municipality of Agios Nikolas in the first place but has neglected to do in the past and present.
I hereby ask you urgently to stop all legal actions against Joan Rapani and PAWS Crete and tear up the fines and give them time to rehome all the dogs present at the shelter.
What we are asking for is that the Dimos either makes a proper shelter (supervised by local animal welfare groups) or takes over the one from PAWS Crete and makes it legal and puts electricity and paid staff etc (supervised also) or supports a local shelter or shelters. .
Kind regards,
