On Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th of December,the 26th Bazaar of SPAZ (Society for the protection of the stray animals)took place at the area that is known as the American Base at Helliniko.The event created an environment where animal lovers could spend a pleasent day, do their Christmas shopping while at the same time supporting the work that SPAZ is doing to protect stray animals.It was open from 10.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m.and gave visitors the opportunity to shop from a variety of stands that offered items related to pet care, taste all kind of delicacies the organizers had prepared in beutifully arranged buffets. A lottary was also arranged with first prize being a trip to Santorini. The organization of the event is a means for the society to generate funds in order to continue the very valuable work the are doing to help stray animals .
SPAZ was founded 25 years ago,in 1987,when a stray dog named Samie,inspired a small group of people to start focusing on activistic kind of help to animals but not through the creation of a shelter.The idea was,that if the team that cooperates for that purpose,creates one,all the turnover of the society would have to be spent there.On the contrary,if they would manage to work in the streets,without having offices or a veterinary clinic,they could help more efficiently the local urgent cases with medical treatment and/or sterilisation.
SpAz works in local level,in cooperation with the authorities,other societies and residents,in a common aim for the treatment of abused animals,sterilisation,and adoption campaigns for stray animals.
They focus on the support of local people that are helping stray animals,in cooperation with 7 private veterinaries. Facebook is a crucial tool towards the ongoing and successful activity and interaction amongst members, so that it may continue to offer the maximum help possible.
The organisation of the whole event took 2 months and a tremendous amount of work from a dedicated group of members of the society, for finding the hosting area that bazaar would be held,the local stores that would sponsor the lottery prizes and the gathering of the products that would go on sale.
On my way to the American Base at Helliniko,where the bazaar took place,i was thinking that i'll be quite lucky if there is still enough people shopping,as the time was 4.30 p.m. and the event was closing in about half an hour.When i arrived,i was pleasantly surprised to see that the bazaar was still very active and people where not leaving. The organisers were extremely pleased with the success of the bazaar.
People were walking in and out of the bazaar areas with all kinds of purchases ,organised in shopping carts they had brought from their homes,families with their kids that decided to make their xmas shopping from there,and a small dog community as some of the visitors brought their good friends with them.Others were leaving the bazaar carrying big paper boxes.
The situation of the financial crisis is a fact.It dominates our everyday life.But it has been overanalysed and viewed from every possible perspective so much,that even the term is in danger to be considered as a cliché.
Ηοwever,it is noticeable how simple people still respond to local events like this and contribute in their small way to keep on providing care and love to stray animals.And how unity of people can work,even in tough times like the one that we're going through,to make the world a better place to live in.
