Arden Moore and a black cat take in the sights at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Photo provided
By Arden Moore
For more than a decade, I’ve been teaching pet first aid and cat-dog behavior classes as a master certified instructor and founder of Pet First Aid 4U.
Recently, I taught pet-loving people in England and Greece during a two-week trip sponsored by the nonprofit group Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. (Successfully Managing Animal Rights Today), which promotes global animal awareness and education and is led by founder Julie Kelley.
This trip confirmed that pet advocates exist all over the globe — from small villages to large metropolises. While Brits may fondly refer to felines as moggies and Greeks call them gatas, many share a universal mission to champion the needs of cats and dogs.
Here are some highlights, starting with my first stop, a small town northwest of London called Wallsend. There, I met two ambitious cat advocates, Tasmin Hurst and Roxy Scott, who opened up the Bad Cat Cafe about a year ago. (https://thebadcatcafe.co.uk/)
Cat cafes are growing in popularity worldwide, and this one smartly takes in a handful of cats at a time to be socialized inside its homey setting.
Says Hurst, “We aim to socialize our rescue cats away from a traditional shelter environment to increase their chances of being adopted into homes.”
This duo also recognizes the therapeutic powers of cats for all types of people, including people with autism and learning difficulties — who are given priority at the cafe on Saturday afternoons.
The owners also work hard to educate the next generation of pet advocates by holding cat events aimed at kids.
I then boarded a flight to Athens to visit the cradle of civilization — as the Greeks proudly proclaim it. It was the first time I visited this country, and it won’t be my last.
Most of the time, I was based at a three-story animal sanctuary outside of Athens, sharing the place with 47 cats, five dogs, four puppies and about eight staff and volunteers. My small bedroom included two cuddly, furry roommates, Sumo and Pingu.
All of us pitched in to feed the four-leggers, give them needed medications, scoop the poop (there was plenty) and engage them in playtime.
My first trip outside the sanctuary was to a refugee camp that housed about 900 people, including about 200 children as well as more than 60 cats and a dozen free-roaming dogs. The people there had fled their homes in Afghanistan, Syria and other places. My job that day was to present a pair of talks about cats and dogs to kids ranging in age from 8 to 16.
For my talks, I had two interpreters who spoke Farsi and Arabic — that’s a first for me. But the kids all seemed to understand the need to provide fresh water to the cats and dogs at the camp as I taught them how to safely approach and pet the animals.
At the end of my talk, a little girl approached and opened her hand to reveal sunflower seeds.
“These are for you,” she said in perfect English as her mom smiled.
I replied, “Let’s share them,” as we sat down and she asked more questions about cat behavior — a powerful moment I will never forget.
Upon returning that afternoon to the sanctuary, I discovered a cat named Earl Grey had accidentally been scalded with hot water. His nose and a few paws were bright red, indicating third-degree burns. So, I placed a wet, cool towel into the pet carrier with Earl Grey and monitored him for any signs of shock or lack of consciousness in the back seat of a vehicle, as a sanctuary manager drove to the veterinary hospital.
Earl Grey needed to be hospitalized for a few nights but has recovered from his burns.
My final weekend was spent teaching cat-dog behavior and pet first aid classes in two locations in Athens. Most Greeks I found spoke English and came with playful attitudes.
Everyone in class joined me in demos on wrapping a bloody back leg, performing the Heimlich maneuver on a choking pet and much more.
During breaks from teaching, I swished my hand in the Aegean Sea, enjoyed souvlaki at a Greek outdoor cafe and spent an afternoon marveling at the ruins of the Acropolis where, of course, I met a friendly black cat.
Before I knew it, I was on a flight back home, exhausted but exhilarated.
Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T.
This animal sanctuary in Greece (www.letsbesmart.org) relies on donations and volunteers to rescue cats and dogs off the streets and place them in welcoming homes. If you would like to make a purchase from its store, include the code ARDEN at checkout and get 15% off. Go to: https://www.etsy.com/shop/letsbesmartcharity/?etsrc=sdt&coupon=ARDEN
Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.
Comments