LETTER OF INTEREST OF PFPO (Hellenic Philozoic and Environmental Federation) and ESPI (Hellenic Equine Protection Association)

To the attention of:

• THE PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL UNION OF HELLENIC MUNICIPALITIES,

• THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT,

• The MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AFFAIRS,

• THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR ANIMALS,

Dear Sir/Madam,

Another horse breathed its last in the city of Corfu while driving a carriage, at noon, on a very hot day in July (6/7/2023). It is not an isolated incident but can be added to the multiple incidents of equine abuse, which occur mainly in touristic regions of the country, causing public outcry and discrediting us internationally.

Recently, the well-known actress Anjelica Huston made a public intervention expressing her disgust for the treatment of donkeys that carry tourists on their backs in Santorini, while International Organizations are constantly intervening with evidence and calling for the abolition of the mistreatment of equines.

The abuse of thousands of equines, (horses, mules, and donkeys) who are forced to work endless hours, under the sun, carrying people and luggage or pulling carriages, usually on difficult routes, often with excessive weight, with poor equipment that increases their abuse, animals often old or sick, dehydrated and exhausted, is the reality and often leads to severe injuries, disabilities and deaths of these animals. This is a barbaric, not necessary, outdated practice and ultimately blatant abuse.

A practice impermissible to sentient beings, who have the right to a normal and painless life.

City Councils in major tourist regions, such as Rome and Mallorca or elsewhere, have made up decisions to abolish such horse and carriage transport.

It is time for brave decisions to be taken by the Greek State and the Municipalities of the country, in order to put an end to the torture and the unfair and deadly exploitation of those animals.

It is neither picturesque nor romantic to exploit and exhaust defenseless animals, to have fun at the expense of their well-being and life. It negatively characterizes our culture and our image.

We demand, in favor of the greater good of our society, measures for the immediate abolition of the use of equines for tourist attraction & an end to such practices.

Yours sincerely,

For the Hellenic Philozoic and Environmental Federation,

President Anna Tosounoglou & G. Secretary Maria Houstoulaki