History
The first animal welfare charity on Aegina, FAZA (Friends of the Strays of Aegina), was founded in 1995 by Anne Giannoulis and Madeline Beale, when the mayor asked them to look after the stray dogs housed in the former prison. Food was solicited from local businesses, a local vet was enlisted to neuter, vaccinate and provide veterinary care, and a homing program was initiated. Three years later, the former prison was designated for cultural purposes forcing the relocation of the dogs. Private individuals donated some land out of town, it was fenced in and the dogs were taken there. The conditions were pretty awful and worsened as the debts accumulated.
A new group, Animal Respect, took over, founded by German national Gaby Wolff, whose courage and determination were instrumental in stabilizing the situation. A septic tank was built, wooden dog houses were acquired, along with two trailers for storage, and the dogs were fed better-quality food. Running a shelter and rehoming animals out of Greece, however, became increasingly challenging for a foreign charity and a solution was sought to secure the future of the shelter.
In 2006, the dog shelter was transferred to Animal Protection Aegina Agistri (APAA), a charity better structured to ensure the shelter’s viability. Under the enlightened leadership of APAA’s founders Vivi Iakovidou and Renate Athanasiou, the shelter developed into a fully functional modern facility running on solar energy, equipped with security cameras and a brand-new surgery clinic. Best friends Vivi and Renate died in 2014 and 2016 respectively, but the spirit they instilled into APAA lives on, carried by the solid foundation these two remarkable women laid for the future.
