Animal lover Jeff was so inspired by Zante Strays he gave them £3150 and raised another £700 for their shelter appeal
It’s the biggest donation Zante Strays has ever received.
Through his #manonamission campaign Jeff created fridge magnets to raise awareness of their work.
It means workers are close to being able to build a new shelter to home dogs and pups who desperately need help.
Jeff meets Jamie and the pups at the makeshift Zante Strays shelter
Jeff, 52, who lives in Mansfield, said: “I heard about Zante Strays when I was out in a restaurant and donated 140 Euros there and then.
“I contacted Jamie Contonis and she invited me to meet her and learn more about the work they do.
“It completely blew me away. You see dogs limping and bleeding in the streets.
“Coming from the UK where pets are so treasured it’s utterly heartbreaking.
“There’s no RSPCA or animal charities there and the dogs suffer terribly.
Seeing the work Jamie and the Zante Strays volunteers do is so inspiring.
“Puppies were running around, older dogs were in makeshift shelters and Jamie was tending to some animals who were so poorly. I wanted to do my bit to help.
“I’ve got savings, I don’t have kids and I’d not long lost my father, who was a huge dog lover.
“So I donated another £3,000 and did the magnet campaign to raise awareness too.”
The money has gone towards a £7,500 appeal to build a new Zante Strays shelter on the island to help dogs in need and prepare abandoned pups before they are rehomed.
Like Angel who was found close to death, starving and with leishmaniasis, a skin disorder which causes lesions and had been completely neglected for months if not years.
She was skin and bone with sores all over her body and overgrown nails when she was found in early October, but has now been treated and is being nursed back to health.
This photo is upsetting but shows the extent of neglect Zante Strays see and why supporting their work is vital.
Angel when she was found
Little Bassoon who fled from thugs
Also looking for a home is Bassoon, a puppy found living in a ditch.
He was hiding from thugs who tortured helpless animals to death earlier this year, poisoning them and setting them on fire.
There’s handsome Toffee, a 18-month-old dog who along with his litter of frightened puppies was dumped in the mountains and left to die.
He’s now a medium sized healthy dog and while he loves being foster dad to the puppies he’s desperate for a forever family.
Toffee is 18 months and would love a furever home
Five pups, Earnest, Ethan, Enzo, Emma and Evelyn are being tended to after they were found dumped in the mountains.
They’re less than two months old and never would have survived.
Emma
Enzo
Ernesto
Ethan
Evelyn
Jamie said: “We’re a small group of volunteers and every day we help dogs in need.
“Jeff’s donation is the most generous we have had since starting in 2014. It means we’re close to reaching our target to build the shelter.
“He’s raising awareness of our work on Facebook and through his fridge magnets. It means to much to us and we are so thankful.
“Every donation helps. We have rehomed many dogs to the UK and they make wonderful pets.
“So we ask people looking to rehome an animal to consider a Zante Stray.”
Frances Brindle of wildcrowd.org is helping to boost the appeal too.
We told how she adopted Smee after being inspired by their work, just like Jeff.
She said: “Jeff has been tireless in his efforts to help fund a much needed new shelter.
“Thanks to his generosity the campaign needs to raise just £1500.
“I recently adopted a dog from Zante Strays so this wonderful charity is very close to my heart.
“I’d urge anyone who loves dogs to support them and help Jeff achieve his mission.”
I set up the Paw Post to recognise people who do amazing things for animals and Jeff is certainly one of them.
If you’ve been inspired by his story, please share to recognise his kindness and raise awareness of Zante Strays.
If you’d like to donate to the shelter campaign, visit https://www.wildcrowd.org/campaigns/detail/48/protect-tiny-stray-puppies-and-vulnerable-dogs-from-a-risky-life-on-the-streets
You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and if you’re holidaying in Zante, visit them via the map below.
