Nothing is more adorable than a puppy or kitten, but when too many are produced, people often “dispose” of them in horrific ways. They are abandoned in the wilderness, tossed in the rubbish, and drowned in the sea. Easily accessible spay/neuter services help prevent such tragedies. This pup was one of the lucky ones taken in by Animal Rescue Kefalonia (ARK), a shelter that is far beyond capacity, struggling to care for and find homes for impossible numbers of unwanted animals.
Photo: RescueDiva.com

by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris

Recently we reported that Rescue Diva donated the flight escort’s airfare as well as the doggy airline fees to fly three rescued pooches from Greece to the Netherlands so that they can begin new lives with their adopters. We promised there would be more surprises coming up soon.

Well, here comes Surprise #2…

Sweet, pretty Julia Jr. became pregnant while at Animal Rescue Kefalonia (ARK) because the shelter does not have enough resources to spay/neuter all its residents. Another group on the island, Kefalonia Animal Trust (KATs), helps by raising $ for just that purpose. Photo: RescueDiva.com

Rescue Diva gives back

Among Rescue Diva’s pooch rescues in 2012 and 2013 on the Greek island of Kefalonia were four pregnant females—Diamandi, Penelope, Julia, and Despi. A wonderful animal welfare group, Kefalonia Animal Trust (KATs), paid for the spay surgeries of those four lovely girls.

As a thank-you, RescueDiva.com has now donated $200 back to Kefalonia Animal Trust. The small but highly effective group works hard to raise funds so that island residents can have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered.

In these rough times when Greeks and their companion animals have been hit hard by their country’s faltering economy, such assistance is needed more than ever to help pet guardians provide proper care for their furry best friends.

In loving memory of Aunt Kalliope

Kalliope Loizos Kouvielos and husband Cpt. Mimi Kouvielos

This RescueDiva.com donation was made in loving memory of former island resident Kalliope Loizos Kouvielos, friend to animals, gentle soul, and the aunt of Rescue Diva founder and editor Katerina Lorenzatos Makris.

KATs works to stop the suffering

For nearly a decade KAT has focused on what we at RescueDiva.com believe are the two key ways to stop the suffering of unwanted dogs and cats throughout the world:

1. Reduce pet overpopulation through widely available and affordable spay/neuter services.

2. Reduce neglect, abandonment, and abuse through education.

Three Kefalonians neutered thanks to KATs now live the high life in California: Julia Jr. (top), former resident of Animal Rescue Kefalonia (ARK), Despi (middle), former resident of island capitol Argostoli’s streets, and Agapi (bottom), former street dude from mountain village Troianata.
Photo: RescueDiva.com

“As a small group,” says KATs founder Pat Dolman, “we are proud to say that we have been instrumental in raising enough funds to either pay for, or help with the costs of neutering many hundreds of animals, and rehoming around 200 dogs and cats.”

Well done, Pat and KATs! Rescue Diva is proud to support your crucial efforts in making scenic Kefalonia an even more beautiful place for animals and for those who care about them.

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Rescue Diva depends on sales of our romantic fiction to help create more real-life happy endings.

Please use a couple of bucks to enjoy a fun read, to spice up your life, and to replenish our rescue fund.

Rescue Diva proudly sponsors needy animals in the U.S. and around the world.

For example we help Kefalonia Animal Trust (KATs) provide free spay/neuter for hundreds of animals per year, which is one of the best ways to prevent the abandonment and misery of puppies like Noah and Kyla.

We also do in-the-trenches rescues of angels like Robin, Chance, and Tiger, with help from San Diego Animal Support Foundation, and of Marisol and Lisa, with help from Last Chance at Life.

Fun romantic story just $2 ! ALL profits donated to rescue groups!

Katerina Lorenzatos Makris is a career journalist, author, and editor. Her fiction includes 17 novels for Simon and Schuster, E.P. Dutton, Avon, and other major publishers (under the name Kathryn Makris), as well as a teleplay for CBS-TV, and a short story for The Bark magazine. She has written hundreds of articles for regional wire services and for outlets such as National Geographic Traveler, The San Francisco Chronicle, Travelers’ Tales, NBC’s Petside.com, Animal Issues Reporter.com, and Examiner.com (Animal Policy Examiner).

Together with coauthor Shelley Frost, Katerina wrote a step-by-step guide for hands-on, in-the-trenches dog rescue, Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know About Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need (The Lyons Press).