Symi SNiP
Animals were a feature of the weekend. Firstly, SNiP, the Symi Neutering Program was in, er, operation for two days, with people collecting stray cats and taking them to the visiting vet at the pet shop. The shop, at the bottom of the Kali Strata, is also a licenced vet premises, and a veterinary team come from Rhodes to see to the strays as part of an organised programme intent on keeping numbers down. The shop, Pet Island, can also be used as a port of call for animal owners who have concerns for their pets. In that case, Michaelis calls the vet in Rhodes for a discussion and, with his instruction, provides treatment (medicine, etc.). Then, during the monthly visit, the vet can see to any other treatment. This helps owners as it often makes a trip to Rhodes unnecessary. The SNiP programme is only for strays, collected with permission and by those willing to sign to take responsibility for the aftercare. If a domestic cat needs neutering, then that’s a service that must be paid for. As you can see from the photo, one cat can produce a large litter, and each kitten, in turn, can produce large litters of its own, and before long, the stray population becomes widespread and unhealthy.
Then, late on Friday night, we sat and watched a little owl on our telegraph pole. I tried for a photo, but it was too dark. The next day, a family of sparrows were being fed on the balcony rail three feet from where we sat, and on Saturday, I saw this bird on the house next door.
I thought it might be a thrush as it was about the right size, but it had a long beak and feet. I only caught it in silhouette, but it appeared dark brown when it flew closer and with its scraggy neck, looked like a seabird. But, I’m not sure what it was/is, and if I can get a better shot of it one day, I might be able to post that and ask around. We also had goats wandering the village, and that was on top of the usual chickens up at the bins who think they are stray cats and hang out with them, waiting for a free feed.
And so, off into a new week. For me. That means editing and laying out the next story ready for publication, and then moving straight onto the next, which is already a quarter drafted. I’m hoping to get myself into gear and the frame of mind to take a walk each morning and establish a new routine after all these months of laziness. If so, expect more pictures of sunrises and goats.
