badger
August 18th, 2004, 01:59 AM
Brunt: Athens goes to the dogs
By STEPHEN BRUNT
Globe and Mail Update
POSTED AT 3:15 PM EDT Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004
Athens — Every night, like clockwork, in the hours just before dawn, the stray dogs of the Iraklio neighbourhood of Athens congregate outside my bedroom window and begin their ritual howl.
Are they fighting? Are they fornicating?
Difficult to say in the dark, though whatever is they're doing, its vocal and enthusiastic.
No point in even trying to sleep.
Before the Olympic Games, it was rumoured that the Greek authorities had rounded up the city's thousands of strays, and sent them off, to a better place.
Alas, that rumour, like so many others, has proven to be untrue. The pooches are everywhere, most of them big, many of them scrawny, a surprising number wearing collars, though they live full time in the streets and alleys. They're friendly enough, and catholic in their tastes - begging for food at open air cafes, they'll happily wolf down tomatoes, olives, whole loaves of bread, (though they seem to give cucumbers a pass.)
Some kind souls - including most notably the Globe's estimable news columnist, Christie Blatchford - encourage them in this behaviour, scratch them behind the ears, and call them cute names.
Now don't get me wrong - I love dogs. Two brilliant schnauzers anxiously await my return to Canada.
But in those lonely hours, staring down into the darkness through bloodshot eyes, I'd give anything for a BB gun.
By STEPHEN BRUNT
Globe and Mail Update
POSTED AT 3:15 PM EDT Tuesday, Aug 17, 2004
Athens — Every night, like clockwork, in the hours just before dawn, the stray dogs of the Iraklio neighbourhood of Athens congregate outside my bedroom window and begin their ritual howl.
Are they fighting? Are they fornicating?
Difficult to say in the dark, though whatever is they're doing, its vocal and enthusiastic.
No point in even trying to sleep.
Before the Olympic Games, it was rumoured that the Greek authorities had rounded up the city's thousands of strays, and sent them off, to a better place.
Alas, that rumour, like so many others, has proven to be untrue. The pooches are everywhere, most of them big, many of them scrawny, a surprising number wearing collars, though they live full time in the streets and alleys. They're friendly enough, and catholic in their tastes - begging for food at open air cafes, they'll happily wolf down tomatoes, olives, whole loaves of bread, (though they seem to give cucumbers a pass.)
Some kind souls - including most notably the Globe's estimable news columnist, Christie Blatchford - encourage them in this behaviour, scratch them behind the ears, and call them cute names.
Now don't get me wrong - I love dogs. Two brilliant schnauzers anxiously await my return to Canada.
But in those lonely hours, staring down into the darkness through bloodshot eyes, I'd give anything for a BB gun.