In loving memory of Areti

A few days ago passed away, after a long fight with cancer, one of, in my opinion, most important women in animal welfare in Greece, Areti Papastavrou. I found out about this days after the fact. We had not contacted each other for almost a year. I never knew she was ill. I did not get a chance even to go to her funeral.

Areti was a private person. And a very strong one. She would never admit weakness or defeat, but rather try to face the problems and find solutions, always with a positive word. And I think she was the same with her illness. 

I hope that if she is somewhere watching that she will forgive me for writing publicly about her. But I really feel that the loss of people like her should not go unnoticed. And I do want to share my impression of her and express my gratitude to her. 

Areti was active in animal welfare long before me. She was amongst those who struggled for the stray dogs roaming in the center of Athens. She rescued, neutered and fed many of them, as well as many many cats. She was in the frontier of organized animal welfare in greece, able and willing to support and advise many of the other groups. When there was trouble many of us turned to her, expecting that she would magically provide the answers. 

There is no reason here to discuss her huge animal welfare work. The fortune she spent. The animals she saved. Areti had a big heart for the elderly and the sick. Every dog under her care got the best care, quality and a loving home, in their old age. 

Areti was a slim, frail woman. But what she lacked in physical strength she more than made up in mental one. She was intelligent, gentle and noble, caring and giving. At the same time though, she could be fierce and aggressive when needed. You could see that this is a woman to be taken seriously. When we worked closely together some years ago I could feel her lack of trust in people, her tendency to think the worst of them. At that time I could not quite grasp it. But now that I have become the same, I can see how the years of dealing with people when working for the animals had taken its toll on her soul, like it is taking on mine. 

We collaborated closely for a few years. Her vital support meant that we could help together many many cats in many different ways. We worked closely, faced problems regularly. But we never ever did exchange a bitter word. She was the strong one to always say a reassuring word. She was the one I felt I could go to for advice and moral support, the one to make me see things positively and calmly. 

It is not easy to convey with words who Areti was. But i will try to record my first contact with her  that I remember vividly. 

It was more than 10 years ago. I was faced with a case of an elderly woman, a hoarder with 24 cats that suffered in horrid conditions. It was my first such case. I had written asking for advice in a mailing list with several animal welfare societies. She immediately wrote back asking to speak on the phone. She shared personal experiences and gave me ideas how to handle. But she also told me then something that I still remember vividly because it has defined my actions since. I told her my intention to leave two cats to this woman, who was crying and begging not to part with all of them. She told me "Definitely not! How are you going to choose who to sacrifice? These people are sick. No animal should be left behind." 

These words come to my mind when dealing with hoarders since then and in many other situations: No animal should be left behind. 

And these words led me to put the cats first and not the egotistical wants of their "owners". No matter if they threatened, screamed and harassed me. The animal always came first. 

That was  the code Areti lived by. She took decisive and strong action when needed. She would not back off if she felt it is not at the animal's best interest. She spent a fortune, she was attacked and made many enemies, she dedicated the biggest part of her life to rescue and care for those with no hope. And to advise all of us to do the same. She made a huge impact to the greek animal welfare, disproportionate to her almost non existent public image. All of us who had the privilege to know her and work with her know this. I really hope she realized herself as well... 

Rest in peace dear friend… 

PS. I have no photo of Areti to share. Instead I’d like to add to this post an image of our dear cat friends, all shy with people but living a happy life keeping a company to each other. From right to left, Aris, one of the rescuees from that first hoarded, now almost 12 years old, Renos, from another hoarder and Marathoula, an elderly female that was brought in a neutering program we co-organized with Areti. She gave birth before being neutered. The woman who brought her told Areti that she would not bring the family back to her garden, she would put the babies to sleep if we gave her the cat back. So Areti told me we should keep her and raise the babies for adoption. Marathoula was the best mommy and also very pleased to be inside, so we did not want to put her back to the street.