This Halloween, we’re brushing off our broomsticks and donning our devil-tails to raise funds for the life-saving collars and stop on treatments that will keep the dogs of Happy Tails Shelter in Nafpaktos, safe from a host of deadly, parasite-borne diseases.

For years, we have worked in partnership with volunteers at the Happy Tails shelter in Nafpaktos, Greece, who selflessly care for over 100 rescued dogs, many of them large breeds that are abandoned, abused and overlooked for adoption; dogs that simply have nowhere else to go.

In April, as part of our Big Greek Shelter Restoration project https://youtu.be/aSlvWbjzyWk?si=RVHDvY66hJJLV5D9 we raised over £5000 to help improve conditions at the shelter - a critical part of which involved fitting the 100+ dogs with anti-parasite collars that have kept them safe from fleas, ticks and worms and subsequently, deadly, parasite-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis and heartworm all Summer. But now, six months on, the collars are now coming to the end of their lives and need replacing soon.

The Happy Tails volunteers depend entirely on donations to keep the shelter going, it’s on us to raise funds for a new batch of collars and spot on treatments to stop the deadly creepy crawlies from coming back to bite.

So this Halloween, under the banner of our “Keep the Creepy Crawlies off” campaign we will be up to all kinds of spooky, fundraising mischief – from pumpkin-carving, to house decorating, to ghostly story telling, to psychic reading, to scary sponsored walks. In fact, wherever you see our “Keep the Creepy Crawlies Off” posters you know you we will be up to (no?) good!

Every collar costs us just over £20. Every donation makes a real difference.

It’s our mission to raise enough money to buy every single one of the 105 Happy Tails Dogs at least one life saving collar each.

So please help us find a way to keep the creepy crawlies at bay; saving lives by donating whatever you can, wherever you see us!

If you'd like to adopt an extra special dog take a look at Coro who has been successfully treated and is now ready for adoption.

More Info on Tick-Borne Diseases Found in Greece

Ehrlichiosis: This is a bacterial disease common in the Mediterranean, including Greece, that infects white blood cells and can cause fever, lethargy, and blood clotting problems.

Babesiosis: This is a protozoan disease that infects red blood cells.

Leishmaniasis: While not directly a tick-borne illness, it is transmitted by sandflies and is a significant concern in Mediterranean countries, including Greece.

Anaplasmosis: A bacterial disease that can lead to various symptoms, including fever and lethargy.

Hepatozoonosis: This protozoan infection is contracted by a dog ingesting an infected tick and can cause fever and muscle weakness.

Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE): Although less common, cases of TBE in dogs have been reported in Greece, causing neurological symptoms.