Rohi, dressed up and colour-matching MarieJose
Facebook has been a mixed bag for me. When I relocated to Crete, Facebook's expat groups in Greece, especially those for Crete, provided me with a valuable lifeline. The first person I connected with was a budding photographer in Chania. After striking up a conversation, he expressed an interest in learning from me, and I was more than happy to share my knowledge and passion for photography with him. We eventually decided to meet in Rethymno, a midway point between our respective cities of Chania and Heraklion, which caused quite a stir among our friends.
How could I possibly meet with someone I met on Facebook and
I've never seen before? It could be by all means another version of Jack the Ripper! My husband, trusting my judgement knew that I would be ok, while the rest thought I was out of my mind. Turned out it was not Jack the Ripper, but a funny and nice guy, my age, who really wanted to learn photography.
Despite the initial skepticism, it turned out to be a pleasant encounter, and we built a strong friendship.
A year later, I got to know Delana Luna, a remarkable artist and writer who shares my deep passion for dogs. Delana Luna's compassionate nature led her to rescue four adorable puppies in Crete, two of which she decided to keep while finding loving homes for the other two. Crete, like many places, faces issues with stray dogs, abandoned puppies, and animal mistreatment. It's important to acknowledge that this is a global problem reflective of our society's harsh and disposable nature. Determined to shed light on the plight of dogs in Crete, Delana Luna and I conceptualized a positive way to draw attention to this issue. We decided to photograph women residing in Crete who have adopted stray or abandoned dogs. Delana Luna as a creative director showcased her exceptional organizational and creative skills. I joined her for the first photoshoot in Rethymno, where we captured the heartwarming bond between four women, including Delana Luna, and their beloved rescue dogs.
From left to right: Jasmina, Akos and Tria, Alepou
Each woman we photographed had a unique and touching story to share, stemming from diverse ethnic backgrounds and life experiences. Despite our differences, we were united by our shared love for dogs. I was deeply moved by the profound connections between these women and their canine companions. Let me take this opportunity to introduce you to each of them individually:
Meet Delana, a talented Australian/Italian Artist and Spiritual Consultant with a playful, courageous, and mystic nature. Delana has been residing on the picturesque island of Crete for a year and four months, and her life took an unexpected turn when she came across four abandoned puppies. These poor little creatures were found at a church, nestled in a bed of leaves with food they couldn't eat and milk that would have made them sick. They appeared to be drugged and were suffering from severe worm infestations. Despite being turned away by overcrowded shelters, Delana made a compassionate decision to nurse the puppies back to health, even though she had plans to leave the island. This selfless act led to her postponing her departure. While two of the puppies have found new homes in Sweden and Analipsi near Heraklion, Tria and Akos have become an integral part of Delana's life. Their distinct personalities bring joy to her every day. Delana fondly remarks, "They teach me humility and patience." Tria, a spirited little rascal, slyly steals treats from the pet store, while Akos's overflowing love and excitement cause him to skid sideways like a helicopter.
Meet Julia, an Art Therapist who has called Crete home for the past 5 years. Hailing from Germany, she describes herself as curious, open-hearted, and fair. I'd also say Julia is incredibly approachable and kind. Oh, and let's not forget about her brave, independent, and smart dog Alepou! I decided to keep her because I had a strong desire to do so in my guts. I tend to make decisions intuitively. I picked her and not her brother because I saw her sly personality and I loved it. Her brother was a potato but she got fire.
She was obviously consciously abandoned by someone. For me, it's this attitude that someone else (in this case me) will solve your problem.
Meet Paola, an Italian native with a deep passion for nature and art. She holds a degree in Natural Science with a focus on botany and ethnobotany, and her love for the Cretan flora and its ethnobotanical uses has led her to produce herbal remedies for skin and hair, along with other wellness products.
But Paola's interests don't stop there. She is also an avid dancer, having been drawn to oriental dance as a teenager. Her exploration of various dance styles ultimately brought her back to the dances of Roma people and the history of her own heritage, which she uses to raise awareness of this underrepresented cultural world.
Paola's compassion extends to animals as well. After learning about the plight of stray dogs in Crete, she fulfilled her dream of owning a dog by adopting Jasmina, who was found severely injured and unable to walk properly. Through her determination and a successful crowdfunding campaign, Paola was able to raise the necessary funds for Jasmina's surgery, which resulted in her receiving a hip prosthesis and gaining the ability to move freely without pain.
Meet MarieJose, a free-spirited soul from the Netherlands who now calls Crete her home. A former tour guide in Asia, she found herself in Crete due to the impact of the Corona crisis. MarieJose is known for her adventurous spirit and kind heart. Her faithful companion is a dog named Rohi, whose name reflects his easy-going nature. When circumstances led MarieJose to Crete, she took up house cleaning to make ends meet. Little did she know that this decision would lead her to a fateful encounter with a lady running an animal shelter for cats and dogs. It was there that she met Rohi, a stray who had spent four long years at the shelter, overlooked by potential adopters. During her cleaning duties, MarieJose stumbled upon Rohi, curled up in a small cat basket. Their connection was instant, and as Rohi gazed at her with his soulful eyes, she knew she couldn't leave him behind. In the end, it wasn't MarieJose who chose Rohi, but the other way around.
Read about their individual stories in my upcoming blogs
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