1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: This is Pet Life Radio. Let's talk pets. 2 00:00:24,039 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: Hello, cat levers, and welcome to Cautitude. I'm your show 3 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,160 host Michelle Burne. You know here in the US, you know, 4 00:00:31,239 --> 00:00:33,439 we love our cats. I mean they're like are you 5 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,399 know there are babies, are for babies, and you know, 6 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,359 T and R is very important to us, and we 7 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,840 have such a wonderful view of you know, how we 8 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,679 respect cats for the most part. You know where cats 9 00:00:45,719 --> 00:00:48,159 being euthanized has gone way down over the years and 10 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,880 so forth. But it's really interesting when you step back 11 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,920 and take a look at how another country views cats, 12 00:00:56,039 --> 00:00:58,560 because it's not the same. Feline views are not the 13 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,679 same all over the world. We're going to talk to 14 00:01:00,759 --> 00:01:04,239 our guests today who's done some remarkable things, will be 15 00:01:04,439 --> 00:01:04,879 right back. 16 00:01:09,079 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 3: You know the expression cats have nine lives, Well, what 17 00:01:13,079 --> 00:01:15,879 if you can give them one more? But give them ten? 18 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,200 Movement is on a mission to help give cats an 19 00:01:19,239 --> 00:01:23,920 extra life. How with spae and newter Spain or Neotering 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,719 your cat helps them live a longer, healthier life and 21 00:01:28,239 --> 00:01:32,439 it helps control free roaming cat populations too. Learn more 22 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:36,120 about the benefits of SPEE and neoter and meet Scooter, 23 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,480 the newtered cat at give them ten dot org. That's 24 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,400 give them ten dot org. 25 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:59,719 Speaker 4: Let's talk pets on Petlife Radio dot com. 26 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 5: Wecome back, everyone. 27 00:02:01,079 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: I'd like to introduce Julie Kelly. She is a cat 28 00:02:05,359 --> 00:02:09,319 rescuer by day and a businesswoman by night. She owns 29 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,919 a construction company in New York and also owns a 30 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:17,520 nonprofit called Let's Be Smart. And I'm so excited to 31 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:18,520 have you on the show. 32 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,719 Speaker 5: Welcome Julie, thank you, Thank you for having me. Michelle, 33 00:02:23,599 --> 00:02:24,560 I'm so excited. 34 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,039 Speaker 2: Okay, so I didn't go into but Let's be spart 35 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,719 actually stands for something, the smart part, right. 36 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:36,319 Speaker 5: Yeah, successfully managing animal rights today. I love that. 37 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: You know, for my introduction, people are probably thinking, okay, 38 00:02:39,319 --> 00:02:42,240 so it's like your superwoman, you're cat rescuing and then 39 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,479 you're a Brismith woman, you know, right, doesn't that how 40 00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:48,319 one of the superheroes goes you know this by day, 41 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,000 this by night? And so you have this successful business 42 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,199 in New York and you decided to go to Greece 43 00:02:55,599 --> 00:02:59,759 and rescue cats. Yes, how in the world did that happen? 44 00:02:59,759 --> 00:03:02,159 Because because it's a huge change. 45 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, well it started with business and I had some 46 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,000 business with Greeks in New York. And you know, once 47 00:03:12,039 --> 00:03:13,960 you're in with the Greeks, it's like my big fat 48 00:03:14,039 --> 00:03:17,919 Greek wedding. So you know, so you have to go 49 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,560 to Greece. So I started going back in nineteen ninety eight. 50 00:03:21,719 --> 00:03:24,360 I think my first place I went was the island 51 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:28,719 of Rhodes. And I felt very comfortable because I started 52 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,560 learning the language because I was business partners with the 53 00:03:31,599 --> 00:03:33,560 Greek They were always speaking Greek in the office in 54 00:03:33,599 --> 00:03:35,719 New York. So I said, I'm going to learn Greek. 55 00:03:35,759 --> 00:03:38,479 So I know what you're saying. So I took some 56 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,240 classes at NYU Modern Greek, and then I just felt 57 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,199 very comfortable, and I was coming every year, and then 58 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,840 I would come several times a year, and every time 59 00:03:47,879 --> 00:03:50,280 I would come, of course, I would see all the 60 00:03:50,319 --> 00:03:54,039 stray animals and a lot of them, you know, unfortunately, 61 00:03:54,159 --> 00:03:57,039 very sick on the streets. And I just said in 62 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,680 my head one day, I'm going to move to Greece, 63 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,199 since I heave the animals. And I kind of was 64 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,639 on the airplane one time coming from Greece back to 65 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:09,360 New York and I said, you know, after seeing the 66 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,680 mentality over here, which is a little bit different, which 67 00:04:11,719 --> 00:04:14,759 their strays are kind of a nuisance, or they're not 68 00:04:14,919 --> 00:04:18,720 really able to take care. It's also economic issues, or 69 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:21,839 they just don't care. You know, there are many that care. 70 00:04:21,879 --> 00:04:23,920 I don't want to say that, but I said, I 71 00:04:23,959 --> 00:04:26,839 need to educate, like I want to give some education. 72 00:04:26,959 --> 00:04:29,680 I want to tell them how great the animals are 73 00:04:29,759 --> 00:04:32,319 and how they can you know, be of help to them, 74 00:04:32,879 --> 00:04:37,000 especially medically. You know, it's therapy and just positive energy 75 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:38,560 and all that. So I said, I need to come 76 00:04:38,639 --> 00:04:41,079 up with a name, not that you know that we 77 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,959 can be smart, we can stay smart, get smart, be smart, 78 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,319 whatever it is. So then I was on the airplane 79 00:04:47,319 --> 00:04:49,360 trying to figure out what smart would stand for. So 80 00:04:49,399 --> 00:04:52,800 then I came up with successfully managing emalits today. And 81 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,279 I actually started I created like a brochure because I 82 00:04:56,319 --> 00:04:59,399 was I actually study natural medicine just as a hobby 83 00:04:59,439 --> 00:05:02,680 because I like natural kind of natural things and exercise. 84 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:08,360 So I started speaking and putting together a brochure at 85 00:05:08,399 --> 00:05:12,519 the Greek American University here because I was taking some 86 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,560 classes too, just for the heck of it, some business 87 00:05:14,639 --> 00:05:18,279 classes to see what international was about. And they loved it, 88 00:05:18,319 --> 00:05:19,959 and then they would ask me to come back and 89 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,120 talk to the students. And it was really surprising that 90 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,519 I put together like a whole PowerPoint presentation and I 91 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,079 put about all the benefits for the animals and even 92 00:05:30,079 --> 00:05:32,839 about animals at retirement homes and how nice it is 93 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,319 for the older people and for depression and loneliness, and 94 00:05:35,519 --> 00:05:38,720 it was amazing that they all had no idea. And 95 00:05:38,759 --> 00:05:41,240 these are twenty year old students. 96 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,199 Speaker 2: So obviously this is all in Greece, at the Greek 97 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,040 American University in Greece. 98 00:05:46,439 --> 00:05:50,879 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's called the Hellenic American University, Okay, And so 99 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,519 I just got kind of got inspired by that, and 100 00:05:53,519 --> 00:05:57,600 that's more what I was planning to do. But then 101 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:02,240 you know how it goes the pregnant cat and the neighborhood, 102 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:05,680 and I see dead kittens all the time, and I said, 103 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,480 I can't let you have your kittens anymore outside, and 104 00:06:08,519 --> 00:06:12,000 so I rented an apartment. It was the cat tory. 105 00:06:12,319 --> 00:06:14,360 Let her have her babies at the VETS office, and 106 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,000 when they were old enough that they came to this 107 00:06:17,079 --> 00:06:20,279 apartment and the shelter kind of started like that was 108 00:06:20,319 --> 00:06:24,959 back in two thousand and eleven. So then, okay, one 109 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,560 by one by one by one, and there was a 110 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,680 lot of cats in there, and I ended up needing 111 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,319 a larger space, which is now the shelter. We're at 112 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,519 the main main shelter out by the Athens Airport, which 113 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,040 is a huge villa. It's about three thousand square feet, 114 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,279 three levels, and now we have over there. We have 115 00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:48,920 over fifty some cats, and I wanted something that would 116 00:06:48,959 --> 00:06:52,439 be very professional, so we have two managers, Ellie and Amber. 117 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,439 That Amber lives there full time. Ellie comes there on 118 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,800 a full time basis, just setting it up also as 119 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,439 a an open environment so that the cats feel like 120 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,360 they're at home. And we do have bedrooms because that 121 00:07:06,519 --> 00:07:08,680 we house volunteers, which I can tell you all about 122 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,399 that later. But and then we have another foster home 123 00:07:11,439 --> 00:07:13,120 which is near where I live, which I live in 124 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,360 a different area of a different part of Athens, more 125 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:18,759 by the sea, and that grew now and now we 126 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,480 have like twenty something cats there, but a lot of 127 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:25,360 them are special needs or temporary. So we have about 128 00:07:25,399 --> 00:07:29,120 eighty cats altogether at a given time, and we have 129 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,399 medical books we have you know, it's just it's just 130 00:07:32,519 --> 00:07:35,879 run very professionally scheduled. Like I say, volunteers coming from 131 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:38,839 all over the world. We have a VET internship program. 132 00:07:38,879 --> 00:07:40,920 Now for our second year, we have our first US 133 00:07:40,959 --> 00:07:43,160 student is with us right now. Actually she's staying at 134 00:07:43,199 --> 00:07:47,680 the shelter, Ashley from Minnesota. So we're excited and she's happy. 135 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,480 And I just tried to create a whole program because 136 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,639 I knew that it's not just feeding a stray cat 137 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,519 on the street, because that's not going to help. You know, 138 00:07:55,519 --> 00:07:58,680 they're still going to be sick, get killed, not have 139 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,040 the right care. You know, yes, you can sterilize them, 140 00:08:02,199 --> 00:08:04,360 which I agree with that as well, and especially for 141 00:08:04,439 --> 00:08:06,480 cats that don't really want to live indoors, because there 142 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,040 are feral cats that don't want to live indoors unless again, 143 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,439 you teach the people to like the animals. They can 144 00:08:12,439 --> 00:08:16,439 put poison here and things. It's illegal, but that doesn't matter. 145 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,959 They poison animals, and you know, they reckless a little 146 00:08:19,959 --> 00:08:21,639 bit the way they drive, so if they see a 147 00:08:21,639 --> 00:08:23,560 cat with a clip, dear, they don't really know. So 148 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,560 the whole important thing is education. So I'm trying to 149 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,439 make a global view of let's be smart. It's not 150 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,879 just one thing, it's many things put together, you know, 151 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:37,000 in order to have the community be more involved and 152 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:39,759 like I say, be more educated, target the children for 153 00:08:39,919 --> 00:08:44,360 education and then take care properly of the cats around 154 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,159 our area. And then the girls at the shelter have 155 00:08:47,639 --> 00:08:50,840 strays that they also help manage and sterilize. So and 156 00:08:50,879 --> 00:08:54,000 we started several programs like we created I don't know 157 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,159 if you've seen, but we created our own video series 158 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,759 for animated video series for children, and I created the 159 00:09:00,799 --> 00:09:04,480 Smart Family, so everything they do is smart when they 160 00:09:04,519 --> 00:09:07,039 adopt a cat, and then we teach people how to 161 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,799 take care of their pets in these videos. We have 162 00:09:09,919 --> 00:09:12,399 six right now in our series and we're writing a 163 00:09:12,399 --> 00:09:18,159 special number seven one for the guests that you mentioned before. 164 00:09:18,399 --> 00:09:21,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, Julie, what done is amazing. I just I just 165 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:23,519 want to go back to the beginning and ask you 166 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:28,039 a question. Why do you think there is such a difference. 167 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,799 You know here in the US and catitude is heard globally, 168 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:35,559 but mostly in North America. And in North America, you 169 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:39,679 know US, Canada, even like I know UK, I don't 170 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,039 know France, you know, not all of Europe, but there's 171 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,840 a viewpoint there are fur babies. But then Greece, like 172 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:48,720 you said that, you know their cats are thought of 173 00:09:48,759 --> 00:09:52,720 this almost like rodents, and you're working like just so 174 00:09:52,879 --> 00:09:56,600 diligently and like you said, very smart, very very smart 175 00:09:56,919 --> 00:09:59,679 to make the change. Why do you think that is? 176 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 5: I mean, I think it comes from an older culture 177 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:06,600 where it was very agricultural as well, so I think 178 00:10:06,639 --> 00:10:10,039 they're used to the animals being outdoors. I mean, there 179 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:11,840 are a lot of people that love the animals. Now 180 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,600 it's getting better and better, I have to say, and 181 00:10:13,639 --> 00:10:18,600 there's many great women and other organizations start trying. I 182 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,639 don't think anyone really has a shelter like ours, but 183 00:10:21,759 --> 00:10:24,679 there are many, and I collaborate. I like to collaborate, 184 00:10:24,759 --> 00:10:27,879 so I try to share whenever I can help someone else, 185 00:10:27,919 --> 00:10:30,679 and then we share for different resources such as maybe 186 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,360 flights for adoption things like that. But overall, yeah, there's 187 00:10:34,399 --> 00:10:37,759 still a lot of education to be learned. And it 188 00:10:37,759 --> 00:10:39,720 starts with the children because I think a lot of 189 00:10:39,759 --> 00:10:41,960 the parents still have a little bit the old school 190 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,840 mentality and they don't like the hair in the house. 191 00:10:45,039 --> 00:10:48,639 That's one thing, and they say the hair. But actually, 192 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,519 in one of our brochures that we give out because 193 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:55,840 we've tried to encourage smart yards and put like those 194 00:10:55,919 --> 00:10:58,120 cute outdoor wood homes if they're going to at least 195 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,759 have animals at the condo, because there's a lot of 196 00:11:00,759 --> 00:11:03,320 condo buildings here, you know, it's not so many suburbian 197 00:11:03,399 --> 00:11:05,440 homes like we have in America. It's a lot of 198 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,120 condo buildings. So and then in our brochure we try 199 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,240 to say, why are the cats good for the building? 200 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:14,000 They can help keep the road and population down, they 201 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,559 can help for the cockroaches, you know, things like that, 202 00:11:16,799 --> 00:11:20,159 and okay, you can keep a smartyard, you can keep 203 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,120 it clean, because that's the other problem. We do have 204 00:11:23,279 --> 00:11:25,960 people that want to try to feed the cats, but 205 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,440 they don't realize that throwing their half eaten food on 206 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:33,559 the sidewalk is the right thing. I give them credit 207 00:11:33,639 --> 00:11:36,639 for trying, but then the problem is people complain and 208 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,399 they're like it's disgusting or you know, they think right, 209 00:11:39,759 --> 00:11:43,399 ants and bugs, and so they're kind of a lot 210 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,720 of them are halfway there. And I feel that more 211 00:11:46,759 --> 00:11:49,320 and more, like with one mayor, he let us put 212 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,720 twenty smart houses all over this one town, and now 213 00:11:53,759 --> 00:11:57,559 they're organized and people can put food and water in 214 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,600 a an organized cap state feeding station because they just 215 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,240 don't really have so many. There's some here and there, 216 00:12:04,279 --> 00:12:07,080 but not really so organized, and people throw them away, 217 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,039 they destroy them, they throw garbage on them. So unfortunately 218 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,840 it doesn't you know, not in ours, but in other 219 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:15,519 places that I've tried. But we're trying to show the 220 00:12:15,519 --> 00:12:18,519 community the hey, we can all live together and we 221 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:21,840 can be clean and neat, and the cats can eat, 222 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,960 you can eat, you know, then we can see if 223 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,480 they're sick, we can take care of them. We can, 224 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,039 you know. That's the other thing too, is economically okay, 225 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,399 some people just can't. The retired people here don't hardly 226 00:12:34,399 --> 00:12:36,720 get any money, so that's probably a problem. Where the 227 00:12:36,759 --> 00:12:39,279 ladies want to feed, they can only afford to feed. 228 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:40,159 And that's about it. 229 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 2: Well, let me ask you this, what is tn R 230 00:12:42,879 --> 00:12:46,320 Rescue like there for you guys? I mean, I'm sure 231 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,639 it's a whole different kind of thing than it is 232 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:49,320 in the US. 233 00:12:50,519 --> 00:12:54,759 Speaker 5: They are doing it. There are some people that are 234 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,600 more active. In fact, again, when we talk about the 235 00:12:58,639 --> 00:13:02,679 other person, we're going to be honoring one female and 236 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,519 male TNR King and Queen here in Greece. One of 237 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:10,399 them is actually a police officer and so he is 238 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,480 saving the people by day and trapping cats by night. 239 00:13:14,159 --> 00:13:16,799 His name is Alexis. Yeah, he's really nice. And then 240 00:13:16,799 --> 00:13:19,919 there's a lady named Maria, which we're also going to 241 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,879 be doing an event with her when when everybody comes, 242 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,519 and she's pretty active. But there's a you know, some 243 00:13:25,639 --> 00:13:28,559 people in northern Greece. There's a girl and you know, 244 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,600 there's a few that are known and they're trying. But again, 245 00:13:31,799 --> 00:13:34,559 nobody has funds here. That's the other problem. The government 246 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:38,240 doesn't really even help. Nobody gets help, so everybody's trying 247 00:13:38,279 --> 00:13:41,519 to do what they can on limited resources. This is 248 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,519 the other big, big problem. So they know about it. 249 00:13:45,519 --> 00:13:49,559 It's starting to get more popular. There's also a couple organizations, 250 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,320 like there's one called nine Lines. She doesn't have a shelter, 251 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,440 but she's also British so she knows more about that. 252 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,919 And they do a lot of tn R in downtown 253 00:14:00,039 --> 00:14:02,759 Athens where we do it in my area and out 254 00:14:02,879 --> 00:14:05,360 where my shelter is, which are completely different areas from 255 00:14:05,399 --> 00:14:10,039 downtown Athens. So it's getting there and they're starting to realize. 256 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,360 And the more you educate the public, like in one 257 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,960 of my video series, we talk about how one cat 258 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,000 can end up you know, there could be two thousand 259 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,840 cats from one pregnant mom. So once you show them 260 00:14:20,879 --> 00:14:23,840 these charts and they get a perspective, nobody's taught them 261 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:27,600 this before. Nobody has really explained this to them. So 262 00:14:27,799 --> 00:14:32,159 it's just they need more awareness. I think about giving 263 00:14:32,159 --> 00:14:34,720 the animals a little bit more important, Like I say, 264 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,759 there are people with pets. There are people walking a 265 00:14:36,759 --> 00:14:38,559 lot of dogs. Even in my area, I see a 266 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,600 lot more dogs than I've lived here sixteen years. So 267 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:46,840 definitely there's an improvement, but it still needs more education. 268 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,240 And yeah, the younger kids exactly. 269 00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:53,679 Speaker 2: It also sounds like what you're describing, and when you 270 00:14:53,759 --> 00:14:57,360 know mentioned that, you know. The government's entirely different of course, 271 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,840 and limited resources for so many folks. Is being a 272 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,919 pet parent kind of like a bit of a luxury in. 273 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:06,799 Speaker 5: Greece maybe, I mean it depends if they want. Some 274 00:15:06,879 --> 00:15:10,679 of the people want only breeds, so yes, like sometimes 275 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,919 they feel that the stray is dirty, huh, and then 276 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:17,720 they want to get the breed. But I think, again, 277 00:15:17,799 --> 00:15:20,639 little by little that's changing. And I saw a couple 278 00:15:20,679 --> 00:15:25,240 of our stores the pet stores stop selling puppies and 279 00:15:25,519 --> 00:15:28,200 cats from their stores. So I don't know if that's 280 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,120 a law. I know in some of the European countries 281 00:15:30,159 --> 00:15:32,399 they've changed that so that you have to go to 282 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,759 like a shelter or a registered breeder. Yes, I know 283 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,519 some of these states have done it. California, I know, 284 00:15:38,759 --> 00:15:42,320 and I think New York not all, but right so 285 00:15:42,519 --> 00:15:46,039 I think, you know, so some do want that, But 286 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:48,559 like I say, I think little by little, and I 287 00:15:48,639 --> 00:15:52,080 think it's interesting because I think when they see what 288 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:54,919 we've done with the cats and how we've nursed them, 289 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,879 because some you can't even imagine the way they looked 290 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,159 before we're half dead, and you know, we turn them 291 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:05,159 into these perfect beautiful kittens or cats, I think they 292 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,440 feel when they get them from our organization they've had 293 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,480 the proper care that they wouldn't have known what to do, 294 00:16:11,799 --> 00:16:14,960 you know what I mean, yes, exactly, and they wouldn't 295 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,720 have probably taken it to the vet because they don't 296 00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:19,919 have the money to pay the vet bills, and that's 297 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,840 the other problem. So they leave them. They can tend 298 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,000 to leave them more on the street sick because they 299 00:16:26,039 --> 00:16:29,320 can't afford to take them, and no government really helps 300 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:30,080 very much. 301 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 2: There's no humane society that has lower costs in Greece. 302 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 5: Nothing, not really, I mean there are some vets that 303 00:16:38,679 --> 00:16:42,000 will help, and like say, they'll give us a special price, 304 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,399 and they'll give some other organizations a special price, or 305 00:16:44,559 --> 00:16:46,480 you know, maybe if you were friendly with them, they'll 306 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,639 give you something. But there's not really anything organized like that. 307 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,600 They don't really have a lot of shelters either from 308 00:16:53,759 --> 00:16:56,519 the city, which is probably better because I don't think 309 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:01,320 it would be in the best condition. So yeah, so 310 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:02,960 a lot of people are on their own. A lot 311 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,440 of people are trying, you know, with dogs or cats, 312 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:08,079 and it can be very difficult. 313 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 2: We're going to take a short break and come back 314 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,039 and talk about some exciting things that you have been 315 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,839 coming with smart so I'll be right back. 316 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,559 Speaker 5: Real people, real stories. 317 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 6: Our little dog developed this lumph problem at the chemotherapy 318 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,599 lasted for six months, started developing more lymph nose, so 319 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,400 I thought I'd just try carnivore. The lymph nose started 320 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,319 to go down. Then I took him into the vet 321 00:17:32,319 --> 00:17:34,240 to him and checked out and there was no signs 322 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:34,960 at all. Inside. 323 00:17:35,039 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 7: My cat had issues that developed into height and three 324 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,039 months later my ven airing said this, go ahead and 325 00:17:40,079 --> 00:17:43,039 remove the eye. I heard the carnivore on advertising, so 326 00:17:43,079 --> 00:17:45,200 I said, you know what, I'm going to order this product. 327 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,440 They did the procedure, they did all the death and 328 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,119 they said, I don't know what you did this product. 329 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:51,279 Speaker 5: They had eye. 330 00:17:51,599 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 7: I've got a labrador. You could hardly lift yourself up 331 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,480 off the door. The treatment list, Game of therapy. That's 332 00:17:57,519 --> 00:17:59,960 when I said this could be the ticket. About three 333 00:18:00,079 --> 00:18:02,839 weeks you could tell she was very alert. She was 334 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,200 going on fire my walk and. 335 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 4: She is just like prime again. 336 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 2: Well eight six six eight three six eight seven three five. 337 00:18:09,839 --> 00:18:13,119 That's eight six six eight three six eight seven three five. 338 00:18:13,519 --> 00:18:17,000 Or visit carnivore dot com. That's c A r N I. 339 00:18:17,079 --> 00:18:18,599 Speaker 5: V O r A dot com. 340 00:18:18,839 --> 00:18:22,799 Speaker 3: Use promo code pet life at checkout for fifteen percent 341 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,839 off your order at carnivora dot com. 342 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,079 Speaker 5: Let's talk past, Let's done, pet Talk about Life Radio, 343 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:31,240 Hetline Radio. 344 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 8: Pet Live Radio dot com. 345 00:18:44,519 --> 00:18:47,839 Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone. We're talking with Julie Kelly, the founder 346 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,400 of Smart. I am so excited because now Smart, from 347 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,160 looking at your website, I know you have various fundraising 348 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,599 events since we talked about one earlier in the show, 349 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:01,119 but you have one coming up called Wrap to Trap, 350 00:19:01,599 --> 00:19:04,440 and you have who if I could do a drum roll, 351 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:08,079 you know, like a I don't know, maybe Mike right, 352 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:12,119 not musical anyway. The Trap King Sterling Davis, who is 353 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,559 a big proponent of T and R, is going to 354 00:19:14,599 --> 00:19:17,799 come to Grease to do this event. So can you 355 00:19:17,839 --> 00:19:20,920 tell us about this event and then overall just an 356 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,000 overall snapshot of your events that you have. 357 00:19:23,599 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 5: Yeah, so we're super excited. We saw him in some 358 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,440 probably some YouTube videos or something like the beginning of 359 00:19:31,559 --> 00:19:34,640 twenty twenty one, and we said, let's contact him. 360 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,599 Speaker 2: Sorry, the Cat Rescuers on Amazon? Was he in that one? 361 00:19:37,759 --> 00:19:40,519 Speaker 5: Not The Cat Rescuers? But interestingly I know the producer 362 00:19:40,559 --> 00:19:44,920 of that documentary. Yeah, he's really nice. A Sassy is 363 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:45,880 in that one right on. 364 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 2: Si has been on this show. 365 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,279 Speaker 5: I'm mew Sassy. I met her or she'd have her 366 00:19:50,319 --> 00:19:51,599 over to Grease too. 367 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:52,640 Speaker 2: She's amazing. 368 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,519 Speaker 5: Well, I can get back to the Trap King quickly. 369 00:19:55,559 --> 00:19:58,920 But actually, Rob, the producer of Cat Rescuers, was going 370 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:00,839 to come to Greece and we have it all scheduled 371 00:20:00,839 --> 00:20:03,200 in April of twenty twenty. We had his ticket and 372 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:04,880 he was going to also we were going to show 373 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,359 it a different university called Deri, but he was going 374 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:09,720 to come and we were going to show the cat 375 00:20:09,759 --> 00:20:11,640 documentary here and he was going to stay for a 376 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,000 couple days, and then it all got canceled because of 377 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,160 COVID because it was April twenty twenty. And I met 378 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,119 him in New York when he had his rollout of 379 00:20:19,599 --> 00:20:21,960 the documentary and I just started talking to him and 380 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,039 we became friendly. So he knows that the Trap King 381 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,519 is coming as well. And I met Sasse because she 382 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:30,240 was there. So it's a small world because Sassey knows 383 00:20:30,279 --> 00:20:32,640 Trap King and he has her in one of his songs. 384 00:20:33,039 --> 00:20:36,480 Oh my god, that's great. It's so funny. The world 385 00:20:36,559 --> 00:20:37,519 is just so small. 386 00:20:37,759 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 2: Yes, And he's worked with Nathan Oh, I can't think 387 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,039 of his name, The trap King and Nathan the cat 388 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:44,720 Dude or something. Have you met him. 389 00:20:45,039 --> 00:20:47,839 Speaker 5: I haven't met him. I've met Sterling because I met 390 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:51,519 him in October of this past year. He just happened 391 00:20:51,559 --> 00:20:54,519 to be near where my mom lives in North Carolina, 392 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,880 so I was able to meet him and we met 393 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:00,160 in person and got along really well. He's amazing and 394 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,680 he's going to stay at our cat rescue and staying 395 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:07,079 for ten days and we have a whole schedule planned 396 00:21:07,319 --> 00:21:10,680 the majority is in Athens, but in different parts of 397 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,400 Athens and different events. But we are going to do 398 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,160 a lot of different days of trappings in all different areas, 399 00:21:18,519 --> 00:21:20,480 so he's going to get to meet the different people 400 00:21:20,519 --> 00:21:23,720 that work in those areas. We're going to do some 401 00:21:23,839 --> 00:21:26,680 events with children so he can talk to the children, 402 00:21:26,839 --> 00:21:28,480 and then we do a lot of arts and crafts, 403 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,160 which also kind of corresponds with our video series that 404 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:34,720 we can now show in all the Greek schools because 405 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,440 we have that approved from the Ministry of Education. That's 406 00:21:37,519 --> 00:21:40,960 kind of the superhero comes in and superhero we try 407 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,440 to make the kids superheroes. So, as I was saying 408 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,200 with the trap King, we're creating our video number seven, 409 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,640 which is going to specifically be about T and R, 410 00:21:48,759 --> 00:21:51,640 and we've created a trap King figure that's going to 411 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,240 be the superhero for that for that particular video, and 412 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,119 we're going to have it ready so when he comes 413 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:57,039 we can show that. 414 00:21:57,319 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 2: I haven't met him in person. I hope to one day, 415 00:22:00,039 --> 00:22:03,079 but he's so relatable from what I've seen on his 416 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:07,319 Instagram and everything. He's so positive and he's you know himself, 417 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,240 made so many changes and he's done so so. 418 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 5: Much for t and R. 419 00:22:11,519 --> 00:22:14,599 Speaker 2: So he's such a great person to represent all of 420 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:15,160 this now. 421 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:19,079 Speaker 5: He's amazing. He's well spoken, he's clear about his mission, 422 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,880 he knows exactly what he's doing, what he wants to do. 423 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,480 He truly loves the animals. I've met his own cats, 424 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:31,359 so he loves them. And that's just somebody that's real, 425 00:22:31,599 --> 00:22:34,000 you know. It's it's very difficult these days, and you 426 00:22:34,039 --> 00:22:37,440 can find someone pure and when they're pure, it's you 427 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:42,000 just get chills when you meet my people. So, yes, yes, 428 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:44,920 we're really excited with him. He's going to get to 429 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,200 go on a special trip to meet some monk seals 430 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,720 that are endangered and there's only like six hundred in 431 00:22:50,759 --> 00:22:52,519 the world or something, and we're going to go take 432 00:22:52,599 --> 00:22:56,240 him and Mary is coming, his publicity manager, and we're 433 00:22:56,279 --> 00:22:58,240 going to take him on a trip for there. We're 434 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,839 gonna take him in downtown so you can see the 435 00:23:00,839 --> 00:23:03,480 Acropolis and work with some of the girls that feed 436 00:23:03,519 --> 00:23:07,400 the strays around the Acropolis and also Nine Lives that 437 00:23:07,559 --> 00:23:09,279 they take care of a lot of the animals around 438 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:13,119 the Acropolis. So yeah, so it's going to be interesting. 439 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:15,759 We have a tough schedule. It's actually on the website 440 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,759 raptotrap dot com. We have an event page and we're 441 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,079 updating it with we have more details, and I'm hoping 442 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,200 that it also, I think the important thing because in 443 00:23:26,279 --> 00:23:29,000 Greece there are good, there's good and bad, and I 444 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,559 think every country has a percentage of something good at 445 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:35,759 a certain rate and let's say bad at a certain rate, 446 00:23:35,839 --> 00:23:38,720 and everyone has problems. And I think that's very important 447 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:42,440 for him to share problems in America too, because sometimes 448 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:46,279 I think the difference I see is that there's more 449 00:23:46,319 --> 00:23:49,160 animals on the streets here, but in America we have 450 00:23:49,279 --> 00:23:53,599 more shelters that they're stuck in cages and then they 451 00:23:53,599 --> 00:23:56,119 get euthanized and all if they're not adopted in a 452 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,319 certain time. And I know they're trying more to get 453 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,720 rid of all those kill shelters, but we still have 454 00:24:00,839 --> 00:24:03,799 a big problem about that. So sometimes I'm not sure 455 00:24:03,839 --> 00:24:06,799 what's worse, you know, seeing why cat sick on the 456 00:24:06,839 --> 00:24:10,759 street or someone bringing in their cat because they moved 457 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:12,720 thinking it's going to go to a home and it 458 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,079 gets euthanized, like it's all a problem. 459 00:24:16,039 --> 00:24:18,599 Speaker 2: Their cat, my first cat outing their cat, yeah, on 460 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,480 the streets and we knew he was he knew the 461 00:24:21,519 --> 00:24:24,319 sound of refrigerators, so he knew what being in a 462 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,039 home was. So there's by no means do I think 463 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,880 here in North America were perfect. But you're right, we 464 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:32,960 have a lot of advantages when it comes to we 465 00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:35,480 have so many shelters, We have a lot of you know, 466 00:24:35,599 --> 00:24:38,720 people that are taken upon themselves do ten or and 467 00:24:38,799 --> 00:24:41,559 are fortunate to be able to do that or or 468 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:44,559 mix it in with their day job. You know, like 469 00:24:44,599 --> 00:24:47,279 you said, there's just challenges both ways, you know, And 470 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,359 it's right, it's just nice I think for people, you know, 471 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,400 our listeners to get a perspective of what happens in 472 00:24:53,519 --> 00:24:57,119 other countries exactly. You know here and you know, you 473 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:58,880 think about one thing in the US because that's what 474 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:02,680 you're used to, but that's not you know, cultural differences 475 00:25:02,839 --> 00:25:06,799 are everywhere, including with our animals. Okay, you have a 476 00:25:06,839 --> 00:25:09,960 lot of great information on your website. So can you 477 00:25:10,039 --> 00:25:12,240 share your website so that people have a chance to 478 00:25:12,319 --> 00:25:15,279 go to your website and you know, see what you 479 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:19,200 have going and they can donate or you know, educate themselves, 480 00:25:19,279 --> 00:25:20,319 educate their children. 481 00:25:20,839 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, So the website is Let's be Smart dot org 482 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,640 and that's the main US site, and then you can 483 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,799 click on the Greek campaign which takes you to the 484 00:25:30,839 --> 00:25:34,599 Grease site which is Let's be Smart dashgrease dot org. 485 00:25:35,079 --> 00:25:36,920 And on the Grease site you can see a lot 486 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,599 of our missions with our the education, more of the 487 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:43,799 educational programs and the all the sheltercats and their stories. 488 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,359 And you know something interesting we do here, which it's 489 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:50,400 it's very interesting that the people love it is every 490 00:25:50,519 --> 00:25:54,519 month we try to honor a business over here that 491 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:58,000 is somehow animal friendly if we find out maybe they've 492 00:25:58,279 --> 00:26:01,759 they're feeding some strays or or they help us with 493 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,279 let's say the print shop that loves printing all our 494 00:26:04,319 --> 00:26:07,160 T shirts and they're really nice guys and they give 495 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,240 us a good price because they know what we're doing. 496 00:26:09,319 --> 00:26:11,880 And every month we issue a Smart Award and then 497 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,200 we put it on their window of their business and 498 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,839 give them like some gifts, and they're really excited to 499 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:20,279 get these awards. And I think it's really great for 500 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,480 the community, you know, because then I think, because what 501 00:26:23,519 --> 00:26:27,000 I'm trying to do here is get communities more involved 502 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,440 where they're not just going, oh, the government has to 503 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,519 pay for that, you know what I mean. That's kind 504 00:26:31,519 --> 00:26:32,480 of more here. 505 00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:36,519 Speaker 2: It's very clever, Julie, And it's such a great idea. 506 00:26:36,079 --> 00:26:38,599 Speaker 5: Yeah, and they like it. In fact, we gave one 507 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:41,480 to one business. I think it was a photoshop. Yeah, 508 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,039 it was photo store because we had to get some 509 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:46,440 photos for something there and they had a couple of 510 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:49,799 cats kind of in there inside the store. So then 511 00:26:49,839 --> 00:26:52,599 when we gave them the award, the pharmacy people next 512 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,559 door said, oh, we take care of some strays too. 513 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,640 They so like they wanted an award too. So it 514 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:01,759 was really cute because then we you know, then we 515 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:03,720 gave them an award and we you know, and then 516 00:27:03,759 --> 00:27:06,559 we promote them on our website, you know, social media, 517 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,160 and every month we do a new business. So it just, 518 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:13,799 like I say, brings the community more involved, and I 519 00:27:13,839 --> 00:27:16,680 think when they see there's more help, it just makes 520 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,200 it easier. They don't mind pitching in more. A lot 521 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,480 of people have no idea what to do. They see 522 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,519 a sick cat, they have no idea who to call. 523 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:28,240 There's municipality, maybe we'll answer, maybe won't. We're trying to 524 00:27:28,279 --> 00:27:31,799 work closer with both municipalities of where I live, where 525 00:27:31,799 --> 00:27:33,759 the Foster Hume is and the other is, and we're 526 00:27:33,799 --> 00:27:36,480 in touch with both mayors. They're really really nice, but 527 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,799 they have so much bureaucracy. It's not just them, it's 528 00:27:39,839 --> 00:27:43,559 like who's in in their board, you know. So we're 529 00:27:43,799 --> 00:27:47,400 hoping actually the mayor will roll out our cat welfare program, 530 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,519 which we actually wrote for the mayor. I wrote it 531 00:27:49,559 --> 00:27:51,720 as a consultant. I didn't want to do it through 532 00:27:51,799 --> 00:27:54,079 let's be smart, so it wouldn't compete with any other, 533 00:27:54,279 --> 00:27:57,000 you know, organizations that might be in the area. So 534 00:27:57,079 --> 00:27:59,920 I did it as my own self and they love 535 00:28:00,279 --> 00:28:02,960 and they basically are starting a cat welfare program and 536 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,880 giving fifty thousand euros for the year here in my area. 537 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,079 So we implemented that. Now it's getting it going. That's 538 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:11,000 the next step. 539 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:16,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, you've done Wonders. It's amazing, I mean just amazing. 540 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:19,160 I'm going to definitely I can't like to see the 541 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:23,440 information that's posted with Sterling Davis. That's going to be exciting. 542 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:27,559 Speaker 5: What people have to realize in is that, like I 543 00:28:27,599 --> 00:28:31,640 said before, here in Greece, there's very very limited resources. 544 00:28:31,839 --> 00:28:34,039 I work, That's why I work all the time, and 545 00:28:34,519 --> 00:28:37,200 in order to be able to do this over here 546 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:39,519 where in America, I think you get a little bit 547 00:28:39,519 --> 00:28:43,759 more help. But that's not really understood over here. So 548 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,240 because we're also trying to bridge kind of a lot 549 00:28:47,279 --> 00:28:52,599 of us with the VET internship program and volunteers coming over, 550 00:28:52,799 --> 00:28:55,000 it will help us, I think, get us more exposure 551 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:58,400 because they don't realize because we're not in the US. 552 00:28:58,559 --> 00:29:01,279 But you know what I'm saying that we're trying to 553 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:05,039 think globally but act locally here. So I'm acting locally 554 00:29:05,039 --> 00:29:07,920 over here, but you know, the resources can be limited 555 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:11,799 over here. So we're hopefully going to get more exposure 556 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,880 through our programs, and I think that's the biggest challenge. 557 00:29:15,039 --> 00:29:17,039 It's a challenge for everybody over here. I think for 558 00:29:17,039 --> 00:29:20,119 a lot of the foreign countries it's more difficult, whereas 559 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,000 the UK and America people are more used to being 560 00:29:23,039 --> 00:29:27,519 philanthropic and donating. It's a different mindset a little bit 561 00:29:27,759 --> 00:29:32,359 over here. So I think those are some of the challenges. 562 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,680 I do have a cool story I could share with 563 00:29:34,759 --> 00:29:37,440 one special cat. I'd love to hear it, I just 564 00:29:37,519 --> 00:29:41,599 because it involved me personally and it's just interesting. I 565 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:44,559 was going to read something but anyway, so what happened 566 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,240 is I always go to the tavernas to get my 567 00:29:47,279 --> 00:29:50,119 Greek food and I bring it home to eat because 568 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,000 I'm always working. So I had just picked up my 569 00:29:53,039 --> 00:29:56,559 food and I'm sitting at the traffic light and I 570 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:59,279 noticed next to the curb a cat and I thought 571 00:29:59,319 --> 00:30:01,799 it was dead. In my mind, I was like, oh, 572 00:30:01,839 --> 00:30:04,640 another dead cat, you know. And then all of a sudden, 573 00:30:04,759 --> 00:30:07,880 because I'm still waiting, I thought I saw the eyes move, 574 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,599 you know. So I'm like, am I imagining that? So 575 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,480 I get out of the car and she was alive. 576 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:17,920 She just couldn't move, so she hissed at me. I 577 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:20,920 was like, oh my god, you're alive. So I rushed 578 00:30:20,920 --> 00:30:23,160 her to the vet. Of course, my food was pulled them, 579 00:30:23,519 --> 00:30:25,960 that didn't matter. Took her to the vet and she 580 00:30:26,079 --> 00:30:28,799 was completely paralyzed, like I don't know if she got 581 00:30:28,799 --> 00:30:32,680 like a severe whiplash. It Fortunately, after an MRI, you know, 582 00:30:32,759 --> 00:30:35,640 later on, she didn't have any broken bones or spine. 583 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:37,799 But we kept her at the vet. Of course, they 584 00:30:37,799 --> 00:30:40,480 gave her cortison right away whatever to take down any swelling, 585 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:46,720 and I got her reiki acupuncture and she was getting rehabilitated, 586 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:48,880 and little by little she started to get a little 587 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:50,880 strength in her front pause, you know, I could push 588 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,960 against them, and she would push a little bit back, 589 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:56,119 and again, little by little by little, she could start 590 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:58,160 to get up. She would fall over, she would walk 591 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:03,359 in circles. But after after probably eight months of rehab, 592 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:07,519 we brought her to our foster home. She could walk perfectly. 593 00:31:07,599 --> 00:31:10,079 She did have some poly ups, so we operated those 594 00:31:10,119 --> 00:31:15,200 out of her ears and she basically recovered ninety nine percent. 595 00:31:15,279 --> 00:31:17,200 She has a little bit of a wide spread of 596 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,160 her front pause. But anyway, I called her Missy because 597 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:23,480 she was almost missed on the road and now she's 598 00:31:23,519 --> 00:31:27,000 been adopted. She's been living in the UK for probably 599 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:30,880 I would say a year. So we have a community group, 600 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,759 let's be smart community group on Facebook for our adopters 601 00:31:33,759 --> 00:31:36,519 and our volunteers so that they can follow cats maybe 602 00:31:36,519 --> 00:31:38,519 they slept with or hung out with, and then our 603 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,599 adopters can share photos and we can all see how 604 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:45,039 our cats are daying. So anyway, just the other day, 605 00:31:45,079 --> 00:31:47,599 a couple of days ago, the girl Carrie, who was 606 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:51,200 adopted Missy, had an older cat, and that older cat 607 00:31:51,480 --> 00:31:55,279 just passed away Muffin. But she wrote this is what 608 00:31:55,319 --> 00:31:58,240 she wrote. She said, I've always known that Missy is 609 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:00,839 a very special cat. But over the last forty eight hours, 610 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:03,799 I've truly seen just how incredible she really is. Yesterday 611 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:06,440 was a tough day. My eldest kiddy, Muffin, crossed over 612 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,079 the Rainbow Bridge. The twenty four hours leading up to this, 613 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:13,279 Missy did not leave muff inside. He was even sick 614 00:32:13,319 --> 00:32:15,799 on her, and she still stayed snuggled up to him, 615 00:32:15,839 --> 00:32:19,039 knowing that he needed her. I've been broken since he passed, 616 00:32:19,079 --> 00:32:21,000 and Missy has not left me for a moment. She 617 00:32:21,039 --> 00:32:23,519 has been licking the tears from my face and cuddling 618 00:32:23,559 --> 00:32:26,359 me constantly. And she said, Missy, I don't know what 619 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:29,000 I would do with you. You're honestly a cat in a million. 620 00:32:29,359 --> 00:32:34,480 So it's like magical, like she just sensed everything, and 621 00:32:34,839 --> 00:32:37,400 it's for me to like just know that this cat 622 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,240 is like so happy in an amazing home, and that 623 00:32:40,279 --> 00:32:42,920 she just did that is like just gives you that 624 00:32:43,039 --> 00:32:46,640 whole you know, positive. Yeah, it just. 625 00:32:46,559 --> 00:32:48,519 Speaker 2: Looks like it was meant to be and just you 626 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:51,119 hear the thing and being there at the right time 627 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:51,880 the right place. 628 00:32:52,039 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 5: Aftly, it's amazing. Yeah, it's just wow, it's really amazing. 629 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:58,960 We did make a video for her too, before she 630 00:32:59,079 --> 00:33:01,960 was adopted. So you can actually go to our website 631 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,440 and under our adoption page we have success stories and 632 00:33:04,519 --> 00:33:06,960 on her page you can watch a little video and 633 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,279 see how she looked, and it gives a lot of 634 00:33:09,279 --> 00:33:11,759 the photos when she couldn't move except for her head. 635 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:14,720 That was the only thing she can move. But they're 636 00:33:14,799 --> 00:33:19,079 so it's just amazing, like how incredible they are and 637 00:33:19,119 --> 00:33:22,759 how they just don't complain and they just keep trying 638 00:33:22,759 --> 00:33:24,119 and trying and trying. 639 00:33:25,119 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 2: When you let them in. When you let the cats in, 640 00:33:28,039 --> 00:33:31,519 or you know, the dogs in were catted, so cats 641 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:35,519 let them in. Animals they give you so much that 642 00:33:36,079 --> 00:33:38,759 just can't even be disguised. 643 00:33:38,799 --> 00:33:42,799 Speaker 5: Thanks spiritual. It's something spiritual. They're like little angels. I 644 00:33:42,839 --> 00:33:46,119 feel like they're little angels and they can stay with you. 645 00:33:46,359 --> 00:33:48,960 I had a cat come into my dream and warn 646 00:33:49,039 --> 00:33:51,640 me about my other cat. I can't even it's just 647 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:55,480 I've had incredible stories about cat. Or I think of 648 00:33:55,519 --> 00:33:58,119 a cat that I haven't seen alsodden. The next day 649 00:33:58,160 --> 00:33:59,960 I see it walking on the street. I'm like, that's 650 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:02,799 so weird. I was just thinking about that cat. It's 651 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,759 just and you know, I've had cats my whole life, 652 00:34:05,759 --> 00:34:07,680 so I've had me. I'm on like my third round 653 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:10,559 of cats. You know, so I grew up with cats. 654 00:34:10,599 --> 00:34:13,920 My family had cats, and I love them so much. 655 00:34:14,119 --> 00:34:16,679 Speaker 2: Let me ask this, did you ever think while you 656 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:19,960 were even okay, let's say past growing up, but when 657 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:22,360 you were studying Greece whatever, that you would be over 658 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:26,039 there in Greece and have with this amazing organization that 659 00:34:26,159 --> 00:34:27,280 is doing so much for. 660 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 5: Cats in Greece. 661 00:34:28,559 --> 00:34:31,159 Speaker 2: Did you ever think that would ever come to fruition? 662 00:34:31,599 --> 00:34:33,559 Speaker 5: I mean when I first wanted to come to Greece, 663 00:34:33,639 --> 00:34:35,159 or when before I knew about Greece. 664 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,079 Speaker 2: Maybe you know, while you had you said you had 665 00:34:38,119 --> 00:34:40,719 cats all your life, and did you ever think you'd 666 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:43,840 be in another country doing these amazing things? 667 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:46,400 Speaker 5: I have to say I can tell you, well, not 668 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:49,239 necessarily Greece, because I wouldn't have known too much about Greece. 669 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:52,320 But when I was younger, probably eighteen or nineteen, and 670 00:34:52,519 --> 00:34:55,079 I first started a job at the accounting firm which 671 00:34:55,119 --> 00:34:58,559 ended up becoming mine. But anyway, what it was in 672 00:34:58,599 --> 00:35:01,280 my mind, I wanted to win the lottery so I 673 00:35:01,320 --> 00:35:04,559 could have something for the animals. So that was my 674 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:08,400 very youthful It's funny because I say today I kind 675 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:10,400 of won the lottery in life, you know what I mean. 676 00:35:10,519 --> 00:35:13,199 I didn't physically win the New York Lottery even though 677 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:16,199 I play, But I feel like I won the lottery 678 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:20,320 of life in order to be able to have a 679 00:35:20,559 --> 00:35:24,000 business that I'm able to thrive and work very very hard, 680 00:35:24,559 --> 00:35:29,199 and be able to dedicate most of my resources to 681 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,760 these cats because they're they're just so amazing. And the 682 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,559 whole education thing. I feel like I want to leave something, 683 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,800 you know, not just feeding and rescuing the cats. I 684 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:43,039 have the whole educational programs and getting people involved and 685 00:35:43,159 --> 00:35:45,199 all these things that go together, you know, with the 686 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:48,760 municipalities and yeah, doing all of that, it is like 687 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:51,599 the lottery, Like I've won the lottery of life. 688 00:35:51,679 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 2: So I think you're right, and you know, I think 689 00:35:54,559 --> 00:35:58,360 everyone should go over to your site and just see 690 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:01,280 some of the pictures and things that you've done. It's 691 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,159 let's be smart dot org. 692 00:36:03,679 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 5: Yes, and they can come volunteer. We have a lot 693 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:10,440 of American volunteers. Like I say, if if anyone is 694 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:13,400 a veterinary student, we have a special program where we've 695 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,719 sent our program to all the universities in America. We 696 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:21,719 have students coming from Auburn, University of Minnesota, Virginia Tech, 697 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:25,199 Tess Goodgie. I can't never see that name one coming 698 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:28,519 from Tufts. I think actually after Sterling did a speech there, 699 00:36:28,599 --> 00:36:30,360 a vet in turn wrote to us, and I believe 700 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,239 she's scheduled to come ready. So a lot of people 701 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:35,599 vacation in Greece. So if you want to come, you 702 00:36:35,679 --> 00:36:38,760 can stay for a few days and then do other things, 703 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:40,400 you know, and you can stay at our cat rescue. 704 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:44,199 It's we have full amenities, you know, bedrooms and you know, 705 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:47,280 if you volunteer, we give breakfast and lunch, and there's 706 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:50,280 some local things sites you can see. We're near the 707 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:53,079 Temple of Poseidon and near Sunio. We're not too far. 708 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:55,480 We're close to the airport. We can get you to 709 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:58,559 a metro to go to Athens. That takes about an 710 00:36:58,599 --> 00:37:00,800 hour or so more. But you know, so I think 711 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:03,360 it's kind of cool that you can combine a trip 712 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:06,280 and do something philanthropic as well, and come and help 713 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:08,960 a little bit for the strays while you're here. 714 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:11,800 Speaker 2: You know, you know, I really mine of my goals 715 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:14,480 and it's for next year, for our big birthday, is 716 00:37:14,519 --> 00:37:18,159 to go to Grooves. So Rince if that happens, I 717 00:37:18,199 --> 00:37:22,599 will definitely contact you and say I'm trying to schedule. 718 00:37:22,679 --> 00:37:26,159 Sometimes I could spend at least a day my partner. 719 00:37:26,159 --> 00:37:28,719 We can never go for too long because our animals, 720 00:37:28,719 --> 00:37:29,800 so it gets him upset. 721 00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:30,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 722 00:37:30,679 --> 00:37:35,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, so at least a day just absorbing everything and 723 00:37:35,519 --> 00:37:39,039 you know, have a lot to share in another. 724 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 5: Episode for sure. 725 00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:43,360 Speaker 2: I want to thank you so much for coming on 726 00:37:43,519 --> 00:37:47,360 Patitude and sharing all of this wonderful information in your story. 727 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:51,800 You are an amazing woman and what you've done is incredible. 728 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:54,920 I mean it's mind boggling because there's so much involved, 729 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:58,440 so many roadblocks, then it sounds like you've just blasted 730 00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:03,599 over most of them. You know, huge congratulations for everything 731 00:38:03,639 --> 00:38:05,920 you've done. And I know you're not stopped. I mean, 732 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:08,960 this is just part of where you're headed. You know 733 00:38:09,079 --> 00:38:12,360 their path is still going. So I wish you lazing 734 00:38:12,559 --> 00:38:16,519 up and any luck we might meet in twenty twenty three. 735 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:18,199 Speaker 5: Yeah, thank you. 736 00:38:18,679 --> 00:38:21,440 Speaker 2: I want to say, Yugene, thanks to Julie Kelly for 737 00:38:21,519 --> 00:38:25,599 coming on Catitude and best of lots of Sterling Davis 738 00:38:25,599 --> 00:38:27,719 with his trip to Grease. I can't wait to see 739 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:29,800 that that's going to be in May. Check out the 740 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:32,480 Let's Be Smart dot org website. There's a lot of 741 00:38:32,599 --> 00:38:36,079 wonderful information there. I'd like to thank my producer, Mark 742 00:38:36,119 --> 00:38:39,719 Winter for making me my guests sound amazing, and thanks 743 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:42,639 to my cat crew that's taught me more about cats 744 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:48,280 than anything else, and that is Dennis, Mollie and Charlotte. 745 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:52,960 And remember always to hey, lose the attitude and have cattitude. 746 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:58,559 Speaker 4: Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on petlive 747 00:38:58,679 --> 00:39:05,239 radio dot com, The tid