Newsflash from Thursday, 5 March 2026:
Shock in Chania: Beloved Dog ‘Ben’ Found Shot Dead – Community Suspects Foul Play
The local community of Chania is reeling from a horrific act of animal cruelty following the discovery of a beloved local dog, Ben, found shot to death. The incident has sparked a wave of grief and outrage across Crete, as volunteers and authorities piece together what appears to be a calculated and cruel act.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
Ben, a large but notoriously friendly dog well-known to the residents of Patelari and Vrysses Kydonias, went missing on Sunday afternoon. After an intensive search by volunteers across areas like Platanias and Tavronitis, the search ended in tragedy.
Ben’s body was discovered in the area of Kalydonia, toward Kastelli, near a local gas station. He had been killed by gunshot wounds.
Was Ben Kidnapped?
The circumstances surrounding Ben’s death have raised serious questions. According to volunteers who knew the dog well, it is highly unlikely that Ben traveled from Patelari to Kalydonia on his own.
The distance and the timeline have led many to believe that the dog was deliberately taken or transported to the location where he was eventually killed. Those who knew him describe Ben as a gentle giant who never showed aggression toward humans or other animals, making the violent nature of his death even more difficult for the community to process.
Authorities and Volunteers Seek Justice
The Municipality of Platanias and the local Police have been officially notified and have already launched an investigation into the incident.
However, the community needs more information to find those responsible. Volunteers are making an urgent appeal to the public:
* Did you see Ben? If you saw a large dog matching Ben’s description on the National Road or the Old Road between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon, your information could be vital.
* Suspicious Activity: Did you witness any suspicious vehicles or individuals transporting a dog in the areas between Patelari and Kalydonia?
A Call for Accountability
This shocking incident serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing need for animal protection and the enforcement of strict penalties for animal cruelty. The people of Chania are demanding justice for Ben, hoping that by speaking out, they can prevent such a senseless tragedy from happening again.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the local authorities or the volunteer groups involved in the search.
Several cases of poisoning in Crete
A ball containing milk residue and traces of a toxic substance was discovered by Nessi and Giorgos Chorafas during their investigation on 1 March 2026 in Stenolagado, near Agios Konstantinos (Agios Nikolaos).
The autopsy was performed after a citizen reported the possible poisoning of his dog, which he had taken to the vet to be revived.
The investigation team from the Hunting Association of Crete and the Dodecanese was accompanied by the gamekeeper of the Neapoli Hunting Association, Mr Manolis Zervakis, who also took photos of the investigation.
March did not start well, as there were two cases of poisoning on 2 March 2026. The first occurred in the area of Stavromenos Kritsas Agios Nikolaos, where 🐕🦺 Nesi and Giorgos Horafas performed an autopsy after citizens reported two dogs🐕🐕 showing symptoms, but which were out of danger after receiving first aid.
Nessi found a spot with vomit containing pieces of fat and signs of a toxic substance. The incident was reported to the Agios Nikolaos Forestry Authority. The tracking team was accompanied by the federal gamekeeper of the Crete-Dodecanese Hunting Association, Mr. @Γιώργος Σκύβαλος.
The photos were taken by @GeorgeChorafas.
We are skipping the chronological order of publications because today, on 3 March 2026, we had a serious incident in Karnari Archanon, where once again the theatre of the absurd is playing out!
Spyros Nistikakis and 🐕🦺Eka found three dead, poisoned dogs in an advanced state of decomposition and ⚠️⚠️⚠️pieces of minced meat covered with white powder, a clear indication of the use of toxic substances.
We would like to point out that the area of Karnario, and in particular the location where the finds were inspected and discovered, is within the Special Protection Area and Special Conservation Area of the Natura 2000 network, within the wildlife sanctuary and directly below the vulture colony of Yuchta!
The Heraklion police have already been informed of the incident, the finds have been handed over to them and a report has been filed.
On Monday, 2 March 2026, Spyros Nistikakis investigated with 🐕🦺 Eka after the Kastelli police department was informed of a possible incident involving toxic substances.
In fact, Eka found a dead 🐕 dog that had been poisoned ⚠️.
The incident was taken over by the Kastelli police station.
The photos are by Spyros Nistikakis.
