HISTORICAL RETROSPECTION OF THE EFFORT FOR THE RESCUE OF THE CRETAN TRACER.
(texts translated in english by:
Tsagaraki Athanasia
Greek Public School English teacher Graduate of the English Department of the Aristotle University -Thessaloniki)

  This beautiful fairy tale (because it sounds as such) of the Cretan Tracer, is not recent, neither is it a recent concoction of a group of hunters. It starts a long time ago, if you consider what Ovid writes: “one can not consider a pack of hunting dogs without a good Cretan dog”. Anyone who owned a good Cretan dog was very lucky. Hence, I can conclude (somehow arbitrarily) that finding such a dog must have been relatively difficult then just as it is today. It sounds reasonable if we consider the difficulty in finding and transporting a worthy hound in Continental Greece. Also, the admiration for the Cretan dogs appears reasonable, because during that time they had been the most popular dogs not only in Continental Greece but also in the Mediterranean in general, because of the commercial transactions of the Cretan people. 
Hence, the search for the Cretan dog (tracer) took place in the past as well, because if these dogs had not been valuable and widespread, they wouldn’t have been an object for commercial transactions. This fact possibly explains the secrecy behind its existence. “No one keeps a treasure and openly says where he hides it”. Therefore, we are dealing with a desirable hound, very capable for hunting. It doesn’t appear to have been an object of worship, against a certain theory, as the Cretan people did not worship the dog neither as a deity, neither does it appear to have had any supernatural attributes. What we know is that they would honour it and they would bury it together with their beloved worshipping objects, believing that at some time in future, mother earth would bring it back to its people.
Its hunting tactic, even today, is tracking and it performs it quite often depending on the conditions and by scenting. That is to say, it researches space and the bushes by scenting the air. This has led many people from Continental Greece to consider that the Cretan Tracer also behaves as a pointer. This is a false impression, as our dog had to adapt to the dry environment of Crete. Tracing is the most usual tactic that all Tracers follow, but rather concisely one would say; that is without losing any time in grazing, and generally, without any delay. While trying to locate the prey, the Cretan Tracer again senses the air rather concisely, so that it can find the animal of which the traces have been evaporated due to high temperatures and the rocky ground, despite which the dog is certain that somewhere around its target is hiding. Therefore, this dog doesn’t hunt occasionally, and neither is a pointer, nor a sight hound, but it is a genuine tracer in its prime form. In my opinion, this form allowed the creation of the other types of hounds through the course of years.
Our presumptions about its tracing attributes, are based on the current discoveries that show it chasing the Chamois and also on the prompt that Xenofondas makes: “As for the wild boar one must acquire dogs from India, Crete,….” Hence its abilities in tracing are beyond doubt. The same reason that prompted ancient Cretan people and later the Greeks to acquire a good Cretan dog, also encouraged the unforgettable archaeologist Mr Sp. Marinatos to initially try and describe the Cretan dog and then to prompt the hunters – and dog lovers in general, to create an association aiming at the rescue of the Cretan Tracer and the successful breeding of this ancient Cretan beauty. Even to me, this effort to rescue our dog sounds incredible. It was like searching for something invisible, as we knew the dog only from archaeological findings and historical reports. Those of us who have been using it, we knew and spoke of the local dog (meaning the indigenous dog, not the mongrel one). At the same time, we had been inquiring cattle-breeders and had been searching for a good local dog with these attributes, one we have been hearing of but have never met with. It was as if we were trying but never succeeding in making our wish come true as something would always hold us back. Therefore, quite appositely, the unforgettable Dr. St. Mpasourakos called the dog ‘Phoenix’.
Snapshot from the first visit of Dr. St. Mpasourakos in Crete in order to see and study the Cretan Tracer for the first time closely. This first contact took place in the courtyard of my house in region Kamara, in Kalamafka,Ierapetra. In this meeting 30 dog owners-hunters brought 29 dogs which were evaluated and the first 15 were ranked as the most representative and with these the first breeding process began. In the photograph we can see Dr St. Mpasourakos discussing with a young student in the Faculty of Veterinary Science in Thessaloniki, also, my brother Mr. Geneiatakis Ioannis (standing), and seated next to him, schoolteacher and hunter Mr. Manolis Fragkoulis. This was the beginning of the effort to create the first active ‘centre’ that would create the relations among owners of the Cretan Tracer and would stop the previous ‘detached’ and ‘offish’ behaviour that created problems in contacting and dog-breeding and demystified the previous attitude of distrust and avoidance to openly refer to the owners of such dogs and of their dogs as well. 
54 years passed (1933-1987) since Mr. Marinatos’s effort (for the study of Mr. Marinatos click here) in order for our team of fellow-citizens to be sensitized and create an association for the designation, protection and rescue of the Cretan Fauna. It was named “Cretan Association for the Protection and Rescue of Indigenous Fauna” and becamethe next ring in the chain of effort for the Cretan Tracer. The aim of this association has not only been the rescue of the Cretan Tracer but also of the Cretan Horse (‘Giorgalidiko’), of the Falcon of Eleonora (‘Barbaki’), of the Chamois (‘Kri-Kri’ ) and more generally of the fauna that almost exclusively exists in Crete. Members of this association have not only been the owners of such animals but also people of literature and intellect, artists, scientists, nature’s lovers and of people beyond Crete.
The first chairman of this association was the former veterinarian and inspector of  the Faculty of Veterinary Science in Crete Mr Karabalakis Ioannis from the Plateau (Oropedio) of Lasithi, vice-president was archaeologist Mr Panagiotakis Nikolaos, owner of Cretan horses and stock breeder from Vonni, in Irakleio, secretary Mr Geneiatakis Evangelos, optician and dog-breeder of Cretan Tracers from Kalamafka in Ierapetra, cashier Mr. Stamatis Kademlis from Irakleio and members Mr. Andrianakis Petros from Chania and Mr Gioulountas Ioannis from Rethimno, owners of Cretan horses.
Since the very start of its operation, our association, focused on the presentation of the distinctiveness of the Cretan fauna by sending letters to various institutions and mainly to the Ministry of Agriculture but also to the Ministry of Public Order (so as to use the dog). Unfortunately, they ignored our letters completely, as no one has ever sent a reply, and there was not even an employee, of those who received the letters, that made an effort to make a simple phone call, so as to justify their inaction. At the same time, we addressed the Academic community in order to find supporters in our effort to morphologically determine the two breeds, of which there had been a sufficient number of individuals already registered in Crete. For the Cretan horse on the one hand ,by vice-president Mr Panagiotakis Nikos, and for the dog on the other, by secretary Mr Geneiatakis Evangelos.

A little after the constitution of our association, we created this record for the Cretan Tracer so as to collect information on the morphology of the existing dogs, in order to see in which category our dog falls. After that, we proposed and created a registration (and certification, in a way) card of our already registered Cretan Tracers aiming to its recognition.

To our request Mr Menegatos answered, professor in the Faculty of Veterinary in the University of Thessaloniki, who visited Crete in order to study the Cretan horse. Concerning the dog, provided that the situation here seemed to be more organized, we addressed people with a certain interest for dogs. As the secretary of the association, I had been informing Dr St. Mpasourakos, a well known veterinarian-dog specialist and founder of the Greek Kennel Club (E.K.O.) and the Board of Directors of the Kennel Club of Greece (K.O.E.) through letters since 1990. Together with my letters, I had also sent a great number of our dogs’ pictures accompanied with detailed explanations and measurements that had been gathered up to then and requesting support for our effort. To the Greek Kennel Club (E.K.O.) all data had been sent by post, while in order for the data to reach K.O.E. I had first handed them to the Chairman of the newly-established, at that time, Cretan Kennel Club ( K.O.K) so that they would hand them, in turn, to the Board of Directors of K.O.E. as the primary aim of the association was the rescue of the Cretan Tracer.
This photocopy is a part of our newspaper which had been the means of communication between members of ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Π.Δ.Ι.Π. (Cretan Association for the Protection and Rescue of Indigenous Fauna) and the Board of Directors. In this newspaper all activities of the association were being published, together with all organised equestrian races and CACIB dog shows. Unfortunately, few members continued supporting our association with their contributions but also all government owned services which we addressed, completely ignored our appeals. Imagine that, since 1995, the Ministry of Agriculture had been informed about the study for the Cretan Tracer and had been asked to register it as an existing breed in the national descriptive catalogue (which, by the way, was never created), we had also asked for the financial contribution of the state for the support of our effort, but again, there was no answer. Thus, together with our publication, our present effort to sensitize the state about this important natural part of our national heritage was diminished. We hope that through the course of years, the people in various services will be replaced by new more sensitized ones, who will at least comprehend the necessity for the rescue of the living history of our place. Fortunately, there are some romantic Cretans, who by their own expenses, maintain these ‘living monuments’ in good condition and thus, the effort is continued.

Immediately, Dr St. Mpasourakos responded and came to Crete; together, we started touring in Lasithi ( Ierapetra, Sitia, Merampelo) so as to meet owners of Cretan Tracers who I had already located years ago. What happened next you already know and you will read it in this web-page. 
A year later, from the part of the Kennel Club of Greece (K.O.E.), I received a phone-call and was asked to present my dogs in order for them to be recognized in the first show that they had organized in Chania with some foreign judge of FCI. Of course, I refused, as an official study for the Cretan Tracer did not exist, and it was impossible for the foreign judge to make a decision whether one of my dogs fell in the certain category or not, as he had never even seen a photograph of the breed. I had been prompted twice in order to take part. I tried to explain that it was impossible and unacceptable for me to take part, but their argument was that the foreign judges had knowledge of related breeds hence they could judge ours. Once again I refused and they haven’t contacted me since then. 
Soon, we realized that our situation would lead us to choose Dr Mpasourakos, and we sent him a letter asking him to study and to describe the Cretan Tracer based on the existing animals. After that, the Cretan Association for the Protection and Rescue of Indigenous Fauna (ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Π.Δ.Ι.Π.) decided to organise, for the first time, a presentation of animals belonging to the indigenous Cretan Fauna so as to sensitize the public and all friends of the association. It took place in the Park of Irakleio (OASIS). In it, Cretan Horses and Cretan Tracers took part.
Here are snapshots from the first presentation of animals belonging to the indigenous Cretan Fauna that took place in Irakleio. In the first photograph you can distinguish, sitting in the right, Mrs Melanitou, seated in front of the table Mr Sophocles Koskinas, editors of the magazine ‘Hunting in Crete’ that was published at that time in Irakleio, Secretary ofΠΑ.ΣΥ.Π.Δ.Ι.Π. Mr.Geneiatakis Evangelos with Dr. St. Mpasourakos standing and discussing about the presented dog, schoolteacher and secretary of the presentation Mr Fragkoulis Emm. next to Mr Koskinas. In the photograph on the left a Cretan mare with her colt that were presented with other Cretan horses (Giorgalidika) and with Cretan Tracers in order to inform and sensitize the Cretan people- something that happened for the first time.
At the end of that year a new association was created, and its exclusive aim was the rescue of the Cretan Tracer, its breeding and improvement, its maintenance and popularization. It was created for the dog exclusively. This association was, since the beginning, a member of the Kennel Club of Greece (K.O.E.). After this new association had been informed about Mr. Mpasourakos’ study and provided that it had studied it, its members approved of the initial study and in particular informed K.O.E. about this decision, which was meant to be the beginning of its rejection by K.O.E.. 
Given, however, that the difficulties, which occurred concerning the co-ordination of the two breeds of animals- of the Cretan Tracer and the Cretan Horse, had been many, another separate association for the Cretan horse was soon created. Thus, now, there are two separate associations with a unique subject for each one. This led to the dissolution of the initial Cretan Association for the Protection and Rescue of Indigenous Fauna (ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Π.Δ.Ι.Π.).
On the left, the president of the Club for the Friendsof the Cretan Tracer(O.Φ.Κ.Ι), Mr Nikos Babourakis, a passionate hunter, dog lover- especially of the Cretan Tracer. Since 1987, he played a leading part in the idea for the creation of the Cretan Association for the Protection and Rescue of Indigenous Fauna ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Π.Δ.Ι.Π. He hasalwaysbeensupportive to our effort with his publications for the rescue of the Cretan Tracer and keeps 2-3 dogs, even if he is forced to have them in his apartment. As a chairman of the Club for the Friendsof the Cretan Tracer (O.Φ.Κ.Ι) he continues the effort for the popularization and recognition of the Cretan breed. He continuously fights to support our association and is always ready in order to support the Cretan Tracer specifically after the attack that we have received from “official” kennel associations from Athens.
This picture is from the first presentation of the Cretan Tracers in Irakleio, where Spyros Koutselakis presents his female dogs for their registration in EBA, contributing in this way as tens of other colleagues did. By the contribution of all these people the Cretan Tracer today is not only known in Greece but also beyond it. Its future will be successful provided that we continue showing our interest.
So, today, regarding the Cretan Tracer, the association that represents the breed is the Club for the Friendsof the Cretan Tracer (O.Φ.Κ.Ι.) which is based in Irakleio and is represented by president Mr Babourakis Nikolaos, vice-president Mr Anetakis Nikos, Secretary Mr Geneiatakis Evangelos, cashier Mr Basilakis Ioannis and member Mr Kontogiannakis Emm. Members are the owners of Cretan Tracers from Crete but also beyond it. There are 150 members that are owners of  200 Cretan Tracers. 
During the operation of the Cretan Association for the Protection and Rescue of Indigenous Fauna(ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Π.Δ.Ι.Π. ) 7 presentations of Cretan Tracers had been held, judged by  Dr. St. Mpasourakos who has been closely studying the breed. These presentations were organized once in the region of Ierapetra and the rest in Irakleio. The success was unprecedented if we consider that we are dealing with a local breed which had been almost unknown up to a few years ago. Certainly, we should refer to the fact that in the 4 last presentations the members of the later established Club for the Friendsof the Cretan Tracer (O.Φ.Κ.Ι.) took part, a thing that gave a really bigger impulse to the refinement and recognition of the breed. We, therefore, acknowledge the work of Dr. Mpasourakos who paid the price by being renounced from the Kennel Club of Greece (K.O.E.) which not only did not accept his study, (even though initially K.O.E. had previously included in its registrations dogs with the name Cretan Tracer and had judged them as such- dogs which had been presented by members of  O.Φ.Κ.Ι. in the presentation of O.K.A. in Athens) but later continued practicing the same negative tactic- attempting to deter all efforts for the popularization and refinement of the Cretan Tracer.
The last unacceptable act of K.O.E. was to compose a new “study” on the Cretan dog, renaming it as ‘Cretan Hound’ and modifying –based on their own opinions- its size, its colourations and its type. Unfortunately, and despite our initial requests which later became negative remarks and attacks in the end, the ones “responsible” in  K.O.E. have proven that are not interested in the Cretan Tracer itself but what interests them is to stay in the position of power. Unfortunately, as we are informed by the press, the same things also happen with all other associations and particularly the ones that have been created for Greek breeds. 
(For more information visit the following article for the Cretan Hound:
http://www.e-artemis.com/news/templates/DogsVarious.asp?articleid=824&zoneid=33
For the answer to the above article:
The Club for the Friendsof the Cretan Tracer (O.Φ.Κ.Ι.) showing respect for the effort for the Cretan Tracer but also for all scientific knowledge, proceeded in sending the study of the Cretan Tracer, after translating it in French, to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) so as to inform them. FCI studied, evaluated and considered our study very interesting and detailed, though in respect for the official Greek association, they asked this study to be forwarded to them by KOE itself and then it would be accepted. This was certainly impossible, as KOE has been tenaciously refusing to accept the study by Mr.Mpasourakos and has been acting autonomously, hoping that in this way they will force us to give up our effort and so they will profit from the new breed. .
In the first photograph you can see Mr Alexandros MacLivrey, archaeologist and director of the English Archaeological Excavation in Palaikastro, Sitia, that has been taking place in that region from 1902 until today. Among the hundreds of discoveries they have also been the skeletons of 49 dogs that are dated since 1800 B.C. In the right photograph you can see zooarchaeologist Mrs Chila Goyol who recorded and studied all bones from the excavation. In her study she reports the resemblance, concerning the skeleton, between the discoveries and the current dogs.
Aiming to always have scientific guidance, O.Φ.Κ.Ι. has always been cooperating with the University of Crete and more precisely with the director of the Museum of Natural History of Crete, Mr. Moses Mylonas, so as to have their scientific guidance and their contribution in formulating the Genetic Chart of the Cretan Tracer. This is possible to happen, provided that there are competent scientists in Crete that deal with these subjects. Mr Lymperakis who is in charge of the department of Genetics has already shown great interest on this matter and has been working on it. With his own guidance we took samples of blood from many Cretan Tracers (49) from almost the whole of Crete (Ierapetra, Sitia, Ag. Nikolaos, Irakleios and Chania). Then the Director of the English Archaeological excavation in Palaikastro, Sitia, Mr Alexandros MacLivrei handed material from the bones of Cretan Tracers that had been found in the excavation so as to be studied, genetically identified, and thus genetically compared to the current Cretan Tracer. The results of this research will be announced by the University of Crete as soon as the study will be completed. 
We understand the importance of this research which will set the base for further refinement of the Cretan Tracer and every disbeliever will not any longer doubt about the origin but also the form of the modern Cretan Tracer. Of course, it may be proved through this study that the modern Cretan Tracer does not resemble the ancient one as much but is different and perhaps resembles certain other races to a higher degree. This will be positive as well, as it will help us to turn towards the correct direction concerning the refinement of the breed, but will also allow us to find out which of the dogs are genetically closer to the ancient one.
Mr Georgios Perbolarakis, director of sports and hunting equipment shops (PERBOLARAKIS), a big admirer of the breed and a big supporter of our effort from the very start, whose passion and love for the Cretan breed is undoubtful. I report that from the first moment he offered to help us in any possible way and with no second thoughts. Not only that, but through his acquaintances he has always advised and guided dog lovers for the preservation of the Cretan Tracer. He and his colleagues have always been supporting us economically to conduct our presentations, to set the field and organize the display. His attitude towards our small association has really been an oasis in the deserted Greek state and official cynology that have not only been ignoring our effort but whenever is possible for them they don’t hesitate to create problems and confusion among the intentions and the efforts of dog loving people..
At this point I would like to give at least a photographic picture of our presentations that have been held for the Cretan Tracer that became in Crete by the Cretan Association for the Protection and Rescue of Indigenous Fauna (ΠΑ.ΣΥ.Π.Δ.Ι.Π.) in collaboration with the Kennel Club of Greece (EKO) and with the Club for the Friendsof the Cretan Tracer (O.Φ.Κ.Ι.). We should point out that the biggest support in the organisation of our displays, has been received by businessman Mr G. Perbolarakis, director of sports and hunting equipment shops who has not only financed our effort but also sent us help direclty from his office for setting our field. Still, I owe to thank professor of Technological Educational Institute of Crete (T.E.I.) Mr Michalis Kritsotakis for his support, as well as Mr. Manolis Grammatikakis, an employee in the municipality of Alikarnassos for the offer and transport of all seats and tables needed for the events. Still, we owe big thanks to Mr Mplitsias, a businessman from Athens, director of the small animal food company LEADINGPAWS for his entire support but also his intention to continue supporting us.
There have been 7 presentations organised up to now, the first was the Presentation of individuals of Indigenous Fauna which took place in the park of Irakleio (OASIS). Of course we will continue organizing such displays so that we not only maintain the interest for the Cretan Tracer but also to distinguish the best morphological animals, so that we enhance the breeding process. In the future, we hope to accomplish organizing lure coursing and hunting tests (αγώνεςεργασίας) so that we improve our efforts and the choice of the Cretan Tracer, as our dog is a hound and consequently it is supposed to be excellent not only morphologically but mostly as a hunter.
Another true friend of the Cretan Tracer is filmmaker Mr Yannis Christogiannis. Indefatigable and energetic, for almost one month, he would lift the heavy camera and all the necessary equipment (weighing more than15 kilos) so as to follow the hunting groups on the mountains of Dikti in order to record the hunting behavior of the Cretan Tracer. Also, in order to record the historical truth, he included the excavations of Palaikastro, Sitia and the discoveries concerning the dog. Finally, he filmed the testimonies of scientists so as to validate and present his work for the Cretan Tracer in the best possible way. Thus he created a film, which became a means to present the Cretan dog breed in the whole of Greece but abroad as well. The translated version of the film took part in an exhibition in France and it was awarded for its completeness and content. Another thing is that during the celebration for the 100 years of archaeological excavations in Palaikastro, Sitia that had been organized by the English Archaeological Faculty, the film was presented by its director, and the findings were analysed and discussed concerning their importance by Mr. Al.MacLivrey who had to travel from Athens to Crete. The appeal was impressive and it was the first time a hunting subject was presented in an official celebration and more particularly in a school. Unfortunately, all officially invited associations by the English Faculty that did not attend the event, as, the Hunting Federation of  Crete and Dodekanisa, Hunting associations, the Greek Hunting Confederation and the Greek Kennel Club(KOE) didn’t even send a letter in order to justify their absence. The film was also projected in a central cinema in Athens causing the positive comments of viewers. But unfortunately, once more, the official dog loving and hunting community was absent. However, a large number of hunters embraced the new film and thus the fame of the Cretan Tracer was spread in the whole of Greece. In this way, Mr Christogianni’s worthy effort was crowned with success.