Dr. Stavros Βasourakos
(texts translated in english by: Tsagaraki Athanasia
Greek Public School English teacher Graduate of the English Department of the Aristotle University -Thessaloniki)

(Veterinarian - Cynologist – hunting specialist, studier of Greek dog breeds) 
Founder of Cynology in Greece, Founder of the Greek Kennel Club (EKO) in 1954 and of the hunting magazine ‘Kynigesia and Kynofilia’ in 1960-1995, Chairman of the Greek Veterinary Association until 1969
This was the emblem of the Greek Kennel Club (E.K.O) with the Greek Molossian as the main point of reference. This dog breed is considered as the progenitor of the current European Molossian and not only that; since 1957 that the Club was founded by Dr St. Basourakos until today, it has been playing an important role in the creation of the best conditions for the Greek dog loving community.
Dr St. Basourakos was born in 23/03/1918 in village Leimona in Skala, Lakonia from a wealthy rural family. His passion for learning was such that despite his family’s objections, after having finished primary school, he left from his village and settled in Gythion so as to finish high school.  After that and driven by his passion for animals and knowledge he migrated in Turin, Northern Italy where he began his studies in the Faculty of Veterinary science in the University of Turin. 
Right at the end of his studies the 2nd World War began together with the invasion of Fascist Italy in Greece. He took part in various demonstrations against Mussolini and his invasion. Specifically, on the day he was to receive his degree from the Veterinary School he was found in the railway station of Turin in order to send a telegraph to his father in Greece to inform him about the happy occasion, but he was arrested by the Italian fascists and was initially jailed and then exiled for 5 years, up to the end of the war, in the region of Southern Italy, in Irpinia  near the city of Abelino. 
During the difficult years of his exile, without having any contact with his homeland and in order to survive, he started practicing his profession as a veterinarian in the area, accepting as payment what the villagers of his region would offer for his veterinary services.  After the end of the war and after the re-establishment in Italy, he returned in Turin where he married Louigina  Mpotzolini and had a daughter with her.
When he returned to Turin he was appointed by the Italian state in the Court of Turin as a legal adviser on veterinary subjects, on hunting and ornithology. This had been the greatest recognition of his ability and knowledge on these subjects by the Italian state, and he served there for 5 years. 
Together with his military service as a legal adviser, he had been an apprentice close to the most important  modern cynologist, G. Solaro for 4 years on cynotechnical and cynological  issues accomplishing thus to be internationally recognized for his cynotechnical abilities, a thing that allowed him to become an international critic of Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and allowed him to take part in international shows and cynological conventions that established him as one of the most capable modern cynologists. He also wrote articles in various Italian periodicals and magazines related to cynological and hunting subjects.
After that, driven by his love for his homeland, he returned to Greece in May 1954 and settled in Athens where he practised his profession as a Veterinarian for almost 30 years.
After his return, he founded the Greek Kennel Club (EKO) that had been a confederate member of FCI and in 3 years time accomplished to record, study and lead to the international recognition of our national hunting breed, the Greek Hound. This has been the only internationally recognized Greek dog breed up to now. 
During the same period he contributed in the foundation and organisation of the Greek Veterinary Association being the chairman up to 1969, when he resigned not wanting to give in to the pressures of this morbid period.
Also, he started publishing his magazine ‘Kynigesia kai Kynofilia’ through which he transferred incredible knowledge to the Greek dog loving community which today can be proud of our country’s cynological condition on an international level. Also, he translated and created the cynotechnical terminology which we use today to precisely express ourselves on cynological and cynotechnical issues. His contribution had been enormous and his work such, that today we consider him as the founder and father of Greek cynology. Mr. Basourakos had been the director of ‘Kynigesia kai Kynofilia’ until 1996 and this has been a great magazine that even today is being circulated continuing its successful course for 45 years. It is the magazine that helped us correct our up to then wrong cynological terminology. 
Through its  publications the magazine taught us the cynological history of our place, the dog breeds that had existed in Greece and those that still exist; also it translated precisely in Greek the morphological types of the main European dog breeds and helped us comprehend their hunting distinctiveness and their morphology. It also transmitted cynotechnical and cynological, as well as hunting knowledge, by publishing subjects based on the scientific knowledge that we follow with definite results even today.
Still, we must keep in mind that, since the first Hellenic dog show that took place in 1958 in Kifisia, Athens, which was an unprecedented  event that caused negative reactions and was considered as ‘blashphemus’, up to the current situation in Greece when successful international cynological meetings are being held for the European championship and in particular dogs of Greek breeders and descendants of dogs that had first been selected by Dr St. Basourakos and imported from abroad, become champions on a European level in these events, then we can say that great progress has been made and the results have been astonishing; all these have not only brought us in an advantageous position but have taught us to appreciate and be aware of our hunting and dog loving position. 
During his efforts, and having the dream to cultivate the Greek dog breeds,  Dr Basourakos accomplished to record and lead to its national recognition this, up to a while ago, unknown breed: the Cretan Tracer. This breed is our second national breed which has been successfully bred for the past 13 years. I intensely remember my first contact with Dr St. Basourakos when he for the first time saw pure Cretan Tracers and told me “if I bear to create the national morphological standard of the Cretan Tracer, then I can die peacefully”. His passion was such, that in the age of 74 years he first travelled to Crete in order to study and record the Cretan breed. This breed, he supported as a judge in 7 morphological displays that took place on the island.
However tired he was, all it took was to see a beautiful dog and soon he would begin once more. We, the people of Crete, owe him a lot, not only for the recognition of the Cretan Tracer but also for his love for Crete.   
There are endless subjects in his work that need publishing and I hope that hunting organisations and editors will deal with his unique work. 
He had been a complete moral and ethical personality, honest and unselfish, that all he would ask from others was honesty and sincerity. He was an excellent user of the Greek language and an incomparable conversationalist that would not let anything stay unnoticed or not corrected. He would always be ready to advise, to clarify and to teach. These characteristics made him seem distant or introvert although all he wanted was to pass his knowledge to others. From my 15 year contact with him, I realised his right judgement but also his bravery in facing all subjects, creating a positive atmosphere and earning our respect and love. 
He completed his life having his only daughter close to him in a private clinic in Athens, in 5/5/2005.
In this web page I wanted to dedicate certain lines for our cynological father as an indication of our respect for his work. I would very much like to ask those who have elements regarding his work or even unpublished photos or stories to send them to us. It would be a good idea to create a museum, which could display all photographic material that exists in his file, all pedigrees by EBA and EBK but also all the copies from magazine ‘Kynigesia kai Kynofilia’. There are some people who are willing to deal with this subject but it would be wise for the Hellenic Hunters Confederation, the Kennel Club of Greece but also the Hellenic Veterinary Association to deal with this matter as well. The creation of a museum will help us study his work but also will initiate the beginning for the collection of elements of our cynological history as a country aiming at its rescue and popularization.
Heraklion 19 May 2005
In memory of Dr Stavros Basourakos
Prot. Num. 17

The Club for the Friends of the Cretan Tracer (O.Φ.Κ.Ι.) after the loss of our cynological father, feels obliged to express their deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and to the whole Greek dog loving community. All of us, who had a close contact with him for the last 13 years but also us who grew with his articles and were aware of his scientific training as well as his humane side, owe to impart all the knowledge of our country’s founder of cynology to the young.
An honest, genuine Greek, he had been the most proficient scientist in his field who accomplished to impart knowledge for more than 55 years leading to the creation of modern cynologic Greece. It is an honour for us the Cretan people to continue his effort for the recognition and breeding of our own dog, the Cretan Tracer.
The Public Council of O.Φ.Κ.Ι. recognizing his offer and having him as a model continues his efforts and promises to fight for the continuation of breeding the Cretan Tracer, as well as of a healthy dog- loving attitude in our country. We thank him and wish him a nice trip in the arms of angels. 
Yours sincerely
Public Council of O.Φ.Κ.Ι.