‘Thanks for the lovely pictures. Would love to meet Druna one morning this week.”

This email message was eminently susceptible to misinterpretation by anyone reading it, a category that included the secretary of the gentleman who had sent it from our holiday home in Greece. Back in England, conscientiously monitoring the correspondence of her boss, she might have been curious over the identity of Druna, so alluringly presented in those pictures, and wondered, too, about the outcome of the proposed matutinal visit.

Druna, in fact, is not a young lady, as might have been supposed, but a dog. She is one of more than 20 canine outcasts, along with lots of lovely cats, being looked after by the Naxos Animal Welfare Society. This admirable organisation, which I have mentioned in this column once or twice before, works tirelessly to care for, and hopefully eventually home, some of the many animals abandoned and mistreated on this lovely Cycladean island.

It is especially commendable that its valiant work continues through this period of great troubles for Greece. These, of course, have exacerbated the problem which the organisation exists to address: when people are struggling for funds to feed the family, a further mouth must be an unwelcome addition.

Druna, as it happens, did not become an outcast for economic reasons. She was kicked out of a comfortable seaside home for the sole reason that as she grew up from puppyhood it became apparent she was not the pure-bred rottweiler she at first appeared. Many Greeks share with so-called dog lovers elsewhere a concern over pedigree that would be hard to understand were it not intimately connected with the financial value of the animal.

Such a consideration had no bearing on us, though, as we looked for a dog to team up with in a new scheme operated by NAWS. For animal lovers who are unable, as we are, to fully adopt an animal and take him or her off to a life abroad, there exists a support plan under which you can ‘virtually adopt’ a pet. A donation of ten Euros a month meets the cost of food; a further five Euros takes care of jabs and vet’s bills as well.

Supporters resident on Naxos or holidaying there can pay visits to ‘their’ animal and take walks together when they wish. (It was concerning such an outing that our guest’s email was sent.) Those away from the island are given progress reports by email.

As far as I can see, NAWS has yet to update its website to supply details of the scheme. But if you go to naws.on-naxos.com you will find lots about the charity and how to contact it and help its work. There are masses of pictures of the dogs and cats and endearing descriptions as if supplied by themselves.

Our adoptee, for instance, says: “I am the goddess Druna, a rottie mix, and my life’s purpose is to put a spell on you so that you love and put me in your life. Some of you may have abandoned me in the streets, but I still believe in you, I have lots of love and hugs to give, I’m good with other dogs, I am young and beautiful, what else to ask for? Love me!”

Who could resist?