We are now talking about an epidemic of cruelty, inhumanity, anesthesia of bipeds with victims of defenseless four-legged “streets”, as well as living ones, for whom the cycle of staying in the homes of seasonal animal lovers has closed… Especially this summer, the number of refusals of pets has increased. In fact, apart from the dogs that are usually left outside, the number of rabbits (yes, you read that right) that were found eating grass in the parks of Athens or finding their way in Patision was also significant. On the other hand, the number of dogs found on the street with microchips is small, and only a few of them are registered in the relevant database, as a result of which their rightful owner cannot be identified.

Collectors of stray animals – former residents – in municipalities report that veterinarians repeatedly microchip the animals, but neglect to transmit information about the animals on the appropriate platform. The president of the Panhellenic Veterinary Association, Athena Trachili, on the other hand, while defending the industry, emphasizes that many owners themselves insert chips into their dogs in order to look legal in a possible police check. Marianti Dimopoulou, special secretary of the new Animal Welfare Office, which was created three months ago under the Ministry of the Interior, is optimistic that the work of the unified registry, which will start in the coming months and will unite all animal-related databases, “will solve the problem in to a considerable extent.” Soon, pet health records will also be electronic, so there will be much more scrutiny of whether the owner is fulfilling his obligations regarding the care of his animal. At the same time, police training will begin immediately (through a cooperation protocol signed between the Ministry of Citizens’ Protection and the Zero Vagrant Academy) on how to respond to cases of abuse and how to conduct inspections.

In an effort to reduce the number of homeless animals, immediately after the implementation of the TIF, the Special Secretary will start a program of meetings with municipal authorities throughout Greece, as well as representatives of the fire department and the police to implement the law (Government Gazette 169/A/18-9-2021, law 4830 /2021), which was adopted a year ago. “We are fighting the problem of the treatment of stray animals, but small steps are already being taken,” says Ms. Dimopulu “K”. “Municipalities were responsible for the homeless, but there was no institutional body to turn to, no funding. Now elected officials need to understand that now there is a service that can support them, but will also check whether the legislation is applied and whether the money that goes to the municipalities is properly used,” he adds. “The issue of stray animals may not always be the last item on the agenda of discussions held in municipal councils,” said Ms. Dimopoulou, a lawyer who specializes in animal law. An increase in the number of inspections by all competent authorities will help to limit the number of abandoned ships, as well as to reduce, if not eliminate, the phenomenon of abuse. “I have a strong stomach and I cover my ears when necessary,” Ms. Dimopoulou concludes.

Soon, pet health records will become electronic, so there will be more control over the owner’s compliance with their obligations. 1,000,000 animals, mostly dogs, live like homeless people. The police receive 120 animal cruelty complaints a month. The fines imposed amount to 1.3 million euros. There are 420 zoophilic associations and groups in Greece. 1 in 10 newborn dogs will find a permanent home.

Despite the fact that pet abandonment is now a criminal offense under the new legislation, pet abandonment tactics by owners continue, especially during the summer months when the “what will happen to the dog on vacation” dilemma arises. The telephone in the urban wildlife department of the municipality of Athens has been ringing all summer. Citizens asked the municipality to pick up a dog that was seen walking, as if it was lost in the street. “We have too many abandoned animals, mainly in the summer, but also in other seasons. I would say almost one animal is abandoned every day,” says Serafina Avramidou, Authorized Animal Adviser of the Municipality of Athens, “K”.

Homeless animals of the municipality of Athens are now registered and spayed. “We know who they are and where they are,” Ms. Avramidou says, emphasizing that most of the old homeless animals have already grown old. “Now we have very few homeless animals, and we know them all. So any new animal that appears is a given that it has been abandoned from home,” the consultant explains. The rejection mostly concerns dogs, but in recent years even rabbits are being rejected, “which the people who buy them realize after a while that they are not stuffed toys and need to be looked after, so they are rejecting them,” says Ms. Avramida. “I found a rabbit in Patishen,” he says characteristically. “Nevertheless, the collected dogs are examined, vaccinated, de-wormed, neutered and microchipped. Then they either end up in an animal shelter in Botanikos, or in temporary shelters until they are adopted. It is very difficult to manage all these animals,” he explains, adding that most of the abandoned animals either do not have a microchip, or they do not have a microchip registered, so their owner cannot be found.

In recent years, more and more people have reported animal cruelty, even anonymously. The public discussion of late has awakened many who in earlier years would not have paid so much attention to it. However, the incidents that have come to light are just the tip of the iceberg, says Ms Avramidou, who believes there is a deeper cover-up in the province.