Just a few years ago, I discovered Greece as a vacation destination. The warmth of the people, the good food, the landscapes and beaches—the country immediately enchanted me. Since then, I have spent almost every vacation on the Greek island of Crete. But behind the picture-postcard idyll, something else quickly catches the eye: the many stray dogs and stray cats in Greece.
At first, I found it almost charming to see cats roaming the alleys in small colonies, lying on motor scooters or car roofs, or waiting for food scraps under tavern tables. But on closer inspection, the sight of them increasingly caused me concern.
Maike Becker
Many of the stray animals in Greece are in poor condition: emaciated, infested with parasites, with inflamed eyes—sometimes even wounded or injured. And almost everywhere you look, there are helpless young animals. It seems as if they are multiplying uncontrollably.
I observed other vacationers who felt the same way I did – partly enchanted, partly concerned. Some gave them leftovers from the tavern, others had dry food with them. Still others visibly backed away when the animals came too close to them.
- Strays in Greece: A moment that changed everything
- #1 Why are there so many stray animals in Greece?
- #2 Animal welfare law in Greece and its limitations
- #3 Animal welfare organizations in Greece: Their important role
- #4 How can vacationers help Greece’s strays?
- #5 Strays in Greece: How you can help in the long term
- #6 Other animal welfare issues in Greece: donkeys, horses, etc.
Strays in Greece: A moment that changed everything
On my last vacation in Crete, I saw an obviously injured kitten on the side of the road one evening on my way back from the beach. I stopped immediately and wanted to help. At the same time, I had no idea what to do. How do you catch an injured kitten? Where do you take it? And are you even allowed to do that—or does it belong to someone?
I sat motionless behind the wheel for a moment, torn between the urge to act and uncertainty. Finally, the kitten ran away. And as contradictory as it sounds, I was almost relieved at that moment.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about the kitten. Back at my vacation apartment, I started researching and contacted local animal welfare organizations. They explained to me in an understanding and matter-of-fact way what to do in such a situation and what is important.
So the next day, I drove back to the spot—equipped with a borrowed carrier from the local vet and a few snacks to lure it in. I set out to search for the kitten. And sure enough, after a while, it reappeared.
💡 Stray animals in Greece: Strays usually stay in their familiar surroundings or near their colony. The chances of finding them again are therefore often greater than one might initially think.
Catching it was nerve-wracking and anything but routine. But with a lot of calm and patience, I finally managed to lure the frightened animal into the box and take it to the nearby veterinary practice. There it received first aid.
In the following days, it turned out that the cat did indeed belong to no one. It was clear to me that I didn’t want to leave it back on the street. So I pulled out all the stops and found a foster home through a support network on Facebook, where it could continue to be cared for and treated over the past few months.
Soon, the Greek stray cat will be allowed to travel to Germany, where my mother will adopt her. Unfortunately, very few animals are as lucky as this one kitten.
This experience prompted me to take a closer look at the situation of stray cats and dogs in Greece. Through exchanges with animal welfare organizations, volunteers, and locals, I learned about different perspectives and tried to understand why the situation is the way it is—and how we as tourists can help in a meaningful way.
In this article, you will find background information, practical tips on feeding, an emergency plan for injured animals, and advice on how to help in the short term, but above all responsibly.
#1 Why are there so many stray animals in Greece?
Stray dogs and cats have been a common sight on Greek streets for decades. There are hardly any reliable figures, but a study by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from 2023 shows that over three million homeless animals live on the streets of the country. The causes are manifold and deeply rooted in social, economic, and structural factors.
Lack of neutering – the core problem in Greece
A key problem is the lack of or insufficient neutering of pets. Unwanted offspring are often abandoned and end up defenseless on the streets, where they continue to reproduce unchecked.
From the perspective of veterinarians and animal welfare organizations, widespread neutering is therefore the most effective measure to sustainably limit the population and reduce animal suffering in the long term.
💡 Greece and its cats: An unneutered cat can have an average of two litters per year – each with three to five kittens. After just four to five months, the offspring are themselves capable of reproduction. This means that even if only some of the young animals survive, a single pair of cats can produce hundreds of offspring within a few years. The situation is similar with dogs: a female dog can come into heat twice a year – with up to 15 puppies per litter.
Economic and social factors in Greece
Added to this is the economic situation in Greece. In times of financial hardship—especially during and after the financial crisis that began in 2009, as well as in the years when tourism declined sharply as a result of the refugee crisis in Greece —many people lost an important source of income. During this period, numerous pets could no longer be cared for and were abandoned out of desperation, and in some cases out of ignorance.
Cultural influences also play a role. For a long time, dogs were primarily regarded as working animals for guarding farms, as herding or hunting dogs. Those that were not “useful” were replaced. This is still the case in some regions of Greece today. Cats, on the other hand, are usually tolerated, but rarely considered true pets. Emotional attachment or a sense of responsibility, as known in Central Europe, is only slowly developing in many places.
#2 Animal welfare law in Greece and its limitations
With Animal Welfare Law No. 4830/2021, Greece renewed and tightened its existing animal welfare legislation in 2021. Among other things, the law stipulates mandatory neutering for pets, mandatory microchipping, a strict ban on abandoning animals, and significantly higher penalties for animal cruelty. In addition, municipalities are being given greater responsibility, for example in organizing neutering programs and caring for stray animals.
In practice, however, implementation often falls short of the legal requirements. In many places, there is a lack of controls and sufficient financial and human resources. Only a few municipalities have functioning animal shelters or long-term neutering programs. As a result, much of the responsibility continues to lie with private animal welfare initiatives, volunteers, and dedicated veterinarians.
You can read a good, albeit slightly satirical, insight into the new Greek animal welfare law at radio-kreta.de.
#3 Animal welfare organizations in Greece: Their important role
Private, often international, animal welfare organizations take on a significant part of the care of stray cats and dogs in Greece. They care for injured animals, maintain feeding stations, organize neutering campaigns, provide education, and find new homes for cats and dogs both domestically and abroad. Their work is voluntary and is financed exclusively by donations and their own funds.
During my rescue mission for the injured kitten and my research for this article, I had the opportunity to get to know several of these organizations. I greatly appreciate their work – I would like to mention a few projects that are active in Crete as examples.
But even outside Crete, there are local animal welfare initiatives in almost all regions of Greece. If you are traveling in Kos, Rhodes, or mainland Greece, you can look for local organizations there—they know the local structures and are best placed to help.
Arche Noah Kreta e.V. / Tierärztepool: An association of veterinarians that regularly carries out neutering campaigns in large parts of Greece – and even in Romania and Cape Verde. These campaigns have resulted in over 137,000 animals being neutered since 2014. In addition, the Tierärztepool provides numerous medical treatments and emergency services.
VOCAL (Voice of Cats Alliance): A non-profit association of volunteers that primarily cares for stray cats in and around Agios Nikolaos and in northeastern Crete. Their work includes neutering, medical care, feeding, vaccinations, rehoming, and education. More at: Vocalcats (Facebook)
Kreta Pfötchen: An organization based in Germany that works with a few private foster homes in Crete (no animal shelter—limited capacity!). It places animals in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and supports local neutering projects. More at: Kreta Pfötchen
APAL Crete – Animal Protection and Lifeline Finikas: This project is dedicated in particular to so-called “chain dogs.” These are dogs that are permanently chained or kept in barrels – without exercise, social contact, or medical care. More at: APAL
Two of the largest shelters in Crete are:
Gouves Shelter (near Heraklion): Cares for over 400 dogs and cats. The shelter welcomes volunteers, especially vacationers with dog experience, who can walk the dogs (also possible directly on the beach). Information at: Gouves Shelter
Takis Shelter (Ierapetra): Internationally known, with a strong media presence and politically active. Day visits are possible with prior registration. Volunteers are also welcome: Takis Shelter
All of these projects were born out of personal commitment—out of love for animals and Greece. Without them, countless stray cats and dogs would have no help whatsoever. Their work is indispensable, but at the same time not welcome everywhere.
Between commitment and resistance: acceptance among the population
Despite their efforts, animal welfare organizations do not meet with understanding everywhere. Many volunteers report that it can take years to build trust among the local population. The issue of neutering in particular is a recurring topic of discussion. Ignorance, cultural influences, or religious beliefs may be reasons for this. As a result, many stray animals are left to their own devices without anyone intervening.
In summer, stray cats and dogs in Greece seem to be doing well. The tourists are there, taverns are open, food scraps are left behind, and many animals are fed extra. But with winter, everything changes. Taverns close, villages are almost deserted, and the animals begin their hard struggle for survival. In spring, the full extent of the situation becomes apparent: emaciated, sick, and exhausted—at least those who have survived the winter at all.
A Greek conversation partner once revealed the background from his point of view to Tom and Ella:
“Many people in Greece see the suffering of strays, but are critical of human intervention. For a long time, the idea has been widespread that nature must regulate populations itself. For example, feeding cats could lead to a sharp increase in the number of animals – and thus also to an increase in disease and misery.
At the same time, cats play an important role in the ecological balance, for example in the fight against rats and cockroaches. From this perspective, human intervention is not always automatically helpful, but can also have unintended side effects.
In addition, religious beliefs play a role in Greece, especially among older people. In the Christian Orthodox faith, many consider it problematic to neuter animals. They see it as an intervention in the process of creation and a restriction of God-given reproductive rights. This attitude continues to shape the perception and acceptance of measures such as sterilization and neutering in the country to this day.”
For many animal rights activists, this attitude is difficult to understand. They repeatedly see unwanted offspring being abandoned without protection, sometimes even disposed of in garbage cans, and left to their fate. Nor is simply letting the animals starve to death a solution to stopping the population. The situation shows how complex the issue is in Greece.
#4 How can vacationers help Greece’s strays?
Those who vacation in Greece often encounter animal suffering firsthand: hungry cats under tavern tables, a limping dog on the side of the road, a lonely kitten without a mother.
The desire to help is often great. At the same time, uncertainty often remains: What makes sense? And what might ultimately do more harm than good?
Feeding dogs and cats in Greece, but doing it right
Many vacationers are unsure about feeding animals. Does it really help if you are only there for a few days? Are you taking on a responsibility that you cannot continue later? And how do you know if an animal really lives on the street—or perhaps belongs to someone? Veterinarians and animal welfare workers are familiar with these doubts. However, their assessment is clear:
“Of course, it’s not ideal if you’re leaving after a few days. But if an animal gets enough food, even for a short time, it doesn’t have to search for food scraps in the trash, it’s stronger and less susceptible to parasites,“ explains Thomas Busch from Arche Noah Kreta e.V. / Tierärztepool.
Max Greb from Kreta Pfötchen also emphasizes: “Feeding is a good source of extra income – the key is to do it responsibly.” He lists a few simple but important basic rules:
Water is the most important thing: During the hot summer months, clean drinking water is essential for survival. Therefore, always provide bowls of fresh water – this way, the animals don’t have to drink from the sea or puddles.
No seasoned food: If possible, give them real animal food from the supermarket (dry or wet food). Leftovers from taverns are usually too salty, greasy, or heavily seasoned and are unhealthy in the long run.
Watch out for trash: Crush empty cans or packaging and dispose of them properly so that the animals cannot injure themselves or, worse, choke on them.
Do not feed at the hotel or apartment: Many landlords do not like this. A public and safe place away from traffic is better.
Do not feed cats at or in taverns: Many cats hang out there and many people throw food down from their tables, but this is frowned upon by many tavern owners. If you want to help, offer food away from the tavern in a quiet, safe place.
💡 Stray or Greek domestic cat? Not every cat that begs is actually homeless. Observe the animal for a while before you act. If you want to help in a targeted way, it is best to support existing feeding stations. In many regions, organizations or volunteers maintain fixed feeding stations – often near garbage containers. Local animal welfare associations are happy to provide information on how you can provide meaningful and sustainable support, for example through food or monetary donations.
Report animal cruelty in Greece immediately
Cases of animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, or illegal chaining of animals should be reported immediately—either to the police or the animal cruelty reporting center:
- Police emergency number: 100
- Animal cruelty hotline: 10410
Alternatively, you can go directly to a local police station. If possible, photos, videos, and exact location details will help with the report.
Please note that although the Greek police are responsible for prosecuting animal cruelty, they do not provide medical care for injured stray animals. As tourists, we must take action ourselves and care for injured dogs and stray cats on the Greek islands.
Help for injured stray animals in Greece
If you find an animal that has been hit by a car or is obviously seriously injured, ideally take it to a nearby veterinary practice yourself. Please do not rely on an animal welfare organization to come: most initiatives are run by volunteers, are chronically overworked, and can usually only take on emergencies after hours or even days.
Unfortunately, there is no nationwide emergency number for injured animals in Greece. On the other hand, veterinary costs in Greece are usually significantly lower than in Central Europe or the US. So if you take action yourself in an acute situation, you can often make a decisive contribution to saving animal lives.
Emergency plan for animal rescue in Greece – step by step:
1. Find a veterinarian in Greece
Use Maps to search for the nearest veterinarian or animal hospital in the region.
2. Get the animal to safety
Use a cardboard box, a transport box (often available to borrow from the veterinarian), or a towel. Important: Stray animals are often very fearful. Do not put yourself in danger. If you are unable to catch the animal immediately, try again later.
3. Take the animal to the nearest veterinarian
Ask your host or the local hotel for the nearest veterinarian. Alternatively, you can search for your island/region on Google Maps and enter “vet” or “vet care” after it, e.g., “Rhodes vet care.” This will give you the addresses of veterinarians.
4. Wait for the diagnosis
Decide together with the veterinarian whether further treatment is necessary or whether the animal can be released again. “Often, an animal can be released again after treatment—many stray animals are surprisingly robust and resilient,” explains veterinarian Thomas Busch from Tierärztepool.
5. If you can’t help yourself
Seek support via local Facebook groups (example for Crete: Animal lovers on Crete on Facebook) or contact animal welfare organizations in the area. With luck, you will quickly find helpers on site. Important: Post a photo, location coordinates, and a short description.
6. Further care for the stray animal
If longer treatment is necessary, Facebook groups can often help you find foster homes or other vacationers who can take over further care.
7. Adopting strays from Greece
If you “fall in love” with a stray, you can consider adopting a dog or cat from Greece. You can get advice on vaccinations, departure, and all formalities from your veterinarian or local animal welfare organizations.
What to do with abandoned kittens or puppies?
Kittens: Please wait and observe the situation from a distance for a while, as the mother is often just out looking for food. Only when you are sure that the kitten is alone should you organize help, as young animals are only able to survive on their own from around six weeks of age.
Puppies: The situation is more serious here, as puppies cannot survive without their mother. Please seek help immediately from local organizations or Facebook groups.
Common diseases among stray cats in Greece
For minor problems such as mite infestation or eye infections, a trip to the pharmacy or vet can often help. Many medications are freely available and inexpensive. If treatment needs to be continued beyond your vacation, you can often find people who will take over the care via local Facebook groups.
However, there are also diseases that are more serious and require veterinary care. The organization Cretan Cat-A-List provides a very good overview of common cat diseases in the Mediterranean region.
💡 Ear tipping in Greece: Cats with a small notch or a clipped ear tip have already been neutered. This so-called ear tipping is an internationally recognized mark and helps veterinarians and animal welfare activists to immediately identify neutered animals. Dogs are often tattooed under the belly.
#5 Strays in Greece: How you can help in the long term
Despite the many challenges, there is also hope: the work of animal welfare organizations, volunteers, and committed locals is having an impact. Spaying and neutering campaigns, regular feeding stations, educational work, and caring for the animals help to reduce suffering.
And we can also make a contribution as tourists: if you want to provide long-term and sustainable support, there are many options, such as volunteering at animal shelters, donating money or goods, sponsoring, walking dogs, or adopting. In almost all Greek regions, there are numerous organizations that welcome support.
But educational work—for example, about responsible feeding or the correct way to deal with stray cats and dogs—is also indispensable.
Your experiences with strays in Greece are valuable
Have you ever been to an animal shelter in Greece? Have you fed stray animals or even helped an animal? Share your experiences with us in the comments at the bottom of the post!
Which animal welfare organizations can you recommend on the islands or mainland? What tips do you have for other vacationers? We look forward to a lively exchange—your story can help others!
#6 Other animal welfare issues in Greece: donkeys, horses, etc.
Although this article deals almost exclusively with the suffering of stray cats and, to some extent, dogs, there are numerous other animal welfare issues in Greece that also deserve attention.
For example, the situation of donkeys, horses, and cows, which are often tied up in the blazing sun and do not have sufficient access to water. Or donkey riding on Santorini and in Lindos on Rhodes, as well as horses pulling carriages, are particularly critical, as are canaries in cramped cages.
At the same time, it is important to me to emphasize that I do not want to point the finger at Greece with this article. There are also serious animal welfare problems in my country, ranging from factory farming to overcrowded animal shelters. Rather, this article is about providing practical tips on how we can help stray animals locally in a meaningful way without making the situation worse.
Further information on the topic of stray dogs in Greece can be found in this informative WDR documentary (German TV):
About the author:
My name is Maike, I am 43 years old, and I work in marketing for a media company in Hamburg. I discovered Crete a few years ago and have spent almost every vacation there since then. The situation of stray cats and dogs moved me from the very beginning. After I found and cared for an injured cat myself, I realized that I don’t just travel to Greece for the food and hospitality, but also to help the animals there. I have worked in a shelter in Crete and support several local associations and animal welfare organizations from Germany.
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