Emergency Contacts & Legal Information

REPORTING ANIMAL ABUSE: According to Greek laws 4039/2012 article 16, animal abuse and neglect are criminal actions punishable by law with up to 5 years jail time and fines up to 30,000 Euros (in some cases fines are higher). If you witness animal abuse you should notify the police immediately and mention the law. There is no fee to report animal abuse as animal cruelty is considered an ex officio prosecuted crime. Police are required by law to investigate any and all reports of animal abuse. Examples of animal abuse: food poisonings, leaving animals tied in open fields, terraces, or other outdoor areas for extended periods of time, hanging, dog fights, intentional injury of animals, intentional killing of animals.

FEEDING OF STRAY ANIMALS: Under the same law (4039/2012, article 9 section 10), citizens and visitors are allowed to feed and care for strays as long as they follow hygiene protocols. The law protects you from any action while you are caring for animals in need. If anyone threatens or harasses you, please report the incident to the police immediately by mentioning the law (number 4039/2012, article 9). Please provide the police with detailed information and request a hard copy-proof that your report has been officially recorded.
 

ΣΙΤΙΣΗ ΑΔΕΣΠΟΤΩΝ: Με βάση το ν. 4039/12 (άρθρο 9), οι εθελοντές που ταΐζουν και μεριμνούν για τα αδέσποτα του νησιού μας δεν θα πρέπει να ενοχλούνται από κανέναν δημότη ή επισκέπτη. Εάν κάποιος δημότης δέχεται απειλές ενώ φροντίζει αδέσποτα μπορεί να καταγγείλει το περιστατικό στην αστυνομία μαζί με τα στοιχεία του ατόμου που τον/την απειλεί και αναφέροντας το νόμο 4039/12.

ΚΑΚΟΠΟΙΗΣΗ ΖΩΩΝ: Βάση του ν. 4039/2012 (άρθρο 16) η κακοποίηση των ζώων αποτελεί αυτεπάγγελτα διωκόμενο έγκλημα που διώκεται με τη διαδικασία του αυτοφώρου. Το διοικητικό πρόστιμο για την κακοποίηση κάθε ζώου μπορεί να αγγίξει τις 30.000€ ενώ προβλέπεται και ποινή φυλάκισης έως και 3 έτη. Σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις τα πρόστιμα και οι ποινές είναι υψηλότερα. Εάν είστε μάρτυρες συμβάντος κακοποίησης ζώου μπορείτε να καταγγείλετε το περιστατικό στην αστυνομία και να καταθέσετε και αποδεικτικά στοιχεία (βίντεο, φωτογραφίες, δείγμα φόλας κ.α). Παραδείγματα κακοποίησης ζώων: τοποθέτηση δηλητηριασμένου φαγητού (φόλες), μόνιμη αλυσόδεση σκύλου σε αυλή, δέντρα, μόνιμη εγκατάλειψη σε χωράφια, μπαλκόνια ή ταράτσες, υποσιτισμός, χτυπήματα, θανάτωση, απαγχονισμοί κ.α.

• Municipalities are responsible for the health of the stray animals living within their boundaries.
• If a dog/cat is hurt, hit by a car, etc. the municipality is responsible to treat it, bring it back to health, microchip it, give it annual shots and spay/neuter it.
• After the animal is healthy, it must be put in a kennel for a maximum of six (6) months and be promoted by the municipality for adoption.
• After the six-month period, and if no one wants to adopt the animal, the municipality must release the animal in the area where it was found, as the animal has a right to live even without an owner in the natural environment and not imprisoned.
• If you see a stray that is not injured or abused, the local authorities will not respond as stray animals are allowed by law to live in the streets.

Under the Greek law (Article 16, Law 4039/2012 & Article 1, Law 1197/1981) any of the following acts is considered animal abuse:

• Active animal abuse: Poisoning, hanging, drowning, crushing, mutilation, cutting of ears and/or tail, abandonment, neglect, illegal trade, and sexual abuse.
• Passive animal abuse: Animals that are constantly being exposed to weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, etc.) on balconies, roof terraces, yards, fields, etc., with no proper, dry and comfortable housing, animals that are constantly chained, that receive improper or no food and/or water, that are not vaccinated and/or de-wormed on a regular basis, who lack veterinary care, daily exercise, and daily walks.
• If you are an eye-witness of any such abuse, please be aware of the following:
  • Immediately call the police (Phone number:+30 22450 22222) so that they can come and record the incident.
  • Taking pictures of the animal is strongly advised. In cases of passive abuse, pictures of the animal’s daily living conditions are also needed, preferably with a date stamp which can certify the length of the abuse. Please note that taking pictures of the interior of a house, the residents of the premises or any sign that can reveal the specific address are prohibited.
  • Police officers that arrive on the scene cannot press any charges. Their responsibility is to record the incident and your testimony and also arrest the perpetrator should you be willing to press charges. In cases of active abuse, having more witnesses to confirm the abuse is highly advisable.
• To press charges, you must go to the nearest police station or any other police station (either case is totally legal) as soon as possible, at any time during the day, clearly stating the whole situation so that a case file on active/passive animal abuse can be formed against the perpetrator.
  • Since animal abuse is considered a self-contained offense, it is crucial to report it as soon as you witness it. This way the police have the right to arrest the suspect within the next 48 hours. After this deadline, the suspect cannot be arrested until the trial is completed and they have been found guilty.
• It is very important to know that the offense is considered ex-officio and no monetary fee is required - Greek Animal Welfare Act, LAW No. 4039