The indiscriminate poisoning of  innocent animals is a terrible crime and a nation cannot be called civilized if they allow animal abuse to go unpunished. We have to respect the animals right to live in this world.

Despite the current legislation regarding animal welfare in Greece which prohibits the poisoning of stray animals, many communities  and municipalities across Greece are not enforcing the current law and are turning a blind eye to the barbaric practice.of mass poisonings. Many  innocent Pets are also killed in turn. We would ask the Greek government to enforce the legislation rigourously and severely punish those that flout the current laws.

The Greek government do not offer state subsidies for the problem of its stray animal population and it is left to the private animal welfare activists and charities  to carry out this work. The Greek government should offer subsidies and implement a program of spaying and neutering to solve this ongoing problem which would not only improve its standing in the civilised world but attract the many tourists that stay away because of its poor animal welfare record.

 In addition, the foreign veterinarians who offer to carry out the urgently needed neutering and spaying programs are hindered from entering Greece to carry out their vital work to bring down the stray animal populations and this needs to change.

Recenlty. the Forest Service was threatening to close down the Cat Sanctuary in Kalithea on Rhodes, Shelters like these offer welfare to the many abandoned, diseased and stray animals found throughout Greece. Many attempt to re-home them, get them neutered and treat any disease they may have. These shelters should be encouraged. and subsidised throughout Greece in an effort to solve the perennial problem of overpopulation of Cats and Dogs. Most of these shelters are run by volunteers and are vital to the welfare of the stray Cat and Dog populations.

The bad treatment of animals is for many foreigners the most important reason for not desiring to visit Greece  and this can only have a negative impact on the tourist industry that Greece so badly needs to sustain its  struggling economy.