I found a stray dog - what do I do?

Greece is home to over one million stray dogs, which can be overwhelming for tourists who are not used to seeing so many dogs out in the streets. As animal welfare organizations are not government-funded, their resources are limited and they unfortunately can't save every dog. We prioritize dogs in emergency situations such as injured or sick dogs and puppies without their mother. It's important to never separate puppies from their mother, if they need help all of them should be taken together.

If you come across a dog in an emergency situation and decide to help, please keep in mind that animal welfare organizations require space and funds to take care of the dogs. If an organization is unable to take in a dog, please understand that they are doing their best with the resources they have.

Do not wait for someone else to help dogs in emergency situations: bring them to the vet or if that‘s not possible, take pictures of the dogs and save the location so that you can inform a welfare organization that can help. When contacting them, ensure you provide location details and pictures so that they can locate and help the dog. It's not possible for welfare organizations to respond to requests for help without this information.

Finally, it's essential to respect the response given by the welfare organization. If they are unable to help, they have a good reason. By following these guidelines, you can help make a difference in the lives of stray dogs in Greece.