Athens Municipality Launches Website for City’s Cats and Dogs

On the occasion of World Animal Day, celebrated on October 4, the Animal Welfare Department of the Municipality of Athens launched an information website dedicated to the city’s stray cats and dogs to raise public awareness.

Through the new website – www.animalscityofathens.gr – users can find information about the municipality’s efforts to protect stray animals and secure a home for them; adopt registered cats and dogs; and report incidents of abuse.

Citizens can also register an animal they have found on the street or a lost pet; receive information about the obligations of pet owners and municipalities towards animals; and seek advice in case they wish to adopt a lifelong friend.

“The protection and welfare of animals has become part of our daily work… This was and remains our goal. I am happy because our dedicated department and hundreds of sensitive citizens support our efforts to make our city more human,” Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis said.

Along with the new website (in Greek), the Animal Welfare Department of the Municipality of Athens has also opened social media accounts on Facebook (animalscityofathens) and Instagram (animals_cityofathens).

During the last year, the Municipality of Athens has offered treatment to a total of 460 dogs and 645 cats, while it has assisted with the adoption of 201 dogs and 34 cats. Furthermore, it has hosted 28 dogs and 6 cats.

The City of Athens has also launched a new program placing microchips for free on cats and dogs whose owners belong to vulnerable groups. Through the program, a total of 157 dogs and 49 cats have acquired a microchip.

Meanwhile, the municipality has placed seven outdoor cat and dog houses, seven feeders and 42 water bowls in various parts of Athens.

The municipality is planning to create parks for dogs, a temporary shelter for strays and the first municipal veterinary clinic.