Animal welfare and how you can help

Many holidaymakers and visitors to Zakynthos will, at some point, come across stray cats and dogs or an animal that needs welfare assistance. Greece in general is a nation of animal lovers and whilst there are negative stories that are sometimes reported about animals – as it is all over the world – a majority of Greek people adore their animals and treat them well. In some areas of Greece however, especially on the islands, the number of strays animals is higher than normal. Strays are always very easy to spot, thin, in poor condition, possibly with injuries or with ticks, and fleas.

On Zakynthos, there are several ways to help with strays, including ways of reporting them, how to get in touch with a vet or help or get in touch with dedicated groups and volunteers who help to feed, look after and foster/re-home strays. If you would like to help the volunteers with your time, donations, re-home an animal or ever have any concerns about a stray cat, dog or another animal then you can get in touch with volunteers as listed below. Please bear in mind that all of the volunteers are extremely busy and will do their best to help as soon as they can, but they are very overstretched with the amount of work they have to do, so please be patient.

What tourists should and shouldn’t do when finding a stray animal
1. NEVER bring a dog or cat into your apartment. It is unfair to allow a stray to become attached to you because the day will come when you have to leave and will have to put them back on the street. In other words, just when they’re made to feel loved and secure, they’re abandoned … double betrayal! (Please note there is a list of feeding stations at the bottom of this post, or ask in report or on the Facebook page)

2. If you want to feed the strays, do so away from the hotel you are staying at. If the dogs/cats know they will be fed, they will hang around, which is something hotel owners and staff do not appreciate. The dogs/cats risk being hit, poisoned, or even driven into the mountains where they are left to starve. This is NO exaggeration!. If you feed dogs/cats, don’t hang around, but leave while they’re eating. Don’t let the animals become too attached to you, as they will miss the affection you give them after you leave.

3. Don’t let the dog(s) / cat(s) you have befriended follow you around. It may seem flattering, but when you leave, they will once again have to fend for themselves.

4. If you find an injured animal, a tourist information office (or the owner of the hotel where you’re staying) should be able to give you details of where a vet can be found or if there’s an animal welfare organisation you could contact. However, taxi drivers (in general) are not willing to put an animal into their cars, nor are they allowed on public transport (buses etc).

5. If you are upset by the plight of animals, don’t ignore it, thinking that there’s nothing you can do to make a difference …. make a fuss … be vocal!! In addition, on your return home, please complete the ‘complaints’ form – see below for details.

Advice for Tourists: https://greekanimalrescue.com/advice-for-visitors-to-greece/
Firstly you can get guidance and support from the Greek Animal Welfare Fund – How to report animal cruelty: https://www.gawf.org.uk/advice-and-welfare/how-to-report-animal-cruelty/
Report issues to the police
If you witness any animal cruelty please report it to the Police, ensure you do it in person, with as much information as possible. (You will need to take your Passport with you if reporting animal cruelty to the Police.)
To contact Zante Town police station:
[email protected]
Zante Town +30 26950 22100
Or phone Katastari station +30 26950 55068
Report issues to the island authorities
The Zakynthos Municipality is responsible for all strays. You can report any strays to the Mayor of Zakynthos via this link, photos, a description and location are useful to add:
https://www.dhmoi.gr/en/municipalities/zakinthos/
or call on
+30 26953 61300

Contact a vet!
You can also contact two vets on the Island:
Konstantina Souli – https://www.facebook.com/konstantinasouli.vetcare
Spiros – https://www.vrisko.gr/…/2hcj4gd6cc2b0f_71__77e2jdccjdg5c

All vets will treat a stray and, unlike in the UK, you will not pay a consultation fee. You only pay for what treatment is given, which in essence is nominal compared to the UK and other EU countries. We get very many messages and emails during the tourist season, therefore, if you are really worried about an animal, please take it to the vets yourself as we cannot be all over the island to assist.

Dog owners be advised!
​Due to the new laws if you allow your dog to wander free on the streets, there is a chance of it becoming lost or being picked as a “stray.” It will be taken to the vet for checks and microchip to find its owner. As you are required by law to have your dogs, sterilised. If they are not chipped or sterilised then you will receive a fine before your dog is returned to you.

Zakynthos Volunteers/Charities (In alphabetical order)
There are also animal welfare charities and volunteers you can support or donate to:

• Archelon (For the island’s turtles)
• Healing Paws
• Heart4Cats
• ZAWF
• Zante Strays

You can also feed details of these in the Directory.

Feeding stations and general volunteers
As well as the charities mentioned above, there are also feeding groups across the island. Many of these locations will also accept donations of food or money too. These feeding groups work independently and alongside the Charities when necessary. These feeding station volunteers don’t receive any donations from the Charities, it’s all done from donations, and they often use their own money to keep the strays in these areas fed.
 
The work all of these volunteers do is vital, and they have helped thousands of Zakynthos cats and dogs, but they do it on a voluntary basis with and all costs are handled via donations. Please contact them directly if you feel you can help, or would like to give a stray animal from Zakynthos a forever home.