The Municipality of Athens will acquire a Municipal Veterinary Clinic by the summer

For many years, the complaints of volunteer animal lovers about the state of urban fauna of the Municipality of Athens, that is, the agency responsible for the management of stray animals in its territory, have been piling up. Now it seems that the urban fauna is turning a page

“The Department of Urban Fauna deals with the management of stray animals of the Municipality of Athens and with the welfare control of domesticated animals in cooperation with the Police and Prosecution Authorities. According to the law, the municipalities become absolute managers of stray companion animals with inflexible binding obligations of collection, veterinary care, feeding, accommodation and promotion of adoption of animals that live or are collected within their borders” says Sofia Avramidou, authorized to APE-MPE of the municipality for these issues, fully recognizing its responsibility as an organ of the municipal authority, but also as an individual.

According to the agency’s records, from October 2019 to date, 1,191 dogs have been collected and veterinary services have been provided to 3,800 cats. From these animals, 791 dogs and 114 cats have been adopted. This implies that if pet owners behaved responsibly, the street dog population could be eradicated and cat colonies brought under control, contributing first and foremost to the longevity and well-being of the animals themselves.

Ms. Avramidou reveals that the service’s assistance extends to more unusual requests as, “on a daily basis we receive requests for the release of animals of various species (pigeons, rabbits, cats, dogs, birds such as parrots-hawks-seagulls, guinea pigs, etc.) , we execute prosecutorial orders, perform autopsies at the request of the District Health Directorate, assist in autopsies for the purpose of controlling the well-being of controlled animals and execute prosecutorial orders for the permanent or temporary removal of controlled companion animals or productive animals such as hens from illegal strays sellers”. It seems that the animals of the municipality of Athens have now found an ally in the State, an element that is by no means self-evident.

In addition, there is now o “Socrates”, the shelter for stray dogs in Botanikos. It was named after the dog Socrates who lived in the center of Athens and was killed on purpose by someone running over him with a truck. The refuge was named so because it means stray life, the danger, at any time. Furthermore, an informal temporary shelter for stray cats has been created (on Mesogeion and Trikalon Streets).

“Both the area of ​​the shelter (housed for 100 dogs) and the cattery (housed for 78 cats) are places visited by volunteers, either as individuals, or as groups (e.g. volunteer groups of companies, scouts), or by educational units of all grades (preschoolers to college students).

At the same time, events are held with the aim of promoting animal adoptions and fostering love of life in the minds of citizens” notes Ms. Avramidou, adding that “these spaces are open to the public on a daily basis, regardless of holidays, in order to be visited as much as possible as many people as possible, who work different hours or have other obligations and in this way we managed to adopt this large number of stray animals. Also, animals are living organisms that need care on a 24-hour basis, feeding, cleaning, medication. The premises are always clean and well-kept and we receive compliments on the physical and nutritional condition of all the strays of our Municipality” as can be seen by anyone who simply knocks on the welcoming door of the two shelters.

Stray dogs are now rare in the center. In Syntagma, in Zappeion, in the historical center and that is good. From their experience, animal welfare associations estimate that the average lifespan of a stray animal is two years. Then he gets lost because, contrary to popular belief, he doesn’t have the tools or instincts to survive in a big city, not even in the countryside. On top of that, an important word is often omitted. These are not “stray animals” but “stray companion animals”, as opposed to productive animals. That is, they are social organisms, domesticated that need the presence of man, companionship. “We do not consider the existence of stray animals in the city to be a culture, it is a fact that stray life entails risks for public health, but also for animals since life on the streets is generally “short” and difficult. We have installed feeders for stray cats in 30 places in the Municipality and watering cans in 147 places, which are supplied by the Municipality’s crews us”, underlines Ms. Avramidou.

As she says, the service receives daily “numerous phone calls, requests via email, from the pages of the Urban Fauna in the mass media, and a complete record is made of all requests concerning stray dogs and cats, with a history from the collection to the their care, while correspondence is carried out with institutions and individuals”. Usually, those who address the urban fauna are animal lovers, but, unfortunately, there are also people who are hostile to animals. “Everyone is treated in the best possible way, so that there are no tensions” notes the municipal representative, an extremely important fact because the bill is paid by the homeless in a conflict with someone who is negative towards them. Ms. Avramidou also clarifies that “the passive abuse of animals is now a criminal offense and not a misdemeanor”.

World Animal Day became a major holiday in the Constitution

Donkeys, horses, therapy horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, and more donkeys, eagles and owls, animals with special needs, animals for people with special needs, rescue dogs, quadrupeds for adoption found either in person or through the volunteer groups that they care about them in the Constitution, on the occasion of World Animal Day on October 8. Also present was the mayor of Athens, Costas Bakoyiannis, who spoke to APE-MBE, and whose first exhortation was “that everyone should feel the joy of adopting an animal”.

“I want to say a very big thank you, not only to the people of the municipality of Athens, but also to all the volunteers who support our effort. The message we want to send is clear. We call on everyone, all of them to become allies of animals, whether they are cats and dogs, or belong to some other species”, Mr. Bakoyannis emphasized to APE-MPE. The reality is that the city often sees the abandonment of less common animals, such as rabbits, which also fall victim to abuse. Referring to the number of animals that since 2019 have become “members of families and have found a home through the services of the municipality, starting from refuge of Socrates the mayor of Athens emphasized that “we continue because the care of animals is a sign of civilization”.

As for the next steps of the municipal authority, the next goal is the municipal veterinary clinic, which will serve the needs of the homeless population as well as the citizens of Athens who have or take care of animals. “From the very beginning, we had a comprehensive plan. First, it was to become the refuge of Socrates. It was a shame the council shelter where the dogs literally, not figuratively, bathed at the first rain. Now, we are very proud of the result. Second, it had to run the adoption program efficiently, both shelter-based and digital platform https://animalscityofathens.gr. And now, we hope that the municipal veterinary clinic will operate until the summer, so that we can make everything easier and passable, precisely so that we can activate and mobilize more forces in the city” concluded Mr. Bakoyannis.

The next important request of the animal welfare community, as it was also formulated by unions in the Constitution, is to operate the “traces” system so that stray animals can safely and absolutely controlled travel abroad, to their permanent families, since any myth regarding the adoptions in other states. Until then, as Mr. Bakoyannis noted, “the approximately 1,200 adoptions that have taken place since 2019 are an extremely optimistic, extremely hopeful message and may we continue very well.”

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