A working meeting with the Special Secretary for Companion Animals, Marsa Dimopoulou, was held by the Association of Amateur Dog Breeders of Greece, represented by its president Theodosis Papandreou and Secretary General Konstantinos Konstandakis, with the object of implementing Law 4830.2021.

SEESE filed a 51-page memorandum with the main problems arising from the implementation of the law and analyzed to Ms. Dimopoulou his immediately implementable proposals for dealing with them. “It is promising that a friendly atmosphere prevailed at the meeting, with Ms. Dimopoulou and her colleagues proving that they do not operate blindfolded, but instead have a willingness to cooperate in solving the essential problems faced by the implementation of the law. The recognition of the contribution of ethical amateur breeding was also a pleasant surprise. For about three hours, the critical issues were raised from both sides and solutions were proposed that allow us to be optimistic for a better day in amateur breeding” said the president of SEESE, Theodosis Papandreou, after the meeting.

The work meeting was dominated by the issues of DNA, the register of Amateur Dog Breeders, the need to recognize the pedigree by law and to define it as a necessary condition for the recognition of pure blood, while the memorandum pointed out the failure of the law not to exclude the Greek tribes – within a clear framework – from the obligation to pay tax. With regard to DNA, SEECE clarified that it is imperative to recognize the tests that have already been done in recognized laboratories abroad, exempting the owners from the corresponding costs, as well as for the Laboratory to adopt International Standards, providing comprehensive services to breeders who carry out genetic testing. tests on their animals paying hundreds of euros. Special reference was also made to the increased cost that each owner is required to pay as this is actually around 200 euros and not 150 as the law stipulates because the cost of the visit to the vet has not been calculated. This creates insurmountable difficulties for the owners of many animals.

The president of SEESE, Theodosis Papandreou, conveyed an earlier discussion with the current ANYPES Thodoris Livanios, who had left open the possibility of creating a financial tool. Regarding the pedigree, clarifications were given on its value and validity, answering the reasonable questions of Ms. Dimopoulou’s colleagues and explaining that it is a strong insurance policy for the reduction of illegal imports in the first place, the limitation of back yard breeders and finally the reduction of vagrants. As it was conveyed to the representatives of SEESE, the register for amateur breeders will be put into operation in June or July, while further cooperation was agreed on the final fields that this will include.

Ms. Dimopoulou categorically clarified that the delay in no way raises the question of the illegality of amateur breeders as long as the framework defined by the law is respected. The meeting took place in an excellent and friendly atmosphere with both sides agreeing on the essentials and Ms. Dimopoulou bringing forward the issue of DNA, pedigree and other clarifications required for the smooth implementation of the law.