The first two-day interactive workshop “Protect animals, protect people”, which took place on October 14 and 15 in Athens, and on October 16 and 17 in Thessaloniki, at the initiative of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, the Hellenic Police Headquarters and the organization Zero Stray Pawject (ZSP), was completed with great success. Its aim was to train officers of the Hellenic Police and Municipal Police in handling incidents of animal abuse, to highlight the connection between violence against animals and violence against people, and to emphasize that the large number of stray animals often makes them an easy target for perpetrators — and, consequently, an indicator of increasing delinquency and criminal behavior.

The workshop, with presenters from Greece, the United Kingdom and the United States, highlighted the critical role of police officers as frontline defenders not only of animals but also of public safety. As Celia Siler-Moumtzidis, co-founder of Zero Stray Pawject and Zero Stray Academy pointed out, “Strays don’t grow. EVERY stray was once someone’s pet or someone’s pet puppy or kitten — even if the abandonment happened generations ago. Homelessness is directly linked to higher crime rates. Animal abuse is linked to domestic violence, organized crime and even terrorism. Those who abuse animals are six times more likely to harm people.

Jessica K. Rock in Greece:

The Attorney General trains state and federal law enforcement agencies in the United States

One of the highlights of the seminar was the participation of Jessica K. Rock, State Attorney and Animal Abuse Prosecutor for the Georgia (USA) Board of Attorneys, as well as a Special Assistant Federal Attorney. Rock, who trains US state and federal law enforcement on issues related to animal abuse and its connection to violence against humans, presented impressive examples and helpful pointers.

He emphasized that animal abuse is an early indicator of violent behavior, explaining that animals are often used as means of control and coercion in cases of domestic violence or organized crime. He also emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation between police, prosecutors, veterinarians and social workers to effectively investigate such cases.

Interactive workshops: police officers in the role of researcher

The program included case studies, practical exercises and group simulations, under the guidance of Manolis Voutyrakis, police officer and head of the Lasithi Animal Police, and Michalis Katsimoulas, associate professor of Experimental Surgery at the Academy of Athens. Participating police officers were divided into teams, analyzed mock cases, located evidence and determined appropriate investigative steps.

They also saw and experienced how to scan a dog with puppies, adults, small dogs, large dogs, most of which are up for adoption.

Elena Arvaniti, a lawyer specializing in Animal Law, presented the current legal framework, while Alexandros Hardas, one of the few veterinary forensic experts in Europe, explained how veterinary forensics can be a catalytic tool in solving crimes against animals.

From the UK, Mark Randell, a retired senior police inspector and expert in animal crime, presented international best practice in investigations. Dr. Michelle Newberry, Associate Professor of Criminology and Psychology at the University of Southampton, analyzed criminal motivations and the warning signs that often precede more serious acts of violence.

The presence of institutional representatives

Greetings were addressed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, Mr. Panagiotis Stathis, the Special Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior for Animal Protection, Mr. Nikolaos Chryssakis, and the Chief of the Greek Police, Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios. All emphasized the importance of state agencies working with specialized organizations, such as the Zero Stray Pawject, to strengthen community policing and prevent all forms of violence.

Through the Zero Stray Academy, it has already trained 1,786 police officers across the country by 2023, and by the end of 2025 this number will rise to 2,041. The results of this collaboration are impressive:

+140% increase in reported incidents,
+45% increase in arrests,
+35% more cases,
+60% increase in administrative fines, totaling more than 5 million euros.

The Animal Protection Department of EL.AS., established in 2022, has received 9,852 complaints through the 10410 line, which proves the dynamic awakening of citizens and authorities against animal abuse crimes.

Prevention and social security: the homeless in focus

The Zero Stray Pawject insists that prevention is a one-way street. As underlined in the information leaflet, “strays are not native; every stray was once someone’s animal”. The presence of homeless people is associated not only with risks to public health and safety, but also with an increase in the phenomena of abuse and general crime.
Thodoris Moumtzidis, co-founder of the Zero Stray Pawject, pointed out that “the microchip is the vaccine for strays”, emphasizing that electronic tagging, self-checks and responsible guardianship are the strongest tools for reducing abandonment.

Stamatina Stamatakou, director of Zero Stray Academy, coordinated the workshops and pointed out that reports of animal abuse are equal to or more than reports of domestic violence every year, which demonstrates the seriousness of the phenomenon.

The role of local authorities and the Municipal Police

Yiannis Gaitanakis, head of the Municipal Police of Ierapetra, presented the model work of his service — with a record of proven violations nationwide — while the Commander of the AT. Evosmou Kordeliou, George Papadopoulos, shared experiences from dog fighting cases that were solved. These cases have demonstrated in practice that the vigilance of local police authorities can prevent the escalation of violence and protect entire communities.

Unified message: By protecting animals, we also protect people

The overall philosophy of the program is summed up in the recognition of the unitary nature of violence: animal abuse, domestic violence and organized crime are links in the same chain. Strays, being easy prey for abusers, act as an early indicator of social pathogenicity.

Protecting animals isn’t just a matter of charity — it’s a matter of public safety. Tackling homelessness, preventing abandonment and active police involvement form the basis of a safer and more humane society.