The inauguration of the Municipal Dog Shelter of Heraklion took place a few days ago in Foinikia area in Heraklion.
Its construction begun 10 years ago and was recently completed with a total cost of 1,000,000 euros. The money covering the cost was taken from the several projects for the amplification of the municipalities for the creation of shelters by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The role of the Dog Shelter in Heraklion
Despite the several protests by local neighbors, the decisions made were based on the general good.
The Municipal Dog Shelter of Heraklion is not a place of sojourn for stray dogs, but a place where dogs will receive special treatments and will be neutralized by the vet.
After all the procedures, the stray dogs will be re-placed at the areas where they were collected from. It is more like a clinic for stray dogs, and not like a shelter for permanent accommodation of animals, since this cannot solve the permanent problems of stray animals in the streets of Heraklion.
The Dog Shelter in Heraklion has 80 positions for animals, is manned with municipal employers and has an operation room and all facilities required in a shelter of the kind.
The problem of stray animals in Heraklion
The main goal of several animal welfare associations is to raise public awareness in order to eliminate the phenomena of stray animals; the shelters can only offer a temporary solution to the reproduction of animals, but they cannot solve the main problem, the existence of strays in the streets.
Measures to resolve the problem of stray dogs
Among the measures that need to be taken, is a campaign for the education of children and adults regarding pets, the castration of stray animals, the electronic tagging of animals with chips and the implementation of the regulations and laws regarding animals and violations of animal rights.
People who torture animals should be severely punished, while pet stores should also abide by the international laws for the care and sale of animals.
One of the main goals of many associations is to prevent pet stores from selling dogs, as in all other European countries, in order to deal with the problem of stray animals more effectively.
The new drafts of law are ready to be submitted by the state and are expected to resolve some parts of the existing problems, in many municipalities in Greece, including Heraklion and Chania in Crete.
I own a small holiday home in a very famous village on Crete. One of my neighbours adjacent to me has decided to breed Labradors on his roof of 10 feet by 10 feet.
The dog and its puppys are left for long periods of time sometimes for weeks in there own mess, the roof has no fences or barriers on one side where there is a good twenty foot drop to the ground. This is very upsetting for us when we visit our property in mid summer.
I have a fond memory of this shelter, I had vocational training there with my boyfriend in 2010. Wonderful staff, hope all is going well and that Kostas, Leonidas, Maria and Dorotea all keep working hard to keep the strays from multiplying, as well as teach the locals about the value of dogs as human companions and not that they are just tools to be exploited
2 days ago I saw a lovely frendly dog chained to a trunk on waisted ground. Ok he has food… dried buscuit and water and he takes shelter under the truck from the heat. However he needs love and has so much to give, I so want to help him… what can i do?? My holiday finishes in 2 days and i have been to see him for the last few days and given lots of love and cuddles…. the poor love…
After travelling around several parts of Greece, it is great to see that Crete is leading the way in animal care and education of the locals.
I wish everybody luck for the future!
hi,
I donate to 3 charities on Crete and also sponser a dog called Mitsy throughThe Cretan Animal Protection charity. I am very concerned with regards to the plight of strays abandoned, treated cruely, on the streets with no shelter. The charities are doing their best, but there are so many strays.
l am pleased that you are trying to change the laws to protect the strays, but they need a safe warm place off the streets before Winter.
Josie
This is a wonderful step forward. I was wondering if any attempts will be made to find suitable homes for the stray dogs. Wouldn’t it be great if caring families were able to visit the shelter and adopt a dog?