Greece is creating a National Animal Protection Mechanism for cases of natural disasters, aiming to ensure the organized rescue, treatment and sheltering of animals at risk during wildfires, floods and other crises.
Until now, the handling of such incidents had largely been informal and fragmented. In previous disasters, such as the floods in Mandra and the wildfires in Mati, Attica and Evia, requests for animal rescues were often circulated through social media, without always being verified or having a clear recipient. At the same time, volunteers often operated without adequate protective equipment, while organized temporary shelters or clear procedures for injured animals in need of immediate care were not always available.
From the wildfires in northeastern Attica alone, on 11 and 12 August 2024, more than 165 companion animals required care, according to Dogs’ Voice.
According to the government, the new mechanism integrates animal protection into the official Civil Protection planning. It provides for protocols, coordinators for each category of animal, training for those involved, and better cooperation between ministries, municipalities, animal welfare organizations, environmental bodies and volunteers.
The Special Secretariat for the Protection of Companion Animals and Dogs’ Voice played a central role in shaping the plan, while the mechanism also involves the Ministries of the Interior, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, and Environment and Energy. The real test, however, will not only be the institutional establishment of the mechanism, but its implementation under actual crisis conditions.
Source: Kathimerini, Dog’s Voice
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