An Overview of Greece’s Newly Established Progressive Stray Dog Management Laws

Abstract

This study provides an overview of the new Greek legislative framework and highlights its progressive nature in tackling one of the most populous stray animal populations in the world. We present the newly established law and discuss its provisions, aims, and challenges. We also examine the reception of the law by key stakeholders such as veterinary practitioners, animal welfare organisations, and the Hellenic Kennel Club. With the post-implementation review scheduled for 2026, its evaluation has yet to be conducted.

1. Introduction

It is estimated that Greece has three million stray dogs and cats [1], making it home to one of the largest companion animal stray populations in the world [2].In an effort to tackle this welfare issue, the country has established one of the most progressive companion animal and stray management laws.

As a Member State of the European Union (EU), Greece has enshrined into domestic law all animal health and welfare community policies, such as the EU Pet Travel Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 576/2013), which involves animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of companion animals, and the most recent harmonised Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), which consolidates all previous community animal health policies and adopts a ‘One Health’ approach to control the spread of animal diseases [3].

Greece was one of the 28 founding members of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), now known as the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), established in 1924 [4], and was one of the first countries to sign the 1987 Treaty on the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, which came into effect in 1992 [5]. This treaty provided guidance on the humane management of stray companion animals by declaring that during the capturing process, animals should not be harmed or in pain, and once captured, they should be held in facilities or humanely put to sleep if necessary [6]. Animal welfare has also been explicitly mentioned in the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU (Article 13), which recognises animals as sentient beings and advises both the EU and the Member States to significantly consider the welfare requirements of animals during professional and everyday activities that involve them [7].

On this legislative basis, and under the guidance of the EU for Member States to further formulate their own national legislations as there is no comprehensive overarching EU-wide stray management law [8], Greece introduced a series of progressive domestic laws, including Law No. 3170/2003, Law No. 4039/2012, and, the most recent, Law No. 4830/2021 and their amendments [9,10]. These laws govern both owned and unowned dogs and cats. For this paper’s purpose, we will focus on the dog management provisions.

Law No. 3170/2003 legislated the definition of a stray companion animal as one which is homeless or is found outside the care, supervision, or control of the owner or guardian. This definition excludes sheep dogs and hunting dogs while they are working (Article 1) and was later further amended to explicitly also exclude all service dogs while working (Article 1) [11]. The focus of this piece of legislation was to define the responsibilities of companion animal owners/guardians, which include, as a minimum requirement, an annual veterinary examination of the dog paired with an up-to-date health book of the dog, the explicit obligation to not abandon the dog, and the requirement of a suitable identification collar when walked in public spaces (Article 2). This legislation also enshrined into law the right for each household to have two companion animals (i.e., one dog and one cat, two dogs, or two cats), regardless of the apartment building’s rules (Article 6). In the case of stray companion animals, this law prohibited the euthanasia of healthy animals and of unhealthy animals where there are available successful treatments, except in the case where dogs are assessed as dangerous (Article 7). Finally, this law set the ground for the provision of educational seminars and training and the promotion of these in the mass media (Article 9).

Law No. 4039/2012 introduced mandatory microchipping of all companion animals, owned and strays, and established a National Web Database System (Article 4). Access to this database was given to certified veterinarians who were required to register companion animal’ and owner’ information onto the system and check that the microchip is in good order. The required logged information included dog characteristics such as sex, coat colour, breed, whether the dog is lost, whether the dog has been transferred to another owner, or has passed. Owner information entered into the system included name, address, telephone number, and information issued by a government authority, such as ID number, passport number, driving license number, or national insurance number, etc. (Article 4). This legislation states that owners are responsible for informing certified veterinarians of any changes in any of the logged information and were required to do so within 15 days. The checks of accuracy of information were set as the responsibility of a certified veterinarian during the compulsory annual veterinary examination of the animal. In the case of a lost dog, the law required the owners to contact a certified veterinarian to ensure the database is updated within five days (a requirement since amended to three days) (Article 5) [10]. In the case that an owner wishes to relinquish their companion animal, this legislation obligates them to inform their Local Authority/Municipality of their intention, inform a certified veterinarian of the change of ownership, and surrender the animal to the Municipality, who then subsequently becomes their temporary guardian (Article 5).

The most recent law, No. 4830/2021, has carried forward and amended the above provisions as well as introduced additional legislation to further enhance Greece’s stray management framework. One of the most significant elements of this legislation is the establishment of a new funding framework that has been named ‘Argos’ providing funding to Municipalities and fostering collaboration with animal welfare organisations. This new piece of legislation also establishes the creation of three new platforms: a National Companion Animal Adoption Database (Article 7), a National Companion Animal Registration Database (Article 4), and a National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA (Article 13).

The new National Companion Animal Adoption Database was created to hold all information of all animals offered nationwide for adoption. This information includes the name, picture, detailed description, microchip number, age, sex, details of the Municipality and temporary animal welfare organisation caring for the animal or the foster care, and the links to additional webpages where more information about the animal can be found by potential adopters (Article 7). The new National Companion Animal Registration Database was created for the purpose of companion animal identification. Among other information, it holds the microchip number, the pet passport number (if one has been issued), sex, coat colour, breed, sterilisation date, or evidence of the animal’s DNA sample sent to the National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA (Article 4). The creation of the National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA is for the purpose of identifying and tracing the owners of abandoned offspring and of dead or abused animals and was created as an alternative route for owners who do not wish to sterilise their companion animals (Article 13).

In addition to the creation of these three new platforms, this legislation makes sterilisation mandatory and requires all dogs to be sterilised within six months of transfer of ownership if the dogs are over a year old. If dogs are obtained before their first year of age, they must be sterilised after their first birthday and before they reach 18 months of age (Article 9). If the owners do not wish to sterilise their companion animal, they are required instead to send their dog’s DNA sample to the National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA (Article 14).

The new legislation also regulates the sales of dogs to ensure a legal and controlled supply of dogs. Specifically, all dogs offered for sale are required to be registered on the Companion Animal National Registration Database (Article 8). In terms of breeding dogs, hobby breeders can only breed up to two dogs once a year, and all dog owners of unsterilised dogs are only permitted to breed their dog once in the dog’s lifetime (Article 8). In both instances, the law requires that they obtain the necessary license issued by the Hellenic Kennel Club or the Hellenic Association of Amateur Dog Breeders (Article 8). In terms of professional breeders, regulations govern the number of litters and the breeding frequency. Specifically, the law allows a maximum of six litters in the lifetime of a female dog and only allows one litter per year. Furthermore, the permitted age in which a female dog is allowed to breed has been set between 18 months and 8 years old. Professional breeders are required to obtain a breeding establishment license from the Department of Companion Animal Protection of the Ministry of Interior (Article 10) and a breeding license from the Veterinary Services of their Regional Unit (No. 4711/2020) [12]. Finally, online or printed dog advertisements and displaying dogs (pet shops) are strictly prohibited, with the exception of professional breeders who are permitted to advertise following specific requirements (Article 8).

1.1. Implementation of the Law: Municipalities and Animal Welfare Organisations’ Obligations

Under Article 40.1 of the most recent legislation, No. 4830/2021, the responsibility of law implementation is explicitly assigned to Municipalities and sets them accountable for all the practical aspects of the law. Prior to this, law No. 4039/2012 had assigned the responsibility of mandatory identification of companion animals to companion animal owners and veterinarians. The current law requires each Municipality to appoint an official responsible for overseeing the implementation of the legislation. These officials can either be the Deputy Mayor, a Municipal employee, or a designated councillor.

Article 3 sets out all the operational obligations that need to be met by the Municipalities. Specifically, the law requires Municipalities to have in place a recurrent, comprehensive 12-month operational programme that is expected to focus on (a) collection, (b) provision of veterinary care, (c) microchipping and registration on the National Companion Animal Registration Database, (d) sterilisation, (e) finding of foster care, and (f) the adoption of the animals. The law allows Municipalities to act alone or create partnerships with other Municipalities or animal welfare organisations (Article 10).

In terms of sheltering stray animals, the law is explicit that each Municipality has an obligation to take all necessary measures to meet, in an appropriate manner, the accommodation needed either by setting up and operating at least one shelter by the Municipality itself or in collaboration with other Municipalities and animal welfare organisations. If they do not operate such shelters, and they have the financial means, they are encouraged to finance the accommodation cost in other facilities such as private kennels. This obligation, however, is not applicable to Municipalities with a population below three thousand residents.

In the case that shelters have reached capacity, the law permits the return of animals to their familiar environment, which would be the neighbourhoods or geographical location in which they were found, under the condition that they are sterilised (Article 10, Article 45). In the case that an animal is at a shelter but has not been adopted after three months of residence and after its information has been uploaded onto the National Companion Animal Adoption Database, the law permits its return to its familiar environment (Article 10, Article 45). However, all animals younger than five months of age are not permitted to be returned to their familiar environments and are put on priority for adoption.

1.2. The Funding Programme ‘Argos’ of the New Legislation

Article 11 of the new law explicitly ringfences funds, EUR 40 million, to support the programme ‘Argos’ from the Ministry of Interior funding scheme ‘Philodimos II’, which is a national funding scheme to support Municipal operations. This funding is set aside to support Municipalities in the construction, repair, and maintenance of stray animal shelters; in the procurement of equipment needed for the operation of the shelters; and in covering the sterilisation, vaccination, and microchipping costs of stray animals [13]. Of this EUR 40 million, EUR 5 million has been allocated to sterilisation efforts and EUR 3 million has been allocated to vaccination programmes [13].

According to the Deputy Minister of Interior, Stelios Petsas, based on a joint ministerial decision between the Ministries of Interior and Finance, Municipalities will be receiving EUR 5 million on an annual basis for all operational expenses related to stray animal management, such as the collection, feeding, microchipping, and overall veterinary care [13,14]. Additional funding is available through an application process [13]. This process requires Municipalities to apply to the Ministry of Interior, and the funding is based on criteria such as the Municipality’s human population, its stray animal population, and its existing infrastructure. In 2023, EUR 1.6 million was allocated to 22 Municipalities across the country, with funds covering the construction of shelters, the procurement of equipment, vehicle supply, and sterilisation costs [13].

In addition, Article 13.4 has ringfenced up to EUR 2 million from the Governmental budget to establish the National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA. Once established, the laboratory will operate on a fee-based model, aiming to become a financially self-sustaining entity. If an owner does not wish to sterilise their companion animal, they are required by law to submit a DNA sample to this laboratory, with the owner incurring a one-off cost of EUR 135 per animal and a capped EUR 15 veterinary fee for the collection and postage of the DNA sample [15]. As of October 2024, the one-off fee has been reduced to between EUR 40 and EUR 70 per animal, and the veterinary fee has increased to EUR 50 [16].

1.3. Monitoring and Evaluation of the New Legislation

In terms of responsibilities for monitoring, the legislation establishes a nine-member Special Monitoring Committee, appointed directly by the Minister of Interior, with a renewable five-year term (Article 39). The appointed Chairman of this Committee is the Special Secretary for Companion Animal Protection of the Ministry of Interior. The other eight members include: a representative of the National (Panhellenic) Veterinary Association; a representative from a recognised animal welfare organisation who should be elected from their peers and have considerable experience; two representatives from the Central Union of Greek Municipalities (K.E.D.E); a representative from the Greek Ombudsman, which is an independent authority acting as a mediator between Greek citizens and the public administration ensuring accountability, transparency and that citizen rights are protected; the Ministry of Interior’s Head of the Directorate for the Organisation and Functioning of Local Government; the Head of the Companion Animal Protection Department within the Directorate for the Organisation and Functioning of Local Government; and a knowledgeable official appointed by the Minister of Interior.

The duties of the Special Monitoring Committee are focused on providing scientific evidence and recommendations for improvement of the law. Specifically, it is expected that the Committee will, upon request or on a specified periodic basis, prepare scientific studies, reports, and proposals regarding various aspects of the legislation, such as operational plans, identified best practices, and implementing necessary procedures and protocols. Given the level of expertise in their membership, this Committee is also expected to provide scientific opinions, provide problem-solving expertise for emerging issues, and provide recommendations for the evaluation and improvement of the legislation.

The evaluation of the implementation of the regulations, and specifically the Municipals’ responsibilities of collecting and managing stray companion animals, is overseen by the Companion Animal Protection Department within the Directorate for the Organisation and Functioning of the Local Government at the Ministry of Interior. With the approval of the Special Monitoring Committee, a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which include absolute targets and annually comparative metrics, are set within the two months prior to the start of each 12-month operational Municipal programme. At the end of each 12-month programme, each Municipality is required to produce a report detailing their performance against these KPIs.

A comprehensive post-implementation review is scheduled to be completed five years after the introduction of the law. The Special Monitoring Committee will be involved in this evaluation process, and consultations with relevant stakeholders will also take place (Article 42).

1.4. Enforcement and Penalties for Violations

A wide range of authorities is involved with the enforcement of the law, and their jurisdiction depends on the nature of the violations [17]. These authorities are responsible for ensuring compliance, investigating violations, and issuing financial penalties and other sanctions. These authorities include the Hellenic Police, the Municipal Police and other relevant Municipal services, the National Transparency Authority, the Interagency Market Control Unit, the Forestry Service, Customs Authorities, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Ministry of Interior, and hunting organisations recognised by the Ministry of Environment and Energy [17].

The new legislation has imposed fixed financial penalties and other sanctions, such as imprisonment, depending on each violation. These penalties are enshrined into law as a means to reduce irresponsible companion animal ownership and to safeguard the animals’ health and welfare.

Table 1. Violations pertaining to animal breeding.

Violation	Article	Penalty and Other Sanctions
Breeding, training, or participation of animals in any form of organised animal fighting.	Article 23, para. 5	EUR 40,000 per animal.
Breeding, export, or use of animals like dogs, cats, or ferrets for fur production or other non-medical purposes.	Article 23, para. 5	EUR 50,000 per animal.
Posting online or printed advertisements for selling or breeding companion animals (dogs, cats) without fulfilling legal requirements.	Article 8, para. 11, 12, 13, 14	EUR 1000
Breeding female dogs before the second reproductive cycle or within nine months of the last birth.	Article 8, para. 7	EUR 2000 per animal, increasing by 10% for each additional case.
Breeding animals beyond the age of nine or breeding the same animal more than six times in its lifetime.	Article 8, para. 8	EUR 2000 per animal, increasing by 10% for each additional case.
Breeding companion animals with anatomical or physiological characteristics harmful to their health or quality of life.	Article 8, para. 9	EUR 3000 per animal, increasing by 10% for each additional case.
Breeding dogs that are disfigured.	Article 8, para. 10(d)	EUR 1000 per animal.
Failure to report, microchip, or register breeding animals, including updates to their data, and details of the female parent.	Article 4, para. 3	EUR 3000
Failure to maintain updated electronic health records for animals intended for breeding or sale.	Article 8, para. 2	EUR 1000 per animal, increasing by 10% for each additional case.

Source: [18].

provides a list of violations pertaining to animal breeding and the associated financial penalties;

Table 2. Violations pertaining to animal abuse.

Violation	Article	Penalty and Other Sanctions
Abuse or mistreatment of animals causing intense physical pain or harm, including methods such as drowning, hanging, poisoning, or other acts leading to severe injury or death.	Article 24, para. 1(b) and para. 2	EUR 30,000–EUR 50,000 per animal and incident.
Abuse, mistreatment, or cruelty towards animals through acts such as experiments, improper treatment, or harmful methods.	Article 24, para. 1(a) and Article 9, para. 1(g)	EUR 5000–EUR 15,000 per animal depending on severity.

Source: [18].

provides a list of violations pertaining to animal abuse and the associated financial penalties;

Table 3. Violations pertaining to the use of animals in events and activities.

Violation	Article	Penalty and Other Sanctions
Causing fear or pain to companion animals during events or failing to prevent their aggressive behavior towards others during such events.	Article 22, para. 2	EUR 1000 per animal.
Participation of animals in activities or events mentioned in Article 23, para. 2 (e.g., prohibited activities).	Article 23, para. 2	EUR 20,000 per animal involved.
Use of animals in outdoor public exhibitions for economic gain or as part of cultural or local traditions without adhering to required conditions (e.g., raffles, lotteries).	Article 23, para. 2	EUR 10,000 per animal used.
Organising exhibitions with companion animals without the required license.	Article 22, para. 1	EUR 5000 per day of the event.
Allowing animals with disabilities to participate in exhibitions and failing to remove them from the exhibition as required by organisers.	Article 22, para. 4	EUR 1000 per animal.
Failing to maintain accurate copies of electronic books or records and to update accessible online records for event participants.	Article 22, para. 3	EUR 1000 for the first animal, increasing by 10% for each additional animal.
Participation of animals in programmes such as circus acts, fights, or other inappropriate activities.	Article 23, para. 1	EUR 30,000 per animal involved.

Source: [18].

provides a list of violations pertaining to the use of animals in events and activities and the associated financial penalties;

Table 4. Violations pertaining transport.

Violation	Article	Penalty and Other Sanctions
Transporting companion animals in luggage compartments of buses or similar vehicles.	Article 18, para. 6	EUR 1000
Transportation of dogs or cats in violation of the rules outlined in Article 17, para. 1, 2, 3.	Article 17, para. 1, 2, 3	EUR 500 per animal.
Transporting companion animals via means that violate provisions in Article 17, para. 4 (e.g., unsafe methods).	Article 17, para. 4	EUR 300 per animal.
Failure to provide appropriate cages or enclosures for the transport of large animals.	Article 18, para. 1	EUR 5000.
Transportation of animals in violation of rules outlined in Article 18, para. 2, 4, 6, 10 (e.g., insufficient safety measures).	Article 18, para. 2, 4, 6, 10	EUR 500 per animal.
Non-compliance with shipping or boarding procedures for animals on commercial vessels or similar means of transport, as outlined in Article 18, para. 7.	Article 18, para. 7	EUR 5000.
Failure to maintain accurate digital or physical records of electronic identification or registration of hunting dogs during animal transport.	Article 9, para. 6	EUR 500
Abandonment of injured animals after a car accident.	Article 24, para. 3	EUR 500

Source: [18].

provides a list of violations pertaining to animal transport and the associated financial penalties;

Table 5. Violations pertaining to companion animal ownership.

Violation	Article	Penalty and Other Sanctions
Failure to cooperate or refusal to allow inspections or provide required documentation to the relevant authorities verifying compliance with the law.	N/A	EUR 500
Failure to report the loss of a dog or cat or properly update their records in the National Companion Animal Registration Database.	Article 9, para. 1 (b, g)	EUR 300
Failure to comply with rules for safely restraining dogs, including preventing their escape from the owner or guardian’s property.	Article 9, para. 2 (a, b, g)	EUR 300
Failure to comply with welfare, hygiene, and police regulations concerning companion animals, including exceeding allowed numbers in multi-animal households (keeping three or more companion animals in apartment buildings where the building regulations explicitly prohibit it).	Article 15, para. 2, 3, 4	EUR 500 per animal.
Failure to immediately clean up the environment from animal waste.	Article 9, para. 1 (h)	EUR 100
Entry of companion animals into Greece without proper electronic microchip registration or non-compliance with EU Regulation 2019/2035.	Article 8, para. 15	EUR 500
Failure to neuter/spay a dog or cat or submit genetic samples to the National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA.	Article 9, para. 1 (a)	EUR 1000
Failure to comply with the welfare rules of companion animals, including failing to ensure veterinary examinations, annual vaccinations, as well as the amputation of the animal without a valid medical reason.	Article 9, para. 1 (d, e, i)	EUR 1000
Selling puppies or kittens younger than 12 weeks.	Article 8, para. 10 (a, b, e, st)	EUR 4000 per animal sold.
Import and trade of disfigured dogs.	Article 8, para. 10 (g)	EUR 2000 per animal.
Failure of an owner to comply with the rules of animal protection and care to ensure their welfare.	Article 2, para. 2	EUR 1000
Failure to fully and accurately update the National Companion Animal Registration Database with veterinary information.	Article 4, para. 6	EUR 300
Export or sale of companion animals without proper certification or compliance with legal requirements.	Article 8, para. 1, 2, 3, 4	EUR 3000 per animal sold.

Source: [18].

provides a list of owner violations and the associated financial penalties; and

Table 6. Violations pertaining to veterinary practice.

Violation	Article	Penalty and Other Sanctions
Incorrect registration of a companion animal by a veterinarian or submission of genetic material to the National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA.	Article 4, para. 6	EUR 2000
Removal of an electronic microchip from a companion animal without a valid medical reason.	Article 9, para. 5	EUR 3000 and suspension of veterinary license for two years.
Incorrect submission of genetic material to the National Laboratory for Storing and Analysing Companion Animal DNA.	Article 14	EUR 2000, and in case of repeat violations, suspension of veterinary license for one month.

Source: [18].

provides a list of veterinary practitioners violations and the associated financial penalties. Some of the sanctions also include imprisonment; however, this information is not included in the tables.

2. Discussion

We argue that the new legislation has enshrined into law several innovative and forward-thinking provisions and is comprehensive in its nature. Specifically, its regulations aim to instill responsible dog ownership, ethical and responsible breeding and selling, and ultimately the humane reduction in the stray dog population. These regulations have been broadly welcomed by Greek animal welfare organisations and Greek citizens [9]. Paul McGlone, the Director of the Greek Animal Welfare Fund, a UK-based charity active in Greece, welcomed the new law for its scope and provisions and characterised it as highly ambitious and long overdue [2]. However, opposition, concerns, and criticisms have been raised for specific regulations and elements of the law by veterinary practitioners, the Hellenic Kennel Club, companion animal owners, and other stakeholders [19].

In terms of the policy-making process and the formulation of the regulations, veterinary practitioners have voiced their frustration over the lack of adequate consultations during the drafting of the law [19]. They have proposed that this has led to regulations and obligations that are impractical and disconnected from day-to-day reality [19]. The Hellenic Kennel Club [20] has also voiced similar concerns, with an added frustration of not being included in any committees or decision-making related to breeding regulations. In addition, a group of legal experts that monitor legal and procedural irregularities in Greek legislation have noted their concerns over two specific irregularities with the enactment of this particular law: firstly, that three ministerial amendments were introduced the day before the law’s enactment, an act that violates the Greek parliament’s rules of procedure that requires amendments to be submitted at least three days prior to law enactment, and secondly, the inclusion of unrelated provisions such as staffing issues in higher education to combat COVID-19 and personnel matters in the public sector [21].

One of the most prominent elements of this new law is the provision for mandatory sterilisation of all companion animals. This law also includes a related innovative provision, that of the establishment of the National Laboratory for Storing and Analyzing Companion Animal DNA, which offers companion animal owners an opt-out alternative to mandatory sterilisation. This means that any animal that is not sterilised will be recorded, and their offspring will be traceable, holding irresponsible owners accountable for contributing to the stray dog population or any abuse toward the specific animals. For this route to be successful, veterinary practitioners are required to take on additional administration duties, such as collecting samples, completing documentation, and sending the samples to the laboratory. These additional administrative responsibilities and the associated penalties of non-compliance, along with the additional administrative duties related to the new National Companion Animal Registration Database, have been met with disdain due to its potential of contributing to a significant increase in workload with no additional resources and because of widespread doubts regarding the effectiveness of this endeavour [19]. Due to the widespread doubts regarding its effectiveness, veterinary practitioners across Greece have decided to strike and abstain from the collection of DNA samples [16].

Mandatory sterilisation has been met with mixed views. On the one hand, animal welfare organisations that deal with abandoned and stray companion animals on a daily basis have warmly welcomed this provision. For example, a member of the Chania branch of the Association of Animal Protection in Crete has welcomed the law and expressed the opinion that perhaps any opposition to animal sterilisation may be attributed to Greek cultural attitudes [2]. On the other hand, the Hellenic Kennel Club has argued that pedigree breeds do not contribute to the stray population problem, and mandatory sterilisation of such dogs could threaten the biodiversity and evolutionary history of indigenous Greek breeds and may also lead to their extinction [20]. Due to this, they have called for an exemption of purebreds [20]. Both the Hellenic Kennel Club and veterinary practitioners have raised some concerns regarding the absolute imposition of mandatory sterilisation without regard to the animal’s health; however, no information has been found, by the authors, on their views of the use of the opt-out route of DNA sampling in such circumstances. Veterinary practitioners are also cautious regarding the effect of this provision, as they believe it may discourage people from registering their animals or that it could increase abandonment because of the additional financial burden [19].

The combined provisions of mandatory sterilisation and of restricting breeding have been met with strong opposition from the Hellenic Kennel Club. The aim of both provisions is the reduction in backyard and unplanned breeding with the intention to allow reputable breeders to operate in a more sustainable and ethical market. However, the Hellenic Kennel Club claims that Greece lacks a sufficient number of professional breeders, and any efforts to sustain purebreds, and specifically, indigenous Greek breeds, are done through reputable amateur breeders [20]. They support that this restriction on breeding will provide a space in the market for illegal puppy trade, as professional breeders may not be able to meet demand [20].

Regarding the financial elements of the law, the financial penalties and other sanctions associated with animal abuse and mistreatment have widely been positively received, as it is believed that the government has now placed the appropriate gravity on the crimes committed. However, concerns have been raised regarding the additional financial burden companion animal owners are faced with because of this new law, such as the cost of sterilisation or the alternative EUR 135 one-off cost for DNA sampling [19]. To address this concern, the government, in October 2024, announced the reduction in the one-off fee to an amount between EUR 40 and EUR 70 and increased the veterinary costs to EUR 50 [16]. In addition, concerns have been raised regarding the allocation of funds towards Municipalities. Veterinary practitioners are concerned that the funds are not effectively allocated, a concern that is shared by the Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation [22]. Specifically, the Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation expresses concerns regarding the very low absorption rate of these funds, with only 22 Municipalities applying to receive funds [22]. In addition, they express concern that the allocated funds were mainly used for infrastructure, such as the construction or repair of shelters, rather than for services, such as sterilisation or vaccinations [22].

One of the major concerns that has been expressed across all stakeholders is the law’s enforceability. There have been loud voices regarding the lack of sufficient resources, training, and expertise in the authorities that are required to implement and enforce the new provisions. The Hellenic Veterinary Association [23] has argued that the law was not developed using a scientific, evidence-based approach. Similarly, the Hellenic Hunting Confederation has stated that ‘If the Government insists on ignoring all social objections and observations, if it continues to disregard the thousands of citizens and scientific bodies who overwhelmingly rejected the provisions of the law during the public consultation, it will be responsible for all the ’chaos’ that will follow.’ [24]. Many brand the law as highly ambitious but highlight its impractical aspects, while others have expressed their complete opposition, deeming this law as ‘foolish’ [19]). The Deputy Minister of Interior, Stelios Petsas, has pledged to make this a success and to provide the necessary funds to those involved in the implementation of the law [13]. In the effort for transparency, the Ministry of Interior has published a list of the allocated funds, both the fixed EUR 5 million fund and the additional funds that are allocated after an application process. However, there have not been any evaluation reports published yet, as the post-implementation review is expected to be completed in 2026.

3. Conclusions

Law 4830/2021 contains forward-thinking and innovative provisions designed to address stray and owned companion animals’ welfare and to mitigate the persistent stray animal overpopulation problem. Its innovative elements can be found in the establishment of new platforms that are designed to provide a Nationwide adoption platform increasing dog visibility and chances of adoption (National Companion Animal Adoption Database), a National Companion Animal Registration Database, which can track owned and unowned companion animals, and a National Laboratory for Storing and Analyzing Companion Animal DNA, which can track unaltered animals and their offspring. These measures, along with the imposed mandatory sterilisation, make this a forward-thinking law and position Greece as one of the most progressive countries in terms of stray animal welfare legislation.

As with any law, it is not immune to criticism and concerns. Key stakeholders such as veterinary practitioners, the Hellenic Kennel Club, the Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Federation, and others have voiced their concerns regarding specific elements and provisions of the law. Concerns are mainly regarding the law’s enforceability, its effectiveness, its implications, and its reach, given the evident unbalanced allocation of funds.

Overall, the law, despite its challenges, appears to be a promising framework that has the potential to adapt and be refined. With the post-implementation review being expected in 2026, its effectiveness is yet to be evaluated.