1. DOMESTIC ANIMALS 1 st Gymnasium of Volos Comenius Team

2. What is a domestic animal? Domestic or companion animals are all animals kept by humans, mainly in their domiciles, for companionship or out of love for animals. Moreover, according to Greek law, hunting dogs, shepherd or watch dogs, dogs that assist people with special needs, search and rescue dogs as well as dogs used by armed and security forces are all considered as companion animals

3. Owners of domestic animals are obliged: Concerning dogs: a) To register their dog with the agency responsible for keeping the relevant archives and to ensure that the dog is micro chipped (or tagged) and registered within eight weeks from its birth, b) To make sure that it is healthy and examined by a vet at least once a year, c) To obtain a health certificate for their dog, d) Not to abandon it, e) To remove their dog’s droppings from the environment immediately, f) It is forbidden to raise, train and use dogs for dogfights. It is also forbidden to breed and use dogs for their fur, skin and meat or in order to produce medicinal or other substances, g) Owners of female dogs should not pursue or facilitate animal reproduction. Penalty In case of violation of one or more of the above laws, the animal may be temporarily taken away from its owner and committed to the care of an animal lovers’ society or a stray animals’ shelter by order of the competent legal authorities.

4. Obligations concerning cats or other pets: a) It is forbidden to breed and use cats for their fur, skin and meat or in order to produce medicinal or other substances. Penalty: Perpetrators are given up to twelve-month prison sentences and fines ranging from five thousand to ten thousand euro. b) It is forbidden to breed, train and use other companion animals for any kind of fight. Penalty Those who violate paragraph f (concerning dogs), a and b (concerning cats and other animals) are given up to twelve-month prison sentences and fines ranging from five thousand to ten thousand euro.

5. Animal Protection Law against:  Torture  Abuse  Not providing adequate and sufficient food and water  Not providing comfortable and healthy accommodation suitable to the animal’s natural way of living  Torture or abuse of animals during transportation by car, cargo ship, railway, aeroplane, etc Penalties: a) Up to 6-month imprisonment or fine from 300 to 1500 euro, b) both penalties

6. Surgical Operations Surgical operations, such as cutting the tail, ears or vocal chords of animals, are forbidden unless they are necessary for the pets’ health or benefit. Otherwise, they are considered as torture and are punished with up to five months imprisonment or a fine or both.

7. Animals in blocks of flats and detached houses In all blocks of flats, regardless of their internal regulations, tenants are allowed to keep 1 dog and 1 cat or 2 dogs or 2 cats, provided that these animals live in the same flat as their owner and do not stay permanently on the balconies. However, people who live in detached houses are allowed to keep companion animals in open-air spaces, provided that these animals are not treated improperly but enjoy good living conditions and that police regulations about disturbing the peace are kept.

8. Sources: www.greenpage.gr/nomothesia_adespota _katoikidia%5B1%5D.doc www.minagric.gr/greek/data/G913F71.pdf This presentation was made by Konstantinos Philippou