A groundbreaking Animal Police unit is set to begin working on Crete, the first region in Greece to launch such a project for the protection of the island’s four-legged friends.
For the first time, a team of approximately specially trained 25 officers, will supervise both urban and rural areas communities, where violations are more common, to ensure the welfare of Crete’s estimated 120,000 stray and 150,000 owned animals -from stray cats to neglected sheepdogs.
The dedicated Animal Police has been established in Crete under the direction of Commander Manolis Voutyrakis of the Sitia Police department and consists of four groups. Each group will have five police officers and will be located in different of the four prefectures of the island. The officers were trained by the Zero Stray Academy in an in-person seminar that took place at the Heraklion Police Directorate.
At the same time, officers at the Police Operations Departments (TAE) were also trained so that they can provide support, especially in extremely remote areas.
The program also receives support from volunteers, especially in the region of Sitia, where animal welfare activism is thriving.
Starting July 1st, 2025, new and stricter laws regarding animal welfare will come into effect. The new legislation targets irresponsible ownership and animal abuse and is set to impose harsher penalties for mistreatment and cruelty.
Every year, Crete reports hundreds of cases of animal abuse. With 120,000 stray animals wandering the streets, urban strays remain a big problem. Commander Voutyrakis and his police officers hope that the Animal Police will inspire more responsible ownership so that fewer animals are abandoned on the island’s streets.
While efforts are already underway in municipalities such as Minos Pediados, Sitia and Malevizi, the aim is for the project to expand across the island. The Animal Police unit hopes to improve animal welfare and relieve animal volunteers while raising awareness in what some have already described as a “new era in animal welfare.”
In late 2020, the Greek government, in response to the outrage over the horrendous torture of a dog in Chania, Crete, the Greek government vowed to pass even stricter disciplinary codes for animal abuse.
Then Minister of Rural Development and Food Makis Voridis has stated that he will push to introduce a stricter criminal framework in order to allow for more effective prosecution and punishment of animal abusers in Greece.
“The recent extreme torture of an animal that took place on Crete highlights the need of introducing a tougher penal framework, which will make prosecution and punishment of animal torturers more effective,” Voridis stated. “In the immediate future, we will propose the adoption of such legislation to Parliament.”
This announcement came after the alleged animal abuser turned himself in to local authorities. He has subsequently been fined €30,000 for the abuse and been suspended from his place of employment as well while the investigation was open.
