Thessaloniki: Left kittens on the street – received a fine of 270 thousand euros

In Thessaloniki A 55-year-old man received a fine of up to 270 thousand euros for abandoning nine cats. He claims that didn’t know oh so Features of the law on animal protection.

55 year old man from Thessaloniki faced the threat of fines of up to 270 thousand euros after, according to authorities, leaving nine cats on a site in the area Kalamaria. He himself claims that he did not know about the severity of the consequences and did not understand that his actions fell under the violation of the law on the protection of animals.

Commenting on the situation, the man said: “Where can I find 270 thousand euros, guys?”. According to him, the animals were at his home, but he could no longer care for them. He claims that he decided to leave them in the open area for sanitary reasons and because he believed the cats could survive.

The 55-year-old also stated that I previously contacted an animal protection organization. According to him, there could accept kittens, but only after several weeks of waiting. In the end, as the man himself claims, he made the decision on his own remove animals from home. The decision, as it now turns out, cost him not just expensive, but almost surrealistically expensive.

“I didn’t know the law” – but the law has already turned on

The man insists he was unaware of the legal consequences. He stated that if he had known about such fines, he would I wouldn’t leave animals. At the same time, he emphasizes that he is unemployed and is unable to pay such an amount.

However, ignorance of the law, as usual, does not relieve one from responsibility. A criminal procedure has already begun in the case: by order of the prosecutor, an urgent preliminary investigation is being carried out.

According to Greek media reports, administrative fines against the man reach 270 thousand euros. We are talking about punishment for abandoning animals, which Greek law considers as a serious violation, and not as a household “mistake” of the owner.

The problem is broader than one case

This story shows again a painful gap between strict animal welfare standards and the real situation with shelters, animal protection structures and people, who are unable to keep animals. The law demands responsibility – and rightly so. But the system of assistance, transfer of animals and temporary accommodation often works in such a way that a person is left alone with the problem.

This does not justify leaving the animals. But it doesn’t change the question: If the government imposes hefty fines, it should provide a clear and quick mechanism for those who can no longer keep animals but want to transfer them legally. Otherwise, there is punishment, but there is almost no way out of the situation before the violation.

What to do if you can no longer keep animals

Main rule: animals cannot simply be left on the street, at the city hall, at the police station, near the shelter, in a park or in a vacant lot. Even if a person believes that “someone will find them,” from a legal point of view, this can be regarded as abandonment of animals and lead to heavy fines.

If the owner can no longer keep cats or dogs, the right way is contact the municipality in writingget a protocol number, contact animal protection organizations and a veterinarian, and also look for temporary foster care or new owners. All requests, responses and correspondence must be saved.

It is forbidden just bring the animals to the police station or leave them at the door of the city hall, as well as anywhere else, because they didn’t take them in other places. The police and municipality may be the point of contact for instructions, but the transfer of animals must be formalized. Until this happens, responsibility remains with the owner.

In the application you can indicate: “Due to my difficult financial situation, I can no longer provide the animals with proper care. Please indicate the legal procedure for their transfer, temporary foster care, veterinary care or inclusion in the municipal program. Please register your application and provide a written response.”.

This order does not guarantee an instant solution, but it shows the main thing: the person does not abandon the animals, but formally asks for help. In a situation where fines can reach huge amounts, documents, protocol numbers, correspondence and veterinary certificates can be crucial.

Editorial comment

Story from Kalamaria looks like a classic Greek skew: the law is harsh, the fine is gigantic, and the practical mechanism for solving the problem is somewhere in the fog between the shelter, volunteers and the prosecutor.

Animals cannot simply be left on the street or property and hope that they will “somehow survive.” It’s cruel and dangerous. But the penalty is 270 thousand euros For an unemployed person, it also looks less like an educational measure and more like a legal hammer on a glass table.

If the state really wants to protect animals, it must not only punish after the fact, but also create a working system: where to call, where to transfer, who receives, who helps, what to do for a person who can no longer cope. Because between “left the animals” and “pay like for a villa” There must be one more stage – normal, understandable and accessible help. But this is probably too complex an idea for the bureaucracy that does the billing best.

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