A microchip implanted in a dog that was later found in a wretched and near-death condition has led authorities to a man identified as its first owner, in the latest animal cruelty case to emerge in the country.
Although the animal showed no visible injuries or illness, it was on the verge of collapse, having essentially been left to die, according to members of an animal protection charity that recovered the dog in the southern Peloponnese coastal town of Monemvasia. The group posted photographs of the unfortunate animal this week, with the incident going viral on Greek-language social media.
What makes this case different, however, is not just the image of abandonment, but the fact that an owner was traced via a microchip implanted on the animal.
The animal’s microchip was active and registered in the National Pet Registry, as per Greek law, directly leading to the declared owner. According to the records, the dog had changed hands in the past, with the original owner reportedly possessing a large number of hunting dogs, while the current – and now under investigation – owner is also registered as keeping at least one more animal.
At no instance, however, was the dog’s loss reported to the registry.
Under Law Greek law 4830/2021, animal abandonment constitutes a criminal offense and carries a fine of 5,000 euros to up to 15,000 euros, along with additional administrative penalties, including 1,000 euros for failure to vaccinate and 1,000 euros for failure to sterilize.
According to Chrysoula Kastania, who spoke to the Athens daily “Ta Nea”, “the dog does not suffer from any disease, but it is at risk of dying from starvation.”
Kastania, who is now caring for the canine and has been active for years in rescuing thousands of animals in the wider area, also emphasized that “…cases of abandonment, especially of hunting and shepherd dogs, have exceeded all limits, with shelters already operating at full capacity.”
This particular case, however, highlights something crucial, according to Ta Nea, namely, that the microchip is not just a formal requirement, but a tool of accountability.
