Authorities in Thessaloniki have issued fines to pet owners following targeted inspections aimed at ensuring compliance with animal welfare regulations and responsible pet ownership requirements.
The inspections, carried out in July by the Kordelio-Evosmos Police Department, identified violations including walking pets without leashes and failing to clean up after animals in public spaces.
According to a police announcement, officers conducted the checks with the participation of municipal police staff, where available, and employees from the Veterinary Service of the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The inspections targeted pet owners in several municipalities across the Thessaloniki metropolitan area, including Thessaloniki, Kordelio-Evosmos, Neapoli-Sykies, Pavlos Melas, Ampelokipi-Menemeni, Pylaia-Hortiatis and Kalamaria.
A total of 112 pet owners were inspected, resulting in the following penalties:
- Five fines of €300 each for failure to complete mandatory pet identification within the required timeframe.
- Five fines of €300 each for walking animals without a leash.
- Six fines of €500 each for exceeding the permitted number of animals kept in a residence.
- Four fines of €1,000 each for failure to complete required veterinary checks or maintain updated health records.
- One fine of €100 for failure to immediately clean up an animal’s waste.
- One fine of €500 for obstructing the inspection process.
The Thessaloniki Police Directorate said it plans to continue similar operations and expand inspections to areas with high numbers of pet owners.
Authorities said the goal of the initiatives is to improve public awareness, ensure compliance with legal requirements and safeguard animal welfare.
