Authorities are investigating the gruesome death of an elderly stray dog in an incident that has sparked outrage among local residents in the Gastouni township in the northwest Peloponnese.

Residents in the neighborhood where the dog was a well-known fixture and animal rights advocates are demanding that the driver involved be identified and held accountable.

Residents said the animal was not an unknown stray but had lived in the area for many years, receiving daily care from local people.

The case carries added significance under Greece’s animal welfare legislation. A 2021 law classifies the deliberate killing of an animal as a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines ranging from 30,000 euros to 50,000 euros.

Authorities in the area, near the southwest city of Pyrgos, Elis prefecture, are now focusing on identifying the driver.

The case comes amid heightened public scrutiny of animal cruelty incidents in Greece. Over the past six months, several cases involving the abuse or killing of companion animals have attracted national attention, prompting renewed calls from animal welfare groups and local communities for stricter enforcement of existing legislation and swifter prosecution of offenders.

Similar incidents reported across the country have fueled debate over the effectiveness of deterrent penalties and the need for greater protection of animals under the law.