The locker rooms at Vilia’s football stadium have been converted into a temporary shelter for more than 100 animals rescued from the devastating wildfire in Attica, Greece. This was made possible through cooperation between local authorities and dozens of volunteers.
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The municipality, Dogs’ Voice, the local animal protection association “Adespotes Psyches,” and animal lovers living in the area all took part in the initiative.
From the first days, residents began bringing food and medication, while a large number of volunteers took responsibility for the animals’ daily care, including walking the dogs. Meanwhile, the rescued cats have gradually been relocated to Megara.
Dimitris Pagonis, deputy mayor and official responsible for animal protection, said that around 100 dogs and cats had been brought to the temporary shelter. They are joined by another 30-40 livestock animals, which are being kept in barns until their owners collect them.
“An extraordinary amount of work went into carrying out this initiative. The volunteers’ commitment is truly moving, as without their help this project could not have been completed successfully,” he said.
Pagonis said that some of the animals have already been returned to their owners, while some of the strays have found families through adoption.
For the animals that remain at the shelter, the authorities are organizing their gradual return to the areas where they lived. The aim is to place them in safe conditions and hand them over to the people who previously cared for them.
Speaking about animals found alone in evacuated areas, the deputy mayor stressed that people should not rush to conclude that they had been abandoned.
“During a disaster of this magnitude, some people may not have been able to return to their homes. Nevertheless, animals are living beings, not objects, so in every emergency we must make an effort to take them with us,” Pagonis said.
He also explained that injured animals have received daily veterinary treatment at the municipal clinic, with assistance from Dogs’ Voice veterinarians.
According to him, the injuries identified were minor in most cases, consisting mainly of burns to the paws. The animals are expected to make a full recovery within a short period.
