To an outsider's eye Greece, especially the islands, sometimes appears to be uncaring about animals; cats and dogs in particular. It is true that in some larger towns, including Lefkas town, you will see stray cats looking very unhealthy, living in bins and foraging for food but things are changing there. In the hill villages it is different. Overall the cats there are cared for and content.

To understand the islanders' attitude to animals it is important to realise the poverty that many of them endured a few decades ago. An animal had to be productive to be fed. Goats, sheep and donkeys were prized possessions. Goats and sheep produced milk to be drunk, and also turned into feta cheese, and meat for special occasions. Goats can survive on the barest of hills and eat nearly anything. Donkeys were the only transport in the hills. They carried olives, vines and people. The more donkeys a family had the wealthier they were. It paid to take good care of them. Pets were unknown, an unaffordable luxury.

Cats were never 'owned' in the way that northern Europeans  own cats. They were feral but respected. They were necessary to keep down vermin. Rats and mice could ruin stored crops, spread disease and even gnaw through furniture. Cats can even hold their own against snakes! It follows that feeding cats would make them lazy and they wouldn't need to hunt. Because of their natural diet the litters tended to be smaller and natural selection meant that only good hunters survived. The worst thing that tourists can do is feed the cats. It means that during the summer the kittens don't learn to hunt. Why should they when well meaning humans provide a never ending supply of delicacies. When the winter comes and the tourists have gone the cats are left unable to feed themselves. Disaster.

The attitude to dogs varies from island to island and even from village to village. Very few shepherds on Lefkada have ever used dogs and only hunting dogs have been used regularly. Dogs have to be fed and usually take up more food than they produce but hunting dogs could help to catch rabbits, hares and other game so they were seen as being productive.

Because of the land bridge joining Lefkada to the mainland it was common, especially in the winter, for hungry packs of dogs to arrive in Lefkas town and spread around the island, sometimes terrorising the hill villages. So it is understandable when you see older villagers terrified of dogs. They have had good reason. However, many of these older people have indoctrinated their children and even grandchildren into the belief that dogs are wild, dangerous animals. When taking even the smallest dog for a walk on a lead some people still go hysterical at the sight. They are truly terrified.

We lived in the beautiful village of Fterno for three years and never thought that we would leave.The locals were friendly and helpful and couldn't do enough for us. However, when we adopted two stray dogs their attitude changed. They couldn't come to terms with the fact the dogs were friendly and eventually we felt it best if we left. The village of Vafkeri is totally different. Even Papa, the village priest, has a pet dog. When we lost our dog Max to a snake bite some of our neighbours actually cried. So it shows that everywhere is different in their attitude to animals.

We have had a problem this winter with cats. Over thirty of them, mostly kittens, have been so desperate for food that they have started to become aggressive. This is because an Australian lady who lived in the village had been feeding cats and then she suddenly left. She had to go back to Australia for medical reasons. The poor cats didn't know how to survive and many of the kittens have since starved to death. They couldn't compete with the adults.

There is an organisation in Lefkada, started by two British women, called LAWS. It stands for Lefkas Animal Welfare society. The charity aims to neuter, inject and care for the health of animals on the island. Of course it is hopelessly underfunded and not all animals can be taken care of. As many homes as possible are found. Many dogs go to Germany and Holland where there is no six month quarantine but some go to the UK. Good homes are always needed. I shall be putting details on this website of a few of the dogs needing homes. If you really think you can help please e mail this site.