Syros initiative points the way in protection of stray animals

The Greek government is in the process of drafting a new framework for the care and protection of pets and strays and if its legislators are looking for some inspiration, Syros may be a good place to start.

Here, apart from the customary cafés, you will also find "cat cafés" - that is 10 spots in different parts of Syros that have been cleaned and equipped with shelters and feeding bowls for the Aegean island's stray felines.

"You could argue that similar corners exist in many other parts of the country," says Manos Vorissis, the veterinarian behind the initiative. "The difference here is that we spruce up the surrounding area where the feeding stations are placed. Volunteers plant trees and flowers, and clear away trash and debris so that passers-by see something that it is pretty and civilized. That is the major difference: It is not enough just to care about...

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