Greece’s New Rules For Pets

Updated: 6 August 2026

Pet owners in Greece have recently been surprised by reports of strict fines for dogs without a lead, missing veterinary records and even animals that have not been neutered or registered through an official DNA sample.

Some of these reports are correct, but several different rules and penalties are frequently mixed together online.

A dog owner will not normally receive a €1,000 fine simply because the dog is walking without a lead. However, Greece does have strict rules covering leads, microchips, veterinary care, neutering, DNA registration, travel, breeding, sales and the prevention of animal abandonment.

This guide explains what currently applies to pet owners, people living in Greece and visitors travelling with animals.

Important clarification: Walking a dog without a lead can result in a €300 fine, not €1,000. The €1,000 penalties generally concern more serious violations, including failure to provide required veterinary care or failure to neuter a dog or cat or submit its official DNA sample.

Are These Rules Really New?

Not all of them are completely new.

Greece’s main pet welfare framework was introduced through Law 4830/2021. However, the National Pet Registry, known as the Ethniko Mitroo Zoon Syntrofias or EMZS, and its digital services have gradually become more active.

The National Pet Registry began operating in December 2023 and was expanded with additional digital services during 2024 and 2026.

This means that obligations that may previously have been difficult to check can now be connected electronically to the animal’s microchip, veterinary records and registered owner.

Police officers, municipal authorities and other authorised services can carry out checks relating to microchips, registration, veterinary care, dog walking, breeding, animal welfare and ownership records.

Microchipping and Registration Are Compulsory

Dogs and cats owned in Greece must be electronically identified with a microchip and registered in the National Pet Registry.

The microchip must be inserted and registered by an authorised veterinarian.

The animal’s registration is connected to information including:

• The microchip number.
• The animal’s name, age, sex, colour and breed where known.
• The registered owner’s details.
• Veterinary examinations and treatments.
• Vaccinations.
• Neutering or DNA submission.
• Changes of ownership.
• Loss, recovery or death of the animal.

Possible fine for failure to microchip or correctly register a dog or cat: €300

Owners should ask a veterinarian to scan the microchip occasionally, particularly before travelling, to confirm that it still works.

They should also check that their telephone number, address and other details in the registry remain correct.

Dogs Must Be Kept on a Lead During Walks

Greek law requires every dog to be accompanied and safely controlled during a walk.

The person walking the dog must normally keep it attached to a lead and remain close enough to prevent accidents, attacks, damage or conflicts with other animals and pedestrians.

The rule applies even when the dog is friendly, well trained or normally returns when called.

Dogs may generally be released from the lead inside officially designated dog parks or other enclosed areas where this is specifically permitted.

Possible fine for failing to follow the safe-walking rules: €300

A penalty may also apply when:

• The dog leaves its home or garden and enters a public area alone.
• The owner has not taken reasonable measures to prevent the animal from escaping.
• The person accompanying the dog cannot control it safely.
• The dog causes damage, injury or an accident.

Where Can Dogs Go in Public?

Dogs and other companion animals may accompany their owners in common public spaces such as:

• Roads and pavements.
• Squares.
• Pedestrian streets.
• Public parks.
• Wooded public areas.

The owner must maintain control, follow the lead rules and immediately clean up the animal’s waste.

Ordinary pets are not allowed inside children’s playgrounds. Assistance dogs are treated differently under the law.

A general municipal “No Pets” sign does not necessarily override the national law governing access to common public spaces. However, special restrictions may apply in protected areas, archaeological locations, hospitals and other regulated premises.

Cleaning Up After Your Pet

Owners and dog walkers must immediately clean up their animal’s waste from streets, pavements, parks and other public spaces.

Possible fine: €100

Anyone walking a dog should therefore carry suitable waste bags.

What About the Pet Health Book?

Another claim circulating online is that an owner can automatically be fined €1,000 for not carrying a paper health book during an ordinary dog walk.

This is misleading.

Greece uses an electronic pet health record connected to the National Pet Registry. Depending on what has been recorded by the veterinarian, this may include:

• The animal’s identification details.
• Vaccinations.
• Veterinary examinations.
• Laboratory tests.
• Parasite treatments.
• Medication.
• Operations.
• Neutering.
• Official DNA sample submission.
• Pregnancy and birth records.

Owners can access the veterinary record digitally and may also request a printed copy from an authorised veterinarian.

There is no general €1,000 fine simply because an ordinary dog owner does not have a paper health book in a pocket during a normal walk.

However, the animal must receive the veterinary examination, care and vaccinations required by law, and those procedures must be correctly recorded.

Possible fine for failure to provide required veterinary care, examination or vaccination: €1,000

When Is a Pet Passport Required?

A pet passport and an electronic health record are not exactly the same thing.

A pet passport is primarily required when a dog, cat or ferret travels internationally. It includes information such as:

• The animal’s microchip number.
• Rabies vaccination details.
• The animal’s identifying information.
• The owner’s details.
• Other travel-related veterinary information.

The passport must remain correctly updated.

Possible fine for not having an updated passport when legally required: €300

The Most Controversial Rule: Neutering or a DNA Sample

The rule that has caused the greatest surprise among pet owners is real.

Under the Greek system, the owner of a dog or cat must generally arrange for the animal to be neutered or, as an alternative, have an official genetic material sample collected and submitted to the authorised laboratory.

In other words, neutering is not the owner’s only option.

An owner who does not wish to neuter the animal can choose the official DNA procedure instead.

When Must the Animal Be Neutered?

If a dog or cat is more than one year old when acquired, neutering should normally take place within six months of acquisition.

If the animal is acquired before reaching one year of age, neutering should normally take place within the first six months after its first birthday.

The timetable may be changed following a reasoned veterinary opinion, depending on the animal’s breed, health, physical development or other special characteristics.

Why Does Greece Require a DNA Sample?

The DNA requirement is not intended to reveal the animal’s breed, personality or possible medical conditions.

Its principal purpose is to help authorities investigate animal abandonment, illegal breeding and uncontrolled births.

When an owner chooses not to neuter a dog or cat, an official genetic sample is collected and connected to:

• The animal’s microchip number.
• The animal’s record in the National Pet Registry.
• The identity of its registered owner.
• The animal’s electronic veterinary record.

This creates an official genetic record that may later help authorities identify an abandoned registered animal or trace the parents of abandoned puppies and kittens.

How Could the DNA System Work in Practice?

Imagine that someone owns an unneutered female dog.

The dog gives birth to several puppies, and the puppies are later found abandoned inside a box beside a road or rubbish container.

In such a case, the authorities may be able to:

1. Collect genetic material from the abandoned puppies.
2. Compare their DNA with samples stored in the official database.
3. Identify a possible genetic relationship with a registered male or female dog.
4. Use the parent animal’s microchip record to locate its registered owner.
5. Investigate whether an unauthorised birth or animal abandonment has taken place.

The system may also help identify an unneutered registered animal if that animal is later abandoned.

The basic idea is this: either neuter the animal to help prevent uncontrolled births, or officially register its DNA so that abandoned animals and their parents may potentially be traced.

Does DNA Automatically Prove Who Abandoned the Animals?

No.

A genetic match may indicate that a registered dog or cat is one of the parents of the abandoned animals.

It may also lead investigators to the registered owner of that parent.

However, DNA alone does not necessarily prove that the registered owner personally transported and abandoned the puppies or kittens.

The animal may have escaped, another person may have been caring for it or someone else may have carried out the abandonment.

The DNA result is therefore an important investigative lead, but additional evidence may still be required, including:

• Security camera footage.
• Witness statements.
• Vehicle information.
• Telephone messages.
• Online advertisements.
• Veterinary evidence of a recent birth.
• An admission by the person involved.

What Does the DNA Procedure Involve?

The owner must visit an authorised veterinarian, who collects genetic material from the animal and sends it to the official Laboratory for the Storage and Analysis of Genetic Material of Companion Animals.

This is not an ordinary commercial DNA or breed-identification test purchased online.

The sample must be collected, registered and submitted through the official Greek procedure.

The procedure is linked to the animal’s microchip and National Pet Registry record.

The owner must pay the official administrative fee and any professional fee charged by the veterinarian for collecting, registering and sending the sample.

Once the official DNA submission has been correctly completed, the owner is not also required to neuter the animal solely to satisfy this particular obligation.

What Is the Fine?

An owner who does not neuter the animal and does not submit the required official DNA sample may face a fine of:

€1,000

The owner is then given a period in which to comply. If the violation continues, another fine may be imposed.

Under the current fine schedule, the €1,000 fine may be reduced by 70% when the owner corrects the violation within ten working days of the fine being officially recorded.

Does Every Pet Need a DNA Test?

No.

The owner generally chooses between two main options:

• Neuter the dog or cat, or
• Submit an official DNA sample if the animal will remain unneutered.

A neutered dog or cat does not also need a DNA sample simply because it lives in Greece.

Summary of Some Important Pet Fines

Additional criminal or administrative consequences may apply depending on the circumstances.

Repeated or continuing violations may result in further penalties.

Pets on Beaches in Greece

Dogs and other companion animals are generally allowed on non-organised beaches and may enter the sea.

When the dog is outside the water, it must remain under supervision and attached to a lead.

Owners should also carry suitable waste bags, drinking water and a method of providing shade.

What Is Considered an Organised Beach?

According to the official clarification published by Greece’s Special Secretariat for the Protection of Companion Animals in June 2026, a beach is not necessarily legally considered organised simply because it has sunbeds or a nearby beach bar.

The official guidance identifies an organised beach mainly as one where access is provided through an admission ticket.

On an organised beach, ordinary pets are permitted only when the legal operator has displayed a clear sign allowing them.

Assistance dogs are subject to special protections.

What About Blue Flag Beaches?

The official Greek guidance states that ordinary pets are not permitted on Blue Flag beaches, with exceptions for assistance and therapy dogs.

Because beach classifications and local arrangements may change, owners should always check the signs at the entrance.

Can a Dog Swim in the Sea?

Yes. Dogs may swim at beaches where their presence is permitted.

Owners should remain close, avoid forcing an animal into the water and respect swimmers who may be frightened or uncomfortable around dogs.

During summer, owners should be particularly careful about hot sand, dehydration, heatstroke, sea currents and prolonged exposure to the sun.

Travelling on Greek Ferries With a Pet

Passengers travelling with a pet, assistance animal or therapy animal must normally declare it during the booking or ticket-issuance process.

A separate pet ticket is then issued, usually without an additional fare.

Owners should not arrive at the ship expecting the pet to be added after boarding. Several ferry companies state that onboard ticket issuance for pets is not permitted.

Information Usually Required for the Pet Ticket

• The pet health book or passport number.
• The microchip number.
• The animal’s category, such as pet, assistance or therapy animal.
• The animal’s size or weight category.

The passenger must carry the updated health documentation and remains responsible for the pet’s health, safety, supervision and hygiene.

Where Does the Pet Stay on the Ferry?

This depends on the vessel and the ferry company.

Possible arrangements include:

• A designated onboard kennel.
• A specially designated pet cabin.
• A private cabin where pets are permitted.
• A suitable carrier for a small animal.
• A designated open-deck area.

Ordinary pets are not automatically allowed inside standard passenger cabins, restaurants, lounges or other shared indoor areas.

Some companies allow small animals in carriers inside certain areas, while others apply stricter restrictions.

For example, SEAJETS states that pets weighing up to 10 kilograms may stay in a private cabin in a travel carrier when the passenger has booked the entire cabin. This is a company-specific policy and should not be assumed to apply to every ferry operator.

Before Booking a Ferry

• Contact the ferry company before purchasing the ticket.
• Ask whether the specific vessel has kennels or pet cabins.
• Reserve a pet cabin early because availability can be limited.
• Confirm whether a muzzle is required for dogs in open areas.
• Ask where large dogs must remain during the crossing.
• Check whether you may visit a pet placed in the kennel during the journey.
• Carry a lead, carrier, waste bags, water and cleaning supplies.
• Never leave the pet inside a parked vehicle on the ferry unless the operator expressly permits access and the conditions are safe.

Assistance dogs have broader access rights when the required documents are available.

Travelling by Airplane With a Pet

There is no single rule used by every airline.

Each airline decides which animal species, breeds, weights and carriers it will accept, subject to aviation and animal-health requirements.

Owners must therefore check both:

• The airline’s pet transportation policy.
• The entry requirements of the destination country.

Reserve the Pet Before the Flight

Do not simply arrive at the airport with an animal.

Airlines accept only a limited number of pets on each flight. The animal should be added to the reservation as early as possible.

Confirmation should be obtained for every flight sector, especially when the journey includes connecting flights, partner airlines or different aircraft.

Can a Pet Travel in the Cabin?

This depends on the airline and the combined weight of the animal and its carrier.

As an example, AEGEAN currently allows one cat or dog per passenger in the cabin when the combined weight of the animal and carrier does not exceed 8 kilograms.

The pet must remain inside an approved, leak-proof and ventilated carrier throughout the flight, normally positioned under the seat in front of the passenger.

AEGEAN’s limit is an example rather than a rule for all airlines. Another airline may use a different weight limit, different carrier dimensions or may not accept pets in the cabin at all.

What Happens to Larger Animals?

Larger dogs and cats may need to travel in a specially ventilated section of the aircraft hold or as manifest cargo.

The carrier must be strong, escape-proof, ventilated and large enough for the animal to stand naturally, turn around and lie down.

Some breeds, particularly flat-faced dogs and cats, may be subject to restrictions because they can experience serious breathing problems during air travel.

Airlines may also restrict certain breeds, very young animals, pregnant animals or transportation during extreme temperatures.

Documents Commonly Required at the Airport

• A valid microchip.
• A valid pet passport or animal health certificate.
• A current rabies vaccination.
• Any laboratory test required by the destination.
• Any import permit required by the destination country.
• The airline’s confirmed pet reservation.
• Written authorisation when another person is accompanying the animal.

For travel within the European Union, the microchip must normally have been inserted before the rabies vaccination.

After an animal’s first rabies vaccination, a waiting period of at least 21 days generally applies before international travel.

Greece does not normally permit entry to young dogs, cats or ferrets that have not yet developed valid rabies immunity.

Arrive Early

Passengers travelling with an animal should arrive earlier than they would for a normal flight.

Even when online check-in is available for the passenger, the animal and its documentation normally have to be inspected at the airport check-in desk.

Do Not Sedate a Pet Without Veterinary Advice

Sedation can affect breathing, blood pressure and balance, particularly when an animal travels in the aircraft hold.

Medication should never be given simply to make a pet quiet unless a veterinarian who knows the animal has specifically recommended it.

Before Flying, Ask the Airline:

• Is the pet reservation confirmed in writing?
• Can the animal travel in the cabin or must it use the hold?
• What are the exact carrier dimensions?
• Is the combined pet-and-carrier weight measured?
• Are there breed or age restrictions?
• Are pets accepted on every aircraft used on the route?
• What documents must be presented at check-in?
• How early should the passenger arrive?
• What happens during a connecting flight?
• Are temperature-related restrictions currently operating?

Public Transport, Trains, Buses and Taxis

Local Buses, Metro and Other Public Transport

According to official Greek guidance, ordinary pets travelling on public transport should be placed inside a suitable carrier.

Animals must not be placed in the luggage compartment of a bus.

This creates practical difficulties for owners of large dogs, as many public transport services cannot accommodate a carrier large enough for them.

Assistance and therapy dogs are subject to different access rules.

Because individual operators may have additional conditions, passengers should confirm the policy before travelling.

KTEL and Tourist Buses

A pet must never be transported in the luggage compartment underneath a KTEL, tourist or other passenger bus.

Owners should contact the operator before buying a ticket to ask:

• Whether pets are accepted on that route.
• What carrier dimensions are permitted.
• Whether a separate reservation is required.
• Whether there is a limit on the number of animals per bus.

Travelling by Train

Hellenic Train requires pets to be microchipped, accompanied by their owner and covered by a valid health book or passport.

Small pets can travel on many services inside an appropriate carrier. However, carrier sizes and permitted services differ between trains and replacement buses.

Large dogs are accepted only on certain services and under specific conditions. They cannot travel on every train or Hellenic Train bus.

For example, Hellenic Train states that its ETR trains permit only small pets in carriers and do not accept large dogs, except assistance dogs.

Passengers should check the latest rules for the exact route rather than assuming that permission on one train applies throughout the network.

Travelling by Taxi

For an ordinary pet, the most practical approach is to arrange the journey with the taxi driver before the vehicle arrives.

Tell the company or driver:

• What type of animal you have.
• Its approximate weight and size.
• Whether it will travel in a carrier.
• Whether the dog is calm and accustomed to vehicles.

Carry a blanket or protective cover and make sure the animal cannot distract the driver.

Assistance dogs have specific access protections and should not be treated as ordinary pets.

Travelling With a Pet by Car

The animal should not move freely around the vehicle or interfere with the driver.

For safety, use an appropriate:

• Pet carrier.
• Vehicle crate.
• Dog guard.
• Crash-tested harness and seat-belt attachment.

Do not allow a dog to sit on the driver’s lap or place its head and body far outside an open window.

During longer journeys, stop regularly for water, toilet breaks and controlled exercise.

Never Leave an Animal in a Parked Car

A vehicle can become dangerously hot within minutes, even when parked in the shade or when a window has been left partly open.

Leaving an animal in conditions that cause heatstroke or serious suffering may be treated as a major animal-welfare violation.

During Greek summers, the safest rule is simple: never leave a pet alone in a parked car.

Pets in Hotels, Villas and Holiday Accommodation

Ordinary pets do not have an automatic right to stay in every hotel, villa or holiday rental.

The accommodation provider may operate its own pet policy.

Before booking, ask for written confirmation covering:

• Whether pets are accepted.
• Which species, breeds, sizes or numbers are permitted.
• Whether an additional cleaning fee or deposit applies.
• Whether pets may remain alone inside the room.
• Whether a crate is required when the owner leaves temporarily.
• Whether pets may enter gardens, pools or breakfast areas.
• Whether the property has resident animals.
• Whether the balcony, garden and fencing are secure.

Do not rely only on a filter displayed by a booking website. Contact the property directly because the pet policy may have changed or may apply only to certain rooms.

Assistance dogs are not treated in the same way as ordinary pets and have specific legal protections.

Pets in Restaurants, Cafés and Shops

Ordinary pets are generally not entitled to enter indoor food-service and other premises regulated by health rules.

Official Greek guidance states that access to health-interest premises is permitted indoors for guide and assistance dogs when hygiene and safety requirements are respected.

For ordinary pets, an outdoor terrace is usually the most practical option, but the business may apply its own policy.

Before sitting down:

• Ask a staff member whether the animal is welcome.
• Keep the dog on a short lead.
• Do not allow it to block a walkway.
• Do not place the animal on chairs or tables.
• Carry water and waste bags.
• Leave if the animal becomes distressed or repeatedly disturbs other customers.

Individual shops may also restrict ordinary pets, especially where food is prepared, displayed or stored.

What to Check Before Buying a Dog or Cat in Greece

A buyer should never accept only an animal, a paper health book and a verbal promise that “everything is legal.”

The sale and ownership transfer must be correctly documented.

Check That the Seller Is Legal

Professional and amateur dog and cat breeders must be registered in the Breeders’ Sub-Registry of the National Pet Registry.

The official registry is publicly searchable.

A person offering repeated litters while refusing to provide registration details should be treated with caution.

The Animal Must Not Be Too Young

Greek law prohibits the sale of dogs and cats younger than 12 weeks.

Be extremely cautious when a seller:

• Claims that an eight-week-old puppy is ready to leave.
• Refuses to show the date of birth.
• Offers to deliver the animal in a car park.
• Will not allow the buyer to see where the animals live.
• Cannot provide information about the mother.

Pet Shops Cannot Display Dogs and Cats for Sale

Dogs and cats must not be displayed for sale inside pet shops.

Online sales are also restricted. Dogs and cats should not be sold through an online shop that is not connected to a legally operating breeding or animal-trading business.

Check the Microchip Before Paying

Arrange for an authorised veterinarian to scan the animal.

Confirm that:

• The microchip exists and can be read.
• The number matches the veterinary documents.
• The animal is registered in the National Pet Registry.
• The registered owner is the person legally transferring the animal.

A handwritten microchip number is not enough. The chip should be physically scanned.

Check the Veterinary Records

The animal offered for sale should have an updated electronic health record and, where applicable, a passport.

Ask for information about:

• Vaccinations.
• Deworming and parasite treatment.
• Veterinary examinations.
• Known illnesses.
• Congenital or inherited conditions.
• The health history of the parents.
• Any genetic tests relevant to the breed.

A pedigree certificate does not guarantee that an animal is healthy, responsibly bred or free from inherited disease.

Insist on the Official Ownership Transfer

The ownership transfer in the National Pet Registry can be completed only by an authorised veterinarian.

The new owner or their legal representative must be present.

The previous owner must either:

• Attend the veterinarian’s appointment, or
• Provide the official declaration of intention to transfer the animal.

Once the veterinarian completes the procedure, the animal is registered to the new owner.

Do not accept the excuse that the transfer can be completed “sometime later.” Until it is properly registered, the buyer may face serious problems proving ownership or accessing the animal’s records.

Ask for Written Sales Information

The buyer should receive a receipt, invoice or written agreement showing:

• The seller’s full details.
• The buyer’s details.
• The animal’s microchip number.
• The date of birth.
• The agreed price.
• Any health guarantees or declared medical issues.
• The date of the official transfer.

Warning Signs of an Irresponsible Seller

• Meeting only in a car park or service station.
• Offering several different breeds at the same time.
• Refusing to show the mother or living conditions.
• No breeder registration details.
• No readable microchip.
• No veterinary documentation.
• Pressure to pay immediately.
• Requesting a deposit before allowing any verification.
• Claiming that registration is unnecessary.
• Selling an animal younger than 12 weeks.

Adopting a Dog or Cat in Greece

Adoption can be arranged through a municipality, a registered shelter or a registered animal-welfare organisation.

Greece also operates an official national adoption platform through the National Pet Registry.

Before adopting, confirm:

• That the animal has been examined by a veterinarian.
• That it has a readable microchip.
• That the adoption and ownership transfer will be registered.
• What vaccinations and treatments it has received.
• Whether it has been neutered.
• Whether it has known behavioural or medical needs.
• Whether the organisation offers support after adoption.

An informal social-media post may lead to a genuine rescue, but the final adoption must still be correctly recorded.

Anyone adopting an animal for transport to another country must also comply with the destination country’s import rules. This may involve a waiting period after rabies vaccination, an animal health certificate or additional laboratory tests.

Can Owners Freely Breed Their Pets?

No.

Keeping an animal unneutered or submitting its DNA does not automatically give the owner permission to breed it.

Breeding dogs and cats is controlled by additional rules and registration procedures.

Depending on the circumstances, prior permission may be required before an animal reproduces.

Private owners, amateur breeders and professional breeders do not all follow exactly the same procedure.

Unauthorised breeding, illegal sales and advertisements that fail to include the legally required information may result in substantial fines.

Anyone considering breeding a dog or cat should consult both an authorised veterinarian and the competent municipal or National Pet Registry service before mating takes place.

What Applies to Tourists Visiting Greece With a Pet?

The Greek neutering-or-DNA system is primarily connected to animals owned and registered in Greece through the National Pet Registry.

A visitor temporarily entering Greece with a pet registered in another country should mainly make sure that the animal satisfies the applicable European or international travel requirements.

Travelling From Another EU Country

A dog, cat or ferret will normally need:

• A valid microchip.
• A valid rabies vaccination.
• An EU pet passport.
• Compliance with the required waiting period after the first rabies vaccination.

The microchip should have been inserted before the rabies vaccination was administered.

A first rabies vaccination normally becomes valid for travel after at least 21 days.

Travelling From a Non-EU Country

Depending on the country of departure, the animal may require:

• A microchip.
• A valid rabies vaccination.
• An EU animal health certificate issued shortly before travel.
• A declaration that the movement is non-commercial.
• A rabies antibody titration blood test.
• Entry through an approved travellers’ point of entry.

The exact requirements depend on the country from which the animal is travelling.

The owner should check the European Commission’s current country-specific rules well before booking the journey.

How Many Pets Can Travel?

Non-commercial travel rules generally cover a maximum of five dogs, cats or ferrets.

An exception may apply when more than five animals are travelling to participate in an exhibition, competition or sporting event and the relevant conditions are satisfied.

What If Someone Else Travels With the Pet?

An authorised person may accompany the pet with written permission.

For the movement to remain within the usual non-commercial pet-travel rules, the owner’s journey normally has to take place within five days of the animal’s journey.

What to Do If a Pet Is Lost or Found

A lost dog or cat should be reported promptly through the National Pet Registry’s loss-and-found service.

The owner should also:

• Contact local veterinarians.
• Notify the municipality.
• Contact registered animal-welfare organisations.
• Check the national loss-and-found platform.
• Share a clear photograph and the area where the animal disappeared.
• Make sure the telephone number connected to the microchip is correct.

A person who finds an animal should take it to a veterinarian, municipality or authorised organisation so that the microchip can be scanned.

Do not assume that an animal without a collar is abandoned. It may have escaped only minutes earlier.

Consider Adding a QR Identification Tag

Owners registered in the National Pet Registry can request a QR identification code for the animal and attach the printed code to its collar.

This does not replace the compulsory microchip, but it may help someone contact the owner more quickly.

What If an Owner Can No Longer Keep a Pet?

Abandoning an animal is illegal.

An owner who can no longer keep a dog or cat should first try to find a suitable new owner and complete an official veterinary transfer.

If no new owner can be found, the owner must notify the competent municipality so that the animal can be listed for adoption through the official platform.

Under the current procedure, the animal may be advertised for adoption for two months.

If no adopter is found, the owner may formally surrender it to the municipality and pay:

• €300 for a dog.
• €100 for a cat or another companion animal.

A person who formally gives up an animal to the municipality is generally prevented from acquiring another companion animal for three years.

Special procedures may apply in exceptional situations involving the owner’s serious health problems or death.

Dogs Must Not Be Permanently Chained

A dog must not remain permanently tied or chained.

Greek law states that a dog should not remain tied for more than two hours per day, even when the rope or chain is long.

Dogs living outdoors must have:

• Shelter from rain, wind and cold.
• A cool and shaded resting area during summer.
• Constant access to clean drinking water.
• A clean and safe living environment.
• Enough room for appropriate movement and exercise.
• Regular human contact.
• Suitable food and veterinary care.

Cats must not be permanently kept inside cages.

Practical Checklist for Pet Owners in Greece

• Confirm that the microchip works and is registered correctly.
• Check that the registered telephone number and address are current.
• Keep vaccinations and veterinary examinations updated.
• Check whether neutering or official DNA submission has been registered.
• Use a lead whenever walking a dog in public.
• Carry waste bags.
• Keep the international pet passport updated before travelling.
• Reserve the animal in advance when travelling by ferry or airplane.
• Check the exact policy of every transport operator.
• Use a suitable carrier or restraint inside a vehicle.
• Never leave an animal inside a parked car.
• Confirm accommodation policies in writing.
• Use only registered breeders, shelters and animal-welfare organisations.
• Complete every ownership transfer through an authorised veterinarian.
• Never breed, sell or advertise an animal without checking the legal requirements.
• Report a missing animal promptly through the National Pet Registry.
• Never abandon an animal.

Final Thoughts

Greece’s pet laws are stricter than many owners realise, but not every frightening claim circulating online is accurate.

A dog walking without a lead does not automatically result in a €1,000 fine. The administrative fine for failing to follow the safe-walking rules is generally €300.

An owner is also not normally fined €1,000 simply because a paper health book was left at home during an ordinary walk.

However, failure to provide the required veterinary care or failure to choose between neutering and official DNA registration can result in a €1,000 penalty.

The DNA procedure is not designed to discover the animal’s breed. Its principal purpose is to improve traceability and potentially help identify the parents of abandoned puppies and kittens.

Travelling with a pet also requires preparation. Ferry and airline rules vary, pet spaces may be limited and the animal usually has to be declared during the booking process.

Anyone buying or adopting an animal should insist on a readable microchip, proper veterinary documents and an official ownership transfer completed by an authorised veterinarian.

The safest approach is to keep the animal’s digital record complete, speak directly with an authorised veterinarian and verify transport or travel requirements before every journey.

Important: This article provides general information based on the Greek and European pet rules available on 6 August 2026. Laws, fees, airline policies, ferry arrangements and administrative procedures may change. Owners should confirm their individual obligations with an authorised veterinarian, the competent authorities and the relevant travel provider.

Official and Useful Sources

• Official responsibilities of pet owners in Greece
• Electronic pet health book
• Official guidance for pets on Greek beaches
• Official guidance for pets on public transport
• Pets in common public spaces
• Pets in regulated indoor premises
• Official ownership-transfer procedure
• Official Breeders’ Sub-Registry
• National Pet Registry, adoption and loss-and-found services
• Greek government pet services
• Current administrative fine schedule under Law 4830/2021
• European Union pet travel rules
• Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country
• AEGEAN pet travel rules
• SEAJETS pet travel guidance
• Hellenic Train rules for accompanied animals