ΑΤΗΕΝS — Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday posted a series of social media stories in reference to the government's new bill on pet ownership, which was approved at committee level on Monday, before it reaches a plenary vote soon.
The premier wrote about the merits of responsible pet ownership, and that no animal shall be abandoned or abused, as pet abuse will carry stricter fines and will now include acts such as abandonment, shooting, intentional injury and poisoning. Existing fines for serious administrative offenses are also being tightened as per the new bill. Records of people who have been sentenced for torturing animals will be entered into a database managed by the Athens prosecutor's office and be cross-referenced with the Pet Registry so that they may not register as pet owners in the future.
A pet DNA analysis and storage bank is also being set up, so that if an animal is abandoned the owner can be easily located and be penalized accordingly.
The leading change brought along by the new bill is the new digital health book for all pets, which will include a full medical history and will be accessible by both owners and veterinarian doctors.
Another key piece of legislation is a ban on cat and dog sales at pet shops, as is a ban on mating advertorials: the fine for publishing a mating ad will be more than tripled when not referencing the pet's unique ID microchip number and the new reproduction license. The sale of pets will only be allowed by approved breeders and owners. Pet adoption fees will be forbidden, except for transportation and medical treatment costs.
New rules are introduced for breeding as well: owners will be licensed for one litter per pet, while prospective owners of offspring will have to be officially registered. Neutering will become mandatory for all owners, with some medical exceptions. Approved licensed breeders will be fined 2,000 euros if they mate a single animal more than six times. Amateur (so-called 'back yard') breeders will also be subjected to several new restrictive rules.
Finally, a new National Pet Registry will be introduced, where all pets owned or stray will have to be registered, including pets put up for adoption. Animal welfare associations, vets, breeders and animal shelters will all have to register too.
In order to encourage owners to take better care of their pets, the bill introduces incentives by municipalities, such as a reduction in city taxes by up to 10 percent.
ATHENS — For decades, Britain and Greece were able to differ, largely politely, over the world's toughest cultural heritage dispute: What's the right place for some of the finest ancient Greek sculptures ever made, which have been displayed in London for more than 200 years but which Greece vocally wants back.
FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.
PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Rosalynn Carter received her final farewells Wednesday in the same tiny town where she and Jimmy Carter were born, forever their home base as they climbed to the White House and traveled the world for humanitarian causes.
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are considering holding a formal vote next month to authorize the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden as the party looks to legitimize a process that has yet to yield any direct evidence of wrongdoing by the president.
JERUSALEM (AP) — It has become an Israeli mantra throughout the latest war in Gaza: Hamas is ISIS.
ATHENS – As the 100th anniversary of her birth approaches on December 2, the tributes to Maria Callas continue – literally all over the world.
NEW YORK – Ahead of The Hellenic Initiative’s 11th Annual New York Gala on December 2, honoree Ted Leonsis, the well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist, shared his thoughts with The National Herald.
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