Saturday 4th October is 'World Animal Day'.  A day for all humans to think and remember their beloved animal friends, both living and departed.  World Animal Day was first celebrated on 24th March 1925 in Germany. It was started by Heinrich Zimmermann, who organised the first celebration at the Sports Palace in Berlin, which was reportedly attended by over 5,000 people.  In 1929, the annual event was moved to 4th October, to align with the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, and has been celebrated ever since on that day.  Since 2003, World Animal Day has been coordinated by UK based animal welfare charity, Naturewatch Foundation, founded in 1991 by the late John Ruane, and is a registered charity based and operating from the United Kingdom across the world.

On this day, in celebrations to mark the annual Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, many churches around the world hold special services to honour the patron saint of animals, even with some parishoners bringing their pets and livestock along to be blessed.  It is not just domestic animals that are celebrated today, it includes all farmyard livestock, all so-called wild animals, in fact every living creature on this shared planet.  Today is about raising awareness of animal rights and animal welfare across the entire world. 

Many local residents and visitors to Ermionida feed the stray animals in the area, with many tourists dismayed at the condition of some of these animals.  Many do not know who to turn to in finding help for some of the unfortunate animals they come across during their stay here.  In 2023, the Ermionida Municipality appointed a Regional Administrative Vet, called Zoi, with an office in the old Ermioni Dimos Town Hall.  Zoi has been able to co-ordinate help from vets, offer advice and financial assistance for many animal cases in the whole Ermionida area.  The Ermionida Municipality Vet office telephone contact number is +30 27543 60214 

Regional neutering programmes have been held in the past, as during the November 2024 event, held along the Kranidi bypass.  All dogs and cats could be taken there to be sterilized and neutered free of charge.  This animal event was supported by VGA - Veterinary Global Aid and funded by PAWS with love, an Austrian registered charity with its Greek office and shelter based in Nafplio.  Over the 4-day period, 302 cats were neutered and 55 dogs sterilized by a team of 11 visiting vets and their assistants, plus a team of dedicated local volunteers, involved with assisting the visiting teams with administrative control and the capturing-neutering-releasing of the many stray animals.

A second regional charity neutering programme was held mid-March 2025 at the same premises, with even more dogs and cats being sterilized and neutered than the first event held in early November 2024.  These two regional neutering events will make a huge difference to the future stray animal population of Ermionida, if they managed to survive this year's long summer heatwave.

Sadly, the much expected November 2025 regional neutering programme has been cancelled, with no official reason being given.  At a recent meeting, the Regional Municipality of Ermionida claimed it does not have the money to step-in and help fund this event. 

There are plans to change the feeding situation of all stray animals within Greece.  It will be forbidden, and against the law, to feed stray animals by schools, port landing areas and large municipality garbage sites.  Signs are to be posted at these facilities informing the public of this new law, hopefully in English as well, as to inform visiting tourists during the summer months.  Organised feeding stations are planned to be created, where all the stray animals of Ermionida can be fed and watered in peace.