Since the decline of Greece’s economy, many families have had to abandon their beloved pet because they cannot afford to care for them.
This unfortunate reality, reports BBC, means that there are now more than a million strays roaming Greece. Thankfully, some establishments are stepping in to help remedy the conundrum.
Hott Spott cafe on Lesbos is opening its doors each evening (*technically early morning) to allow stray dogs from the local town escape the cold. When the cafe in Mytilene, the island’s main port and capital city, closes to customers at 3 AM, it welcomes in strays from the neighborhood so they may sleep in a warm, comfortable space.
News of this charitable act went viral when Eustratios Papanis, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of the Aegean, snapped a photo of the dogs sleeping on the sofas and shared it to his Facebook page. The project has reportedly been going on since the summer.
A waiter named Antonis told The Independent:
“In the city there are many dogs. When the bar closes each night, the dogs come and sleep here. We don’t have a problem. From July, every night there is a dog on the couch.”
Thankfully, few have a problem with the Hott Spott’s hospitality to stray dogs. In fact, it seems the philanthropic project has increased the cafe’s popularity.
“Customers have no problems. It is a bit of a thing now – lots of people come with their cell phones,” said Antonis. “A television company in Athens called this morning. It wants to come here and make a programme about the dogs.”
Lesbos has been the epicenter of the refugee crisis, says Papanis, therefore, has witnessed a real shift in the way people are treating each other – including the island’s homeless dogs.
“The locals have increased levels of solidarity towards environmental and humanistic issues. The new generation is more sensitive and well informed,” he said.
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