Greece is among the very few European countries with a dramatically increasing number in the population of stray animals, currently exceeding 3,000,000, of which almost 1,500,000 are stray and shelter dogs. More than 92 countries are also struggling with the management of stray animals’ population currently reaching 400 million worldwide. In the EU and the US millions of unwanted healthy pets are entering animal shelters every year while the demand for new puppies and kittens is rising. The overpopulation of domestic animals has become an international environmental challenge. The treatment of sentient beings as commodities, the cultural biases against non-purebred animals, the lack of co-operation between animal welfare associations and local municipalities, the alarming increase of animal abuse incidents, the lack of training within animal welfare associations, the absence of digital tools in public sector and of reporting technology measuring the population of stray animals and pets are the main challenges targeted.

It is easier to determine solutions if we understand the underlying reasons on why we have so many strays on our streets:

• Pet owners abandon their pets;
• Animal welfare groups do not co-operate with their local municipalities;
• Public funds for stray animals are not spent according to a concrete population management strategy;
• Within the public sector, the use of software tools is limited in comparison to the private sector;
• People’s biases and beliefs on stray animals;
• Breeders’ production is not linked to the current stray animals’ population;
• Municipalities do not engage donors;
• Cities are reluctant to facilitate the adoption of stray animals abroad.