Greece Travelogue 10 / Dogs and Cats of Greece

There are so many dogs and cats in every town in Greece.
They are at service areas, in front of hotels, and at restaurants.
It's strange, but they don't seem to be owned by anyone.
Yet, they are friendly and clean.
The dogs and cats are usually together, getting along, and no one fights.
There is no scattered excrement either.
I wonder who takes care of them?

There are many large dogs. There are many that are as big as small horses.
They all have intelligent-looking faces, and while they don't attack people, it might be scary for those who dislike dogs.

If I were told that this is just how things are for dogs and cats in Greece, there would be nothing I could do as a tourist, but I found it quite painful.
Because none of them have homes.
It was painful to see the cats huddled together, looking cold under the winter sky.
There was also a large dog that had been hit by a car.
In Japan, there might be some who are locked inside houses and abused.
Compared to that, maybe it's better that they can walk around freely outside.
But still...
I believe that the happiness of modern dogs and cats is to live in a warm home, communicating with their human partners.
I love Greece, but I could not agree with their welfare for dogs and cats.

In the town of Delphi, when I left the hotel to see the sunrise, there was a big dog.
A majestic physique, an intelligent face. Very handsome.
When I reached out my hand and said, "Good morning, shall we go together?", he touched it with his front paw.
He was so strong that I almost stumbled.
We walked along, heading toward the eastern hill.
I thought he would go with me, but he left me behind and went on ahead.
It seems he had some purpose.
On a hill on the outskirts of town, I waited for the sunrise.
He was in the middle of the road. He was waiting for something.
Was someone coming to give him food?
A car came driving from outside the town.
"Woof, woof, woof, woof!!!"
He let out a surprising, loud bark and ran toward the car.
It's dangerous!
He ran alongside the car, almost getting hit, and when the car drove away, he returned to his original spot.
Again, a car came from outside the town.
"Woof, woof, woof, woof!!!"
A voice desperately pleading for something. He chased the car, but the car drove off.
He didn't even look at the cars coming from the town.
He only barked at cars coming from outside the town.
By the time the sun rose and it got bright, he went back to the town.

It is only my imagination, but I wonder if he was abandoned by a car that came from outside the town.
And ever since then, every day, at the same time, is he looking for his owner in the cars that come from the same direction?
"I'm here! Take me home!"
I saw a large dog that had been hit by a car and died in another place.
Perhaps that child, too, was looking for someone in a car just like him.