{"id":554992,"date":"2026-10-07T16:27:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T13:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/?p=554992"},"modified":"2026-10-07T16:27:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T13:27:11","slug":"do-animals-have-legal-personality-in-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/life-en\/do-animals-have-legal-personality-in-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"Do animals have legal personality in Greece?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we talk about animal protection, the discussion often focuses on companion animals. But behind the laws that protect a dog or a cat lies a much broader and more complex question: what place do animals as a whole have in relation to the law? Does the law treat a pet, a \u201cfarm animal\u201d and a wild animal in the same way? And what does the recognition of animals as \u201csentient beings\u201d really mean?<\/p>\n

On the occasion of World Animal Day, we take a look at their protection beyond the everyday discussion about pets and strays. From their legal status and breeding conditions to abuse and the role of the state and municipalities, lawyer Athanasios Anagnostopoulos*, who teaches Animal Law in the postgraduate programme \u201cAnimals: Ethics, Law, Welfare\u201d at the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Pasteur Institute, sheds light on the contradictions of a legal system that, as he himself says, is at a \u201ctransitional stage\u201d.<\/p>\n

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The legal status of animals<\/h2>\n

The discussion begins with a fundamental legal contradiction: while the Civil Code still formally treats animals as things, modern legislation recognises an increasingly broad framework of protection for them. \u201cI would say that the legal status of animals is currently at a transitional stage. Formally, they are still considered things under the Civil Code, but the protection now provided to them by animal protection legislation is so extensive that it would be more accurate to speak of them as imperfect subjects of law, an intermediate category between things and persons, such as human beings or legal entities. In various European legal systems, there is already an explicit declaration that animals are not things and, in substance, though not formally, the same applies in Greece. Sentient beings simply cannot be things,\u201d<\/em> Mr Anagnostopoulos clarifies.<\/p>\n

The recent revelations about conditions at Greek pig farms have brought back into focus the boundaries between what the law permits and what constitutes abuse. But what does the legislation ultimately provide for pigs, and what is the significance of inspections in enforcing it? Mr Anagnostopoulos explains the current framework and highlights the points where, in his view, problems arise in practice: \u201cThe relevant legislative framework is comprehensive, given that it regulates every detail of a pig\u2019s life during breeding. This does not, of course, mean that the pig\u2019s welfare always takes precedence \u2014 quite the opposite, if we consider that newborn piglets are allowed to have their tails docked without anaesthetic. Nevertheless, the existence of the relevant legislative framework is important, given that it places pigs under a specific protection regime. In other words, the fact that they are destined for slaughter in no way means that they may be abused while alive. Oversight of the implementation of the legislative framework, however, is a different matter, and it appears to be lacking in practice, unfortunately.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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Companion animals and farm animals: Two different legal realities<\/h2>\n

The different treatment of animals depending on their relationship with humans becomes even more apparent when one compares the criminal treatment of abuse of a companion animal with the legality of the industrial slaughter of farm animals. Mr Anagnostopoulos notes that \u201cevery law is born within a specific society, under specific historical conditions. In Greek society and legislation, animals are divided into farm animals and companion animals, with different legal consequences for each.\u201d<\/em> In his view, this distinction \u201ccannot stand up ethically, yet it constitutes the law currently in force in our country. I will recall, as an example of this kind of arbitrary distinction, that in neighbouring Italy the slaughter of horses is permitted, while in neighbouring Turkey halal slaughter is permitted without full anaesthesia.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As for the protection of wild animals in Greece, Mr Anagnostopoulos clarifies that Law 4830\/2021 does not distinguish between species in provisions concerning, in the broad sense, violations of an animal\u2019s welfare. In this sense, wild animals are also fully protected. \u201cOf course, the provisions on hunting introduce very significant exceptions to their protection,\u201d<\/em> he notes.<\/p>\n

\r\n\r\n \tRELATED TOPIC\r\n\r\n \t<\/span>\r\n\r\n \t\r\n
\r\n\r\n \t
\r\n \t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\"Foxes,\r\n\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\t\t
\r\n \t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tINTERVIEWS\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n \t\t\t

\r\n \t\t\t\t\r\n \t\t\t\t\tFoxes, hedgehogs, and hawks: The wild animals living in the Southern Suburbs of Athens \t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n \t\t<\/h4>\r\n \t<\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n

Animal abuse: From reporting to the administration of justice<\/h2>\n

For companion animals, the Greek legal framework has become stricter in recent years. The existence of severe penalties, however, does not eliminate the practical problems that may arise from the moment an incident is reported until a case is heard, such as delays in the administration of justice or difficulties in proving an incident. \u201cDelays are unfortunately inherent in the administration of justice in our country. However, justice is served, often very strictly, because the penalties at stake are also very severe. As far as evidentiary issues are concerned, the preparation of a veterinary expert report is useful and often necessary.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He also points out that a citizen who witnesses the abuse of any animal (companion, farm or wild) \u201ccan report the incident to the Police or the Municipal Police, even anonymously, by calling 10410. It is also advisable to notify a local animal welfare organisation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The role of municipalities and the implementation of the law in practice<\/h2>\n

The role of local government is particularly crucial, as municipalities have taken on a wide range of responsibilities for managing stray animals. But how do they respond to these obligations in practice, and what are the main problems they face?<\/p>\n

\u201cMunicipalities have emerged under the current animal protection law as a key point in the implementation of the relevant legislation. Their responsibilities concern the management of strays (collection, identification, veterinary care, reintegration, etc.), informing citizens, cooperation with animal welfare organisations, etc. These are numerous and varied duties, for which it is true that our municipalities did not have the necessary expertise, and often did not even have the necessary goodwill. The issue of resources is also essential, but I believe that the political will of each municipality to embrace these responsibilities is even more important. There are often instances of competition with animal welfare organisations, a lack of accountability and a merely procedural mindset,\u201d<\/em> Mr Anagnostopoulos explains.<\/p>\n

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Gaps in the legislation and what comes next<\/h2>\n

Despite the evolution of the institutional framework, what are the main gaps and areas that need improvement today? Mr Anagnostopoulos points out that, on the one hand, there are still areas without a complete and clear legislative framework, while on the other, the existing framework is in some cases characterised by excessive bureaucracy. \u201cThe enemy of good is better, and there is always room for improvement,\u201d<\/em> he stresses, citing equines as a characteristic example: \u201cThere is no complete and clear legislative framework for equines. On the other hand, the existing legislative framework is characterised by what I would call excessive bureaucracy, which often places an undue burden on animal guardians and veterinarians.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Whether Greece can move towards a different model of protection is not, according to him, solely a matter of legislation. It is linked to society\u2019s mindset, political will and available resources. There are, however, examples from other European countries that could serve as points of reference. \u201cAt the legal level, there are examples from which we could draw inspiration, such as those of many European countries, both in their constitutions and in ordinary legislation. The explicit recognition of animals as a subject of constitutional protection, for example, would have great symbolic significance, and not only that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

*Athanasios Anagnostopoulos was born in Athens in 1978 and studied Law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where he received his degree in 2000 and his PhD in 2008. He practises law in Athens, teaches Animal Law in the postgraduate programme \u201cAnimals: Ethics, Law, Welfare\u201d at the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Pasteur Institute, as well as Criminal Law at the University of Nicosia. He is married, has three children and is a strict vegetarian.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we talk about animal protection, the discussion often focuses on companion animals. But behind the laws that protect a dog or a cat lies a much broader and more complex question: what place do animals as a whole have in relation to the law? Does the law treat a pet, a \u201cfarm animal\u201d and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":554051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7137],"tags":[],"real_estate_agency":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/554992"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=554992"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/554992\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":554996,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/554992\/revisions\/554996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/554051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=554992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=554992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=554992"},{"taxonomy":"real_estate_agency","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noupou.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/real_estate_agency?post=554992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}