Instead Of Chasing Them Away, This Coffee Shop Opens Its Doors To Stray Dogs Each Night

A photo of several stray dogs sleeping in a Greek Cafe is touching hearts all over the world. The tired pooches are pictured passed out on cushioned benches and chairs, really all over the place. The pups didn’t sneak their way in, but rather were invited by open doors after the shop closed down that night.

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The cafe, Hott Spott in Mytilene, Lesbos, opens its doors every night so that local stray dogs have place to sleep. They have been running this little pet motel since July, and have no plans of putting these pups back out into the cold. Antonis, a waiter at the cafe, said, “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.”

Stray dogs in Greece are managed far differently than in Europe or the US. In Greece, dogs are microchipped, spayed/nuetered, vaccinated, collared and cared for by the community at large. Seems like a great alternative to kill shelters if you ask me.

“In most European countries, they solve this problem [of stray dogs] with euthanasia. But Greek culture is against that. Our law is about rehabilitating the dogs,” explained the head of Athens’ Stray Animal Service when asked about the city’s strays. “People here take care of them and love them. They are like everyone’s dog.”

It would seem like this small cafe is living up to the call!

Here’s the Takeaway: All life is precious. Take a note from the people of Lesbos and know that ordinary people just like you are striving to make the world a better place. Share with your dog loving friends today!

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