Stray Souls Ilia
More than 3 million dogs and cats in Greece live on the streets.
We want to make a difference. Let’s help these souls together.
About us
Welcome to Stray Souls Ilia! We are an NGO based on the west coast of the Peloponnese and we are dedicated to improve the lives of stry dogs and cats in the province of Ilia. The situation of those pour souls that have to live on the streets in Greece gets worse year by year. Together with you we want to make a difference.
Thats why we founded “Stray Souls Ilia”. We have a lot of passion and year long experinece with animals and work with local communities, locals and people abroad to help to find a new home for our Stray Souls.
We take care of food, shelter, neutering, chipping, vaccination, parasites treatment, operations when needed, registration, papers, adoption, etc.
This is a lot of work and needs a lot of hands and ressources — you are welcome to join our team, help to find a new home for a Stray Soul, donate to our cause, or just say “hello” in one of our spots in Ilia, Greece or here online. We are happy to meet you!
Our Goals
1. Improving the situation of stray dogs and cats in Ilia, West Peloponese, Greece
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There are places (unfortunately far too rare) where a manageable proportion of strays with appropriate behavior are tolerated by the population.
This does not apply so seriously to cats, as they often benefit people and keep the population of unpleasant rodents under control.
All of these homeless animals need water, food, parasite prophylaxis and, in the event of an accident or illness, veterinary help.
Strays are often most at risk when they get out of hand.
That’s why our goal is to be able to have every newly released animal castrated.
In addition, maintaining health and being free of parasites is important for the acceptance of the population, as many of them are worried that diseases could be transmitted to people.
Since we do not have the opportunity and capacity to take in this immense number of strays/abandoned animals in our small, still far too rare animal protection stations, we also feel obliged to install shelters and feeding stations in their frequently frequented places.
2. Reducing over-population, vaccination and medical care for stray animals
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Imagine:
In Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, etc… large, unknown dogs would often inhabit the schoolyards to get a lunch, to sleep in cemeteries or even set up the “toilet”, endanger road traffic, and beg for food in restaurants …
Would the local population be tolerant enough to tolerate this in the long term?
What many people don’t know:
Greece is the country with the highest stray population in Europe.
This also poses major problems for the state and the people.
Especially since these animals are only abandoned by a portion of the population (repeatedly), but they also affect the lives of many.
Despite state castration campaigns and good animal protection laws, the situation has not eased in the past decades, especially in the predominantly rural regions.
There are not (yet) well-run animal shelters or aid organizations across the board like in Central European countries.
What can we do and help to get to the root of the problem:
First and foremost, offer help to the owners of the dogs, to support them with medical care and especially castrations of their dogs and cats, which mostly live outside, and to interrupt this reproductive spiral.
3. Find new homes for the Stray Souls
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One of our goals is definitely to find new homes for friendly dogs that are compatible with family life.
We know each of these dogs personally, have even lived with them for a certain period of time and can therefore well assess their characteristics, characters and needs in order to find a suitable (!) home for them.
Gladly here in Greece, or abroad.
Our dogs are, of course, age-appropriately neutered, chipped, vaccinated, dewormed and treated against parasites and tested for Mediterranean diseases.
For dogs that are not suitable for adoption due to their characters or previous experiences, we try to find safe places to live here locally.
4. Work together with local authorities and networking with other organisations
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Of course, we work in cooperation with the respective communities, neighboring animal protection organizations, private animal rights activists and help each other with advice, information or in emergencies, because this massive stray problem can only be solved together in the long term
We continue to strive to expand a good network both at home and abroad.
5. Helping and supporting local animal owners in their every day struggles
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What is the best animal protection?
Actually any animal that doesn’t even have to be given up or abandoned.
That’s why we strive to provide private pet owners with advice and support in emergency situations and also to provide material support.
Be it with food donations, trips to the vet, shelters to improve the dogs’ living situation, medication, castrations, parasite prophylaxis.
Or the temporary care and support of your animals, e.g. during hospital stays.
6. Emergency care and medical treatment of stray animals in need
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Of course, we see it as our duty to help accident, injured or sick animals as much and as best as possible in order to save them further suffering.
First and foremost, the help is that we take you to a competent veterinarian for an examination and diagnosis, x-ray possible car accidents and, if necessary, have an operation, and treat illnesses with medication.
This requires that we have places available for them where they can be separated and recover undisturbed.
An important point here in the south is parasite prophylaxis in order to prevent chronic diseases (transmitted by ticks, sand flies, etc.) from developing in the first place.
7. Collecting material and financial aid to tinue and grow our mission
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Animals can also suffer in shelters if they lack equipment, weatherproof huts, sufficient food and medication, cleaning equipment, disinfectants and (very important in southern Europe) parasite prevention and treatment.
In order to avoid this suffering, it was important to us right from the start to build structures so that the animals entrusted to us would lead as species-appropriate, safe and healthy a life as possible in our care
Without your help and support this would never be possible.
For this reason, there is a permanent collection point for donations in kind on the farm of a club member in Germany/Münsterland:
Brüwer/Schulze
Geitendorf 3
48720 Rosendahl
Food collected there, accessories for dogs and cats, etc. are then transported to us in Greece as regularly as possible by club members or contracted shipping companies.
Of course, donations in kind for our animals can also be made directly in Greece at the respective stations (see map and contact details).
We always need:
– good food for all ages, puppies/adults
– chemical agents to ward off/control fleas, ticks, sand flies and mites
– Worm treatments
– Dog houses
– Transport and flight boxes
– Disinfectant cleaning products, disposable gloves, kitchen rolls, absorbent pads
– Material for repairs, screws, cable ties, (battery) tools, fencing material
Financial support and being able to cover the immense veterinary costs and food requirements are also essential for the survival of the local animals.
For this purpose, we have set up a PayPal and a bank account and are also launching additional calls for donations in emergencies.
We are very grateful for any kind of help.
8. Working with volunteers and growing the network
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We are particularly happy about the support of volunteers, people who want to actively help us to care for and care for the stray souls, to show them how beautiful this world is and how much fun you can have together with people.
Manual help is always urgently needed and is often difficult to find.
Help with repairs, sometimes laying a cable, erecting fences, building outlets, laying bricks, concreting, welding, etc…
It is possible to live in or near our reception centers with your own camper/van or in simple rooms, tiny houses, sometimes on our property.
We are also happy about new foster homes as a springboard for adoptable animals and help with preliminary checks.
Our Team
Sarah, Nette and Heli
Stray Care
Sarah, Nette and Heli run the Filía Laundry Shop in Kakovatos. One of the many interesting things going on here is the stray dog and cat project Straystories Kakovatos.
The full story ...
We foster animals in need, especially hurt, sick and very young cats and dogs. We offer them a safe space to heal and take care of their medical treatments – sterilize them, train and socialize them by offering them a lot of love and affection. This helps the often shy and scared strays to learn to trust humans and eventually get a chance to be adopted. Thanks to a lot of volunteers who have stayed with us during the past years and given us sooo much time and energy for the animals we have been able to save precious lives and create a future for numerous helpless beings that would otherwise not have survived.
Apart from bonding and training, there are a lot of unpopular tasks to do when you work with animals – cleaning after them, feeding, walking, vet visits several times per week, waking up every night to calm some barkers down…and all this without getting paid. The dedication of our volunteers is stunning.
Some animals stay here for a few weeks until they find their forever home, some stay for years. We have limited space and resources and can not take in all the strays in need – for some of them we can only offer a castration and anti-parasite treatment and have to put them back on the streets…but if we see that an animal can not survive outside due to young age, a chronic illness or a handicap we usually welcome it to our little shelter.
Luckily, we are quite successful concerning the adoptions as our laundry shop and community project is frequented by a lot of travellers and campers. When people fall in love with one of our animals they have the chance to spend some time here, get to know each other and find out if it’s the right match for them. If this is the case, we proceed with the adoption and let our strays go on their adventures with their new families, with all necessary vaccinations, microchip and EU passport of course.
In the past three years we were able to give almost 100 dogs and a hand full of cats a home and our gallery is bursting with pictures of happy souls running through mountains, swimming in lakes and sleeping in the coziest beds with their humans. This makes us unbelievably happy and gives us the power every day to get up and do our job for the strays. We love to stay in touch with the adopters to see how our Filía babies are growing and developing.
Without your contributions, our work would not be possible. Thank you for your support – whether through donating, visiting us, volunteering here or sharing our contents!
Henrik
President / Stray Sanctuary
Hi! I am Henrik and the vice president of stray souls Ilia. Back in October 2022 we bought 3 acres of property to fulfill our lifelong dream of running this beautiful, non-profit animal sanctuary called grove of the voiceless.
We are based in the small village of Varvasaina, Greece near ancient Olympia.
Our dream is to create a safe space for neglected and /or abused animals and have them live the rest of their life loved and in dignity. This means that the bulk of the animals that arrive at our place are mostly very old, sick or have some kind of problem that makes adoption highly unlikely. This is a place of peace and calmness to enjoy retirement.
While dogs make up the majority of our current residents, we also care for every species that we can accommodate: Horses, donkeys or chicken, it does not matter. Hopefully in the near future we are able to rescue more factory farm animals.
Kathy & Ex Stray Milly
Treasurer
I have been living in the Peloponnese for 17 years and have been feeding stray dogs and cats for years as a lone fighter, providing them with medical care and having some of them neutered. Now we have joined together to form an NGO animal welfare association and, thanks to your donations, we can care for many more strays. Together we are stronger!
Tino
Supporter
Hi. I’m Tino and I’ve lived and worked on the Peloponnese for over 20 years. Since my childhood I’ve been a big animal lover and as an individual I’ve been helping stray animals for many years. I’m grateful that with the forming of Stray Soul Ilias we have come together to make a real difference for the strays of the region. I’m an all-round helper for the group…including rescuing, local community liaison, translations etc.
Eleni
Supporter
I am Eleni Christodoulopoulou. I live in Western Peloponnese and I m farmer. More than ten years I take care stray dogs because this problem is huge here. I have fifteen dogs big size and the most of them old enough and difficult to be adopted.
The Stray Souls
Nilo
Nilo is a shy and gentle guy with super soft fluffy hair, waiting for adoption at the shelter in Greece.
Born in October 2024, he was found together with his two siblings when they were four months old, abandoned at the beach. This experience seems to have left some traces…
Nilo is a shy and careful guy. Once he knows you he shows his affection and is very cuddly but towards new people and environments he still shows a sceptical and fearful behavior. He likes to stay in the background or tires to escape and hide when he gets nervous.
Nilo needs a confident and patient guidance from his human, someone who leads him steadily and calmly through scary situations and shows him that the world is not that bad.
Another well educated and confident dog in the household could help him to open up and learn to trust more easily. He likes the company of other dogs and is playful.
Nilo is fully vaccinated, dewormed, chipped and already used to leashed walks, car rides, people, dogs and cats.
If you are interested in more information, photos and videos, please contact us via e-mail. Thanks!
Frieda
Frieda is so cute that you want to sqeeze her. She is waiting for adoption at the shelter in Greece.
Frieda makes everyone fall in love with her funny devil eyebrows, her friendly puppy eyes and the super soft fur.
Frieda was born in March 2025. At the age of only four weeks she was found together with her siblings inside a trash bag in a swamp – left there to drown and die. Due to their young age the puppies had to be fed with the bottle for several weeks by their caregivers.
This experience made them very open and attentive towards humans. They love the company of people and are super cuddly.
Frieda will be a medium sized Greek Shepherd mix, we estimate 20-25 kilos.
She will be a loyal companion that you can take with you everywhere, a great family dog, suitable as second or third dog, comfortable around cats, but also happy as a single pet as long as she gets your love and attention.
Frieda likes to play with other dogs and is exploring the world curiously . She has also already learned to calm herself down after a play session, find her quiet corner and take a peaceful nap. A very un-annoying puppy that is just a pleasure to have around.
Of course Frieda still has to learn a lot and needs a person who has time and motivation to educate a young dog. But for a puppy she is really easygoing!
If you are interested in Frieda and want to see more photos and videos of her please contact us via e-mail. Thanks!
Schrippen-Fred
Fred is your easy going, laid back best friend who will make you smile and chill you down every day. He is waiting for adoption at the shelter in Greece.
Fred was born in 2020-22 (hard to estimate), he is a lovely and gentle Greek Shepherd mix. Everyone loves him for his peaceful energy. He likes to be around people and asks for cuddles, but always respectfully, and he has no problem to be on his own and sleep in his corner when you dont have time for him.
He was wandering around our village all of a sudden, probably abandoned. But who knows, maybe he was already a stray for several years. We will not find out, but what we see is that he has an extraordinary behaviour towards all people and animals, just total peace and optimism.
Fred is easy to satisfy, all he needs is enough food, some cuddles, a comfortable place to relax and two walks per day. Fred likes to take it easy, so please don’t be in a hurry. He is suitable for a family with older children, or for elderly / handicapped people who can’t walk very fast.
A fenced garden would be perfect for Fred, he likes to be outside. In our shelter he never had a problem with another dog, male or female. He is not interested in cats, likes car rides and walks in nature.
Fred is fully vaccinated, dewormed, chipped and ready for a second chapter of his life!
If you are interested in Fred and want more information, pictures or videos, please contact us via e-mail. Thanks!
Nalo
Nalo is a gentle and soft character, waiting for adoption at the shelter in Greece.
Born in October 2024, he was found together with his two siblings when they were four months old, abandoned at the beach. This experience seems to have left some traces…
Nalo is a shy and careful guy. Once he knows you he shows his affection and is very cuddly but towards new people and environments he still shows a sceptical and fearful behavior. He likes to stay in the background or tires to escape and hide when he gets nervous.
Nalo needs a confident and patient guidance from his human, someone who leads him steadily and calmly through scary situations and shows him that the world is not that bad.
Another well educated and confident dog in the household could help him to open up and learn to trust more easily. He likes the company of other dogs and is playful.
Nalo is fully vaccinated, dewormed, chipped and already used to leashed walks, car rides, people, dogs and cats.
If you are interested in more information, photos and videos, please contact us via e-mail. Thanks!
Teo
Helloooooo, I am Teo! I am a super cute, smart and playful troublemaker waiting for adoption at the shelter in Greece.
I was born in January 2025 and was found all alone in a dry river bed when I was 3 months old. Since I got rescued I have been living in the shelter and I had no problem to feel at home here right away! I am very outgoing and trusting. I love people and other dogs, I am ok with the cats that live here, too. When I am grown up I will be 20 to 25 kilos am my beautiful coffee-beige coloured hair will stay short. I have super nice big ears that are waving up and down in the wind when I run.
I am already used to car rides and leashed walks, at the beach I can even run freely without leash and am coming back when called! I am fully vaccinated, dewormed, chipped, not spayed yet.
I am a Greek Hound mix, so a hunting dog, and my physical appearance, energy level and need for mental exercise match that! I get easily bored and then start looking for tables I can climb, socks that I can eat, plates with leftovers that I can finish. But I also react very well to training and education, I looove treats and am eager to learn! After training and play sessions I am usually knocked out and nothing can wake me up. The good balance of exercise and relaxation is important for me, as well as clear rules, a stable and confident dog parent who shows me the way and a lot of love and affection because I am a good boy, the best boy, and I deserve it!
I love to play with humans and other dogs and I can run super fast. I am confident, full of positive energy and curiosity, ready to conquer the world with you!
I am not a big barker but I hate being left alone and then I cry! Staying on my own has to be practised with patience please.
If you are interested and want more information, photos and videos of Teo, please contact us via e-mail. Thanks!
Karlotta
Sweet fluffy Karlotta is waiting for adoption at our shelter in Greece.
Karlotta was born in March 2025. At the age of only four weeks she was found together with her siblings inside a trash bag in a swamp – left there to drown and die. Due to their young age the puppies had to be fed with the bottle for several weeks by their caregivers.
This experience made them very open and attentive towards humans. They love the company of people and are super cuddly.
Karlotta will be a medium sized Greek Shepherd mix, we estimate 20-25 kilos.
She will be a loyal companion that you can take with you everywhere, a great family dog, suitable as second or third dog, comfortable around cats, but also happy as a single pet as long as she gets your love and attention.
Karlotta likes to play with other dogs and is exploring the world curiously . She has also already learned to calm herself down after a play session, find her quiet corner and take a peaceful nap. A very un-annoying puppy that is just a pleasure to have around.
Her only flaw is that she can be a little drama queen! When being lifted up, brushed, vaccinated, overrun by a play buddy or so, she can cry like an opera singer and needs to be calmed with some extra cuddles.
Of course Karlotta still has to learn a lot and needs a person who has time and motivation to educate a young dog.
If you are interested in Karlotta and want to see more photos and videos of her please contact us via e-mail. Thanks!
Roberta
Cute small giant Roberta is waiting for adoption in our shelter in Greece.
Roberta is a sweet and modest young girl, she observes you from a distance before she slowly comes closer and gently asks for cuddles. She already has the relaxed and loyal energy of the big dog that she is going to become. She will probably be around 30 kilos when she is fully grown up.
She likes other dogs and is playful with the other puppies. Cats don’t interest her. She enjoys human company but first she has to checkfor a few minutes if you are worth her attention and trust ; )
Roberta was born in April 2025 and is vaccinated, dewormed and chipped.
If you are interested in more information about her, photos and videos, please contact us via e-mail. Thanks.
Juniper
Beautiful Juniper is waiting for adoption in our shelter in Greece.
She is a Greek Harehound/Geka mix, born October 2023, vaccinated, chipped, spayed.
Juniper is used to the company of other dogs and humans, leashed walks, car rides.
Juni is a smart, sporty and active dog who needs mental and physical workouts, clear boundaries and a stable relationship with one person who cares for her and trains her.
She is easy to train with treats and loves to learn new things. She walks already quite well on the leash. She has a strong hunting drive and a very good nose. We see her as a good candidate for dog sports, sniffing exercises, mantrailing, agility etc.
With her 20 kilos, long legs and muscular body she is the perfect companion for long hikes and other sports.
She gets along with other dogs but sets clear boundaries (for example concerning her food bowl) and is quite confident.
She likes to play with her friends here in the shelter and can live with other dogs. But we think that she doesn’t necessariliy need another dog in her home – a strong bond with her human is more important for her.
An owner with hunting dog experience would be perfect for Juniper as she shows the typical characteristics of a young Geka.
We would not recommend a home with cats, other small animals or young kids for Juni.
Are you interested in Juniper? For more pictures, videos and information please contact us via e-mail. Thank you!
Pig Family Sponsorship
Elli (mother), Pepe, Gustav and Theo (boy) and Romy (girl) The pig family were brought to the grove after they were found rummaging around the garbage of an abandoned building. All of them were severely malnourished and underfed. After some investigation friends were...
Louise
5 years old · Greek Harehound · 16 kg · Vaccinated · Chipped · Spayed We are looking for a special person to sponsor our beautiful Louise. Because of her difficult past, it is extremely hard for her to fully settle into a new...
Donate
With your donations we are able to work even more against the misery of the strays. Thank you very much!
PIRAEUS BANK SA, 4 Amerikis Street, 10564 ATHENS
IBAN: GR41 0171 3250 0063 2516 5528 571
BIC: PIRBGRAA
Paypal: straysoulsilia@gmail.com
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Thank you for visiting our website. Together we can improve the situation of strays in greece. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Your Stray Souls Ilia Team