Greece Brings Citizens And Their Pets Home Safely

This is one of those stories I had to share. Just a few days ago, the Greek government arranged a special flight to the Middle East to airlift trapped Greek citizens and their pets out of harm’s way. A flight from Abu Dhabi brought 101 people home to Athens, along with 45 dogs and cats. 

Because the war was escalating, flights were being canceled, and people were trying to get out however they could. But most of the options didn’t allow pets. For many, that meant staying in place because they wouldn’t leave without them.

For Danai Koukoulomati, leaving without her cat Muay Thai was never an option. “To me, my pet, my cat, is my family. There is no chance I’m going to leave him behind,” she said. 

Alexandra Papayanis arrived with her dog Sirtaki and another she brought for a friend, after struggling to find any way out that would take them. 

As Nikos Chrysakis from the Interior Ministry said, “Our pets are not luggage, they are part of our families.” 

It took coordination between ministries over several days to make it happen, but they made sure both people and animals got home safely. At the airport, you could see what that decision meant.