HydraArk’s volunteers will do their best to help with situations involving a sick, injured, or otherwise ailing animal. Please bear in mind, however, that we are not a shelter or a veterinary service and do not have either fostering or treatment facilities. Nor do we have any official enforcement capacity. Our volunteers are few, and those who live and work on the island are very busy during the tourist season and have very limited time.

Hydra Police Station (click for a map)

If you find abandoned kittens or puppies or feel that you may have encountered an instance of animal abuse, the best avenue for action is to take photographs and go directly to the police. According to Greek and EU law, abandoning or abusing any animal is a criminal act punishable by a fine and even incarceration. Enforcement, however, depends on each instance being reported; once an incidence is reported, the police must investigate. You can make a difference by taking that action yourself and calling the police at 22980 52205/53360 or going directly to the police station. It makes no difference whether you are not an Hydriot or even a Greek citizen; anyone can report these crimes. Our volunteers cannot take on this responsibility. Each incident must be reported by a direct witness.

If you find sick kittens or cats (or other animals), we’ll help where we can, but again, we are not vets and don’t have a shelter facility. Our volunteers are not able to take on more animals than they already care for. Please see our first aid page for info about how to help sick or injured cats or how to contact a vet.

Hydra Police: 22980 52205

As you walk around the island you will see cats that have their ear clipped. This is an international sign that indicates these cats have been sterilized. Our neuter/spay programs are made possible by the generosity of visitors and donors to HydraArk here on the Island of Hydra. These cats are sterilized to help control the cat population of the island and to keep existing cats free from disease and fighting.

Sterilizing does not harm the street cats in any way. On the contrary, sterilized cats live longer and healthier and will still hunt mice and rats so as to keep this island a better place free from vermin.

TNR is a humane and effective approach to controlling the feral cat population. In practice for decades in the US and the EU, scientific studies show that TNR improves the lives of feral cats, improves their relationships with the people who live near them, and decreases the size of colonies over time.

TNR is successfully practiced in hundreds of communities and in every landscape and setting. It is exactly what it sounds like: Cats older than six months are humanely trapped and taken to a licensed veterinarian to be neutered and vaccinated. After recovery, the cats are returned to their home—their colony—outdoors. Kittens and cats who are friendly and socialized to people may be adopted into homes.