Education and awareness are an important part of zero stray dogs.
February - 10,500 water bill insert leaflets were sent to all Aegina citizens
Responsible dog ownership is important for achieving zero strays. That is why Zero Stray Pawject in collaboration with the mayor’s office designed and sent 10,500 water bill inserts to all Aegina citizens informing them about what responsible dog ownership means, what the law says and how the subsidy programs will help Aegina residents to stay compliant. The front shows the same model that has been used consistently across all of Zero Stray Pawject’s marketing material, who is no other than their dog Caprice. Caprice inspired the founders to start Zero Stay Pawject and hopefully he will inspire change.
The front of the insert/ leaflet shows a dog who says, ‘I want you as my owner to know’. The first page explains the law and why microchipping and registering is not only mandatory but necessary to improve our society and reduce the number of stray dogs significantly. It explains the subsidy program that has offered owners who cannot afford the microchipping procedure to only pay 10 EUR instead of 45 EUR . It provides details how to subscribe and how to obtain the municipal dog tag, that Zero Stray Pawject kindly designed, manufactured and funded, 400 of which were paid by Welttierschutzgesellschaft e.V. The second page explained why neutering is important and debunked some of the myths that surrounds neutering procedures, for example that neutering will not make a hunting dog less of a good hunter or change its scent of smell. The subsidy program was also explained, where owners can pay only 15 EUR / male and 20 EUR /female for a limited amount of time as opposed to full costs of 80 -260 EUR. The last page listed all stakeholders involved in this initiative, which are the municipality of Aegina, the Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the Bodossaki Foundation, Welltierschutzgesellschaft e.V. and Zero Stray Pawject.
This program was kindly sponsored by two partners, part of this was funded by Welttierschutzgesellschaft e.V. and the other part was funded by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
The inserts/ leaflets were very well received. Ms Hatzina, director of public health received many calls afterwards from citizens who wanted to take part in the program.
