Dozens of dogs and cats arrived in Athens on March 18 aboard a government-organized Aegean Airlines evacuation flight from Abu Doddhabi. The plane carried 101 Greek citizens and 45 companion animals fleeing escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“Our pets are not luggage-they are part of our families,” said Nikos Chrysakis, Greece’s Special Secretary for the Protection of Companion Animals. He credited close coordination between the interior and foreign ministries for the successful mission.
The Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran have severely disrupted air travel across the Gulf, with repeated airspace closures grounding flights in Dubai, Doha, and beyond. Commercial carriers have largely refused pet transport amid the chaos.
“It is very difficult to fly out of the country with your pets,” said Danai Koukoulomati, who evacuated with her cat Muay Thai. “To me, my cat is my family. There was no chance I’d leave him behind.”
Other evacuees echoed her sentiment. Alexandra Papayanis returned with her dog Sirtaki and a second dog she rescued for a friend. Maria Theochari refused to consider leaving without her dog Matisse: “Like my kids, I have Matisse. I don’t separate my animal or my kids-it’s the same for me.”