Greece’s Culture Ministry announced on Thursday that pets will soon be allowed into more than 120 archaeological sites across Greece.
The move was unanimously approved by Greece’s Central Archaeological Council and will relax current rules which only allow guide dogs for disabled visitors into archaeological sites.
The council approved the entry of pets provided they are kept on a leash no more than one metre long, or carried by their owners in a pouch or a pet carrying case. Owners will also need to show their pet’s health certificate and carry the necessary accessories to pick up their animal’s droppings in order to be allowed entry. Larger dogs will have to be muzzled.
According to the Ministry, some of the most popular and crowded archaeological sites such as the Acropolis of Athens, Knossos in Crete, Ancient Olympia and Delphi, will still remain pet free.
Cages will be installed at the entrances of more than 110 other archaeological sites so owners can leave their pets if they want to during their visit.
Greece’s Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, said the decision is “a first, but important, step toward harmonising the framework of accessibility to monuments and archaeological sites with the standards of other European countries, where entry rules for pets already apply.”
Source: AP News.
