S.M.A.R.T. Sanctuary: Greece’s Innovative Animal Welfare Hub
Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. in Keratea, Greece, is a unique animal sanctuary that houses more than 100 cats and 13 dogs in a cage-free, villa-style setting. Founded by Julie Kelley, who has been traveling to Greece since 1998, the organization began in 2007 and has since expanded its programs to support stray animals.
The sanctuary’s mission centers on reducing animal suffering, abuse, and neglect while raising public awareness of animal rights. It operates a modern foster home, a rehoming program for rescued animals, and works with local municipalities to implement stray-animal care initiatives. Practical solutions such as providing food and water for strays in urban areas are also part of its outreach.
S.M.A.R.T. engages volunteers from abroad, offering shelter-medicine training and best-practice instruction. The organization’s “SMART Starfish approach” unites five pillars-Sterilization, Medical Care & Microchipping, Feeding & Shelter, Education & Community, and NGO Collaboration-to create comprehensive care.
The charity advises that injured cats should be handed to a responsible person or the police and cautions against moving animals to hotels or Airbnb rooms only to release them back on the street, as this can disorient and endanger the animal.
Let’s Be S.M.A.R.T. is a registered public charity in New York (tax ID 20-4051556) and a non-profit in Greece. Contact them at administration@letsbesmart.org or visit https://www.letsbesmart-greece.org.
Key takeaways
- Over 100 cats and 13 dogs live in a cage-free sanctuary in Keratea, Greece.
- The organization runs foster, rehoming, and municipal partnership programs.
- A five-pillar “SMART Starfish” model guides its animal-care strategy.
- Volunteers receive shelter-medicine training and best-practice instruction.
- The charity warns against relocating injured cats to hotels or Airbnb before returning them to the street.
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Originally reported by Catster. Read the full article.
Cover photo by Titus Hunter via Pexels.
