There is something deeply Cretan about a donkey on a village road — steady, patient, carrying more than its share of history. This March, that quiet strength receives something in return.
The Φιλοζωική Κρήτης has announced the launch of its spring equine welfare program, offering dental and farrier care to working donkeys and mules across the island from 1 to 6, 2026.
The initiative focuses on improving the daily well-being of animals that still serve rural communities. Many of these animals work long hours and rarely receive regular hoof or dental maintenance, both of which are essential for pain-free movement and proper nutrition.
Schedule by Region
The mobile care team will travel across Crete according to the following program:
- Sunday, March 1 – Lasithi Plateau
- Monday, March 2 – Chania, Rethymno
- Tuesday, March 3 – Amari, Spili, Melambes, Agia Galini
- Wednesday, March 4 – Moires, Lentas
- Thursday, March 5 – Heraklion, Anogeia, Hersonissos
- Friday, March 6 – Agios Nikolaos, Kritsa, Ierapetra
How Owners Can Request Help
According to the organization’s announcement:
“If you have a working donkey or mule that needs farrier or dental care, send a message with the subject ‘ΒΟΗΘΕΙΑ ΓΑΪΔΟΥΡΙ – ΠΕΡΙΟΧΗ’.”
For many animals in remote villages, this program is not cosmetic. Overgrown hooves can cause chronic pain and mobility issues. Untreated dental problems can lead to weight loss and digestive complications. Preventive care ensures these animals remain healthy, active, and comfortable.
An Act of Responsibility
In a tourism-driven island often celebrated for beaches and sunsets, it is easy to forget the rural backbone that still supports parts of Crete. Donkeys and mules continue to work in agriculture, transport, and traditional settings.
This spring initiative is a reminder that care must extend beyond aesthetics. It reaches the animals that have carried generations — sometimes literally — through mountain paths and village streets.
And perhaps that is the sweetest part: practical compassion, traveling from plateau to coastline, one hoof and one gentle mouth at a time.
