What is DNA sampling in companion animals, and why is it important?

DNA Sampling Instead of Neutering

If your dog or cat can’t be neutered for medical reasons – or you choose not to – you must submit a DNA sample (0.5–2 ml of blood, collected by a vet) to the National Companion Animal Registry (EΦΑΓΥΖΣ) by July 1, 2025, as required by Law 4830/2021. Absence results in a 1000€ fine after July 1, 2025.

The sample, taken painlessly via blood, is stored in the national database.

! Key Rules Under the Law:

• Your pet is allowed only one litter, and only with municipal approval, unless you’re a licensed breeder.

• If your female pet gives birth, you are legally responsible for all offspring. If they are rehomed without microchips under new owners’ names and later abandoned or abused, you are held accountable.

? How accurate is it:

• DNA analysis is highly accurate, using internationally accepted standards.

• It checks 381 markers in dogs and 111 in cats, with a margin of error as low as 1 in 1 quadrillion.

• DNA identification works much like a fingerprint in humans – it is unique to each animal and allows for precise matching of offspring to their biological parents. That’s why it is one of the most reliable tools for preventing illegal breeding and abandonment.

There is already a real case in Megara, Greece, where abandoned puppies were matched via DNA to a microchipped female dog, leading to the identification and prosecution of the owner.

Genetic identification is a powerful tool in the fight against uncontrolled reproduction and animal abandonment.

The EFAGYZS (Laboratory for the Preservation and Analysis of Companion Animal Genetic Material) is fully operational as of 2024 and is the official body responsible for securely storing and managing all submitted DNA samples. There is a structured national system in place to ensure proper handling, traceability, and compliance with the law.