Greece has seen its fair share of visitors this year. An estimated 700,000 refugees came through Greece on their way to other countries, and then there are the dogs. Greece's stray dogs roam the city looking for a meal, a home, and some warmth. With the cold night temperatures, one business has taken the random act of kindness mantra one step further. The Hott Spott café has opened its doors since July for the stray dogs to come in and stay warm after closing time, according to Dogs Make Us Happy.
Once all customers are gone, Hott Spott welcomes the city's homeless dogs to come in and enjoy a safe, warm spot to sleep for the night. Most of them can be seen on the couches of the café, getting that sacred good night sleep that strays on the street are never able to find.
"When the bar closes each night, the dogs come and sleep here," says one of the café's waiters, according to Bored Panda. "We don't have a problem. From July, every night there is a dog on the couch."
The Greek Isles are home to over 1 million stray dogs, says Greek charities, according to White Wolf Pack. So this one café, the Hott Spott, located on the island of Lesbos, is stepping up and doing its part in an act of sheer humanity. Many dogs in Greece without a permanent home receive a collar and are cared for by the community, instead of placing them in overcrowded shelters.
"The island of Lesbos has also been the epicenter of the refugee crisis," said Eustratios Papanis, who posted the pictures and story of the dogs sleeping peacefully on social media. "The locals have increased levels of solidarity towards environmental and humanistic issues. The new generation is more sensitive and well informed."
It only took this one simple kind act to change the lives of the sweet dogs who come to the café at night, where they now matter to someone.
