Unwanted pets being dumped in abandoned west Macedonian village

The village of Mavropigi in the region of Western Macedonia may have been abandoned by its residents several years ago to make way for a new lignite quarry, but the number of strays roaming its streets keeps growing.

The problem started when a number of the departing locals left their pets behind. It was compounded by villagers from the surrounding area who dumped their unwanted animals - mostly dogs - in the ghost town.

"The result is that there is a large number of dogs in Mavropigi. Around 30 can usually be found in the main square and there are many more that have formed packs in other parts of the village, while inevitably there are always more puppies, many of which die of diseases such as typhus," says Triantafyllia Petrou, estimating that there are at least 70 stray dogs in the village.

Petrou is an animal lover who lives around 15 kilometers away...