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planning a trip to Skiathos Dogs ?
In the wintertime we are open everyday 8:30-12:30 and you don't have to book anything, just show up, we will be so happy to see you!!
Finding us by car:
On the main road between Skiathos Town and Koukounaries you will find the junction at Troulos. You really can’t miss the turn as it’s the largest junction on the main road. Simply turn inland and follow the road. As long as you keep climbing upwards you will find the signs for Skiathos Dogs.
Please make sure you park in the designated spot indicated by the Parking Area sign.
Finding us by Taxi:
That’s simple, all the Taxi drivers knows where we are located. But don’t forget to ask the driver to collect you later!
Finding us on foot:
If you’re fit and healthy and fancy a challenge why not walk up to see us? Just get the bus to Troulos and follow the road inland. Be warned though, it can take an hour depending on your walking speed and there are no facilities on site so bring plenty of water and attend to the “call of nature” before you leave.
Bus service in the summertime:
This bus leaves the town center, we will update here with current timetables when they are available.
Find us by GPS
Latitude: 39° 9’45.34″N
Longitude: 23°25’51.62″E
"A Home without a pet is
just a house"
Our Story
The first years were very difficult for the shelter, numbers soaring to 170+ dogs.
It became a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and the only visitors to the shelter were people dumping dogs (and cats).
Over the years, contacts were made with international animal organisations and individuals who helped with veterinary care, building projects and food.
Visitors discovered our facilities while exploring the island and began offering homes to the dogs and cats. We began a dog-walking programme and opened up Skiathos Dogs to the public which brought more people.
Some of these visitors were so touched by our situation that they went back to their own countries and formed groups. These groups now find wonderful homes for our dogs and cats and more.
We want our dogs to go to loving homes. Where they are treated as part of the family.
Meet the team
Nina moved to Skiathos in 2018 after finishing her animal husbandry degree. What was initially intended as a gap year very quickly became a life-calling.
Dividing her time between the dog sanctuary and the islands’ veterinary practice- Nina’s love of animals shines through; further cemented by the 7 dogs, 10 cats, 3 sheep, 2 donkeys and one goat that currently live on her farm!
simon
winchester
team volunteer
A frequent visitor to Skiathos since 2004, until moving permanently in 2018, the dog sanctuary has always held a special place in Simon’s heart.
His passion and care for larger, more challenging dogs is a testament to their progress and ultimately their adoption.
Simon’s love for dog welfare filters through every aspect of our day to day running, including maintenance, vet visits and adoption transportation.
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lars
krohn
team volunteer
A long-time visitor to the island, Lars now divides his time between volunteering at the shelter in Skiathos and managing his own company back home in Sweden.
With a background in the military & the police, Lars’ canine training is invaluable when it comes to understanding and socialising our larger dogs.
He also supports in the maintenance & building aspects of the sanctuary.
dave
fenton
team volunteer
A self-professed ‘Cat person’ until visiting the sanctuary in 2021 and falling in love with a pooch called Poppy,
Dave’s love of dogs has grown so much that he has been a permanent volunteer at the sanctuary since 2024.
Helping to support and nurture the smaller dogs and reassure some of our older residents is where Dave excels.
vince & julie
seasonal volunteers
Dividing their time between the homes in UK and Skiathos, Vince & Julie form quite the team! With his background in construction, Vince is the main man when it comes to maintenance and making sure our sanctuary is practical & aesthetic for our dogs. He is also the go-to in our development projects and making our wish lists come true.
There isn’t a big dog that Julie can’t tame. With unlimited and unflinching love & care, Julie generously gives up all her free time looking after our big, strong dogs. Helping socialise them and building their trust so that they can be adopted.
zuzanna & edmund
seasonal volunteers
What started as a holiday turned into something so much more for our Norwegian duo..
After visiting us one year they fell in love with the work we do and of course the dogs. This led to every holiday being spent volunteering with us, before joining the team on a semi permanent basis back in 2025.
Ed’s skills in building means he works closely with Vince in making our sanctuary the perfect home for our dogs, whilst Zuzanna specialises in training our bigger dogs, ensuring they are ready for their forever homes
sarah parke
president
Sarah first visited the island back in 2004 and was instantly smitten by its laidback charm. It was on a repeat visit that she stumbled upon the sanctuary by mistake…... and it was love at first sight.
Volunteering for many years prior to making Skiathos her home and stepping into the role of president, the SDWA has grown under her watchful eye.
Not content with just being a rescue service, it is her mission - to rehome every dog in our care whilst also offering a unique experience to the islands visitors, that underpins everything we do.
nina
lobregt
treasurer & veterinary support
Nina moved to Skiathos in 2018 after finishing her animal husbandry degree. What was initially intended as a gap year very quickly became a life-calling.
Dividing her time between the dog sanctuary and the veterinary practice on the island, Nina’s love of animals shines through.
Nina's kind heart extends to her very own farm at home, where she has adopted many animals, including dogs, cats, sheep, donkeys and goats.
glenda
shrubb
secretary
Glenda fell in love with Skiathos in 2002, before permanently relocating to the island in 2014 and discovering the SDWA shortly after.
Her knowledge of the island and commitment to animal welfare are crucial in her role as secretary, developing relationships with the islands municipality and regional leaders.
But her greatest pleasure are the countless rehoming stories she has seen over the years and match-making our dogs with their forever families.
david
butterworth
social media &
team volunteer
It took approximately two walking visits for this self-proclaimed cat lover to fall in love with the dogs and the work we do at the SDWA.
David’s background in leading a global brand retailer has proven useful; particularly in terms of our merchandise and visitor experience, whilst also making sure our social media is engaging and that our mission captures a wider reach.
ian
paul
marketing & veterinary support
After an initial visit to the island back in 2003, Ian fell in love with the island, but when he relocated here in 2025, he fell in love all over again after stumbling across the dog sanctuary.
Ian’s corporate background in leading various multi-faceted companies is invaluable as he oversees our marketing, website, the small and medium dog enclosure, along with veterinary support for all of our dogs - all with an eye for detail and a huge heart for the dogs’ wellbeing.