🐾 A place of heart and hope
Fundraising mentioned.
Just outside Ierapetra you’ll find Jutta Shelter — an animal rescue center run by Ioannis Pitikakis and one part-time employee. Together they care for around 200 dogs and 80 cats on a piece of land near the Bramianos Dam–⁽¹⁾. Many of the animals come from difficult situations but are met with calm routines and clear care. It’s simple but heartfelt — with shade, water, food and constant presence. The animals live in small groups in separate enclosures, and the days follow a steady rhythm. Here they get more than just a place to stay. They find safety and a new start.
Jutta Shelter is a private initiative. Donations are made through their own Facebook page and their website. Kallikratis.no is not responsible for the fundraising.
🐾 Contact and links to Jutta Shelter
Here we see Jutta Shelter from above, with enclosures and shade structures spread among olive trees and small paths. Behind the shelter, the mountains rise, marking the distance to the nearest villages. This is a peaceful place where the animals can breathe and start over.
📸 Photo: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
On the left is Giant Lauren, a male dog with thick fur and a calm gaze. He prefers to stay in the shade of the olive trees and is one of the dogs who stays permanently at the shelter. On the right we meet Ismo and Frida — two young dogs who enjoy each other’s company. All three live here at Jutta Shelter, where safety and presence are part of everyday life.
📸 Photo: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
🎥 Watch the film about Jutta Shelter
This short film offers an honest and close look at life at Jutta Shelter — from daily routines to meetings with animals that have been through a lot. The shelter operates without public funding and relies entirely on volunteer efforts. If you want to learn more or support their work, we recommend visiting their Facebook page. There you’ll find updates, contact information and different ways to contribute — all in one place.
In this new film from 2025, we get to see the full story of Ioannis and how Jutta Shelter came to life. A warm and honest look into the everyday life at the shelter.
Video: Jutta Shelter – Facebook
🤝 The story behind the name
The name “Jutta” comes from Jutta herself, who for many years ran a small shelter for homeless animals in another part of Crete. At the same time, Ioannis had his own small shelter. When they met, they joined forces to do more — and together they built what is today Jutta Shelter. When Jutta passed away in 2018, Ioannis took responsibility for all the animals she left behind and gathered everything into the current shelter. The number of animals doubled, while the support was cut in half. Still, he chose to continue — in her spirit and under her name.
On the left, Ioannis sits with Franka on his lap — a moment that shows the calm and care he brings to the animals every day. On the right, he is out by the Bramianos Dam with Theo, one of many walks that give the dogs new impressions and a sense of safety. After Jutta’s passing in 2018, Ioannis chose to gather everything into one shelter and continue the work in her name — and in her spirit.
📸 Photo: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
🐶 Visits that matter
The shelter can be visited by appointment. Ioannis welcomes guests with sincerity and warmth, even though daily life is busy. There is no reception, no entrance fee — just gravel paths, open dog yards and real encounters. Visitors can join a walk with one of the dogs in the area around the Bramianos Dam, through the Wag Walks program. It offers both the tourist and the dog a meaningful experience. The shelter also has a sponsorship program where you can support a dog or cat regularly — a simple but important contribution to help keep the shelter running.
On the left, we see some of the dogs living in the open areas of the shelter — curious, alert and ready for contact. On the right, Athina and two of her puppies rest in the shade by the fence. They were rescued by the police after severe abuse and are now safe, friendly and ready for adoption. This is not an exhibition or an attraction — it’s a place for new beginnings, real encounters and meaningful moments for both animals and people.
📸 Photo: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
🐕 From abuse to justice
When Athina was rescued by the police, the father of her puppies was also found on the property. He is a Belgian Malinois who was chained and trained to attack and guard. Several dogs were taken in by Jutta Shelter at the same time — including Athina and her puppies. Athina and her puppies are friendly and ready for adoption, while Vader, as he is called, will stay at the shelter. The abuse was reported and led to a court case — one of the few animal abuse cases on Crete that actually resulted in a conviction. For dogs like Vader, life now is about routines, patience and trust. Ioannis has a special ability to build bonds — even with animals that have lost faith in people. This is what makes the shelter — and especially Ioannis — truly unique.
Vader is a Belgian Malinois who was rescued by the police along with Athina and several other dogs. He was previously chained and trained to guard, and cannot be adopted. Still, he has found safety here — thanks to patience and presence. Ioannis has the ability to connect even with animals that others give up on. At Jutta Shelter, Vader gets to live a life of calm and respect, without demands.
📸 Photo: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
⚖️ A rare conviction for animal abuse
The case where Athina, her puppies and several other dogs were rescued ended up in court — and the shelter won. This is rare in Crete, where animal abuse is seldom prosecuted. For Ioannis and Jutta Shelter, this was an important victory and proof of what cooperation with the police can achieve.
🐱 Care for all animals
Although most visitors first notice the dogs, Jutta Shelter also has a large group of cats. Many of them have lived here for years, and several are deeply attached to Ioannis. He even has one cat that follows him around the shelter, like a quiet assistant. Both dogs and cats receive daily care, food and safety — regardless of age, illness or behavior. For Ioannis, it’s not about breed or adoption potential, but about lives that deserve respect.
On the left, we see blind Tinker with his friends, gathered at their favorite spot in the cat area. He finds comfort in routines and steady relationships, and has lived at the shelter for a long time. On the right, four other cats watch curiously from the edge of the bench. Together, they show another side of Jutta Shelter — a quiet and protected space for animals that need more time and more understanding.
📸 Photo: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
🐾 Contact and links to Jutta Shelter
📍 Practical info
- Location: Ioannis Pitikakis, Mpramiana TK 72200, Ierapetra
- Jutta Shelter Ierapetra on Google Maps📍🌎–⁽¹⁾
- Website: https://jutta-shelter.org/ –⁽²⁾
- Facebook: Jutta Shelter Facebook-page –⁽²⁾
- Contact: Send a message via Facebook –⁽²⁾
- Email: amellulli@gmail.com
- Adoption: Must be arranged personally with the shelter.
- Support: The shelter receives no public funding and depends entirely on donations and volunteers.
- Recommended transport: Taxi or rental car
Four young dogs play together with a rope on the gravel at Jutta Shelter in Ierapetra. Moments like these show how much companionship and activity mean to the animals. Despite the simple conditions, there is room for play, safety and joy — all made possible by the dedication of the few who work here.
📸 Photo: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
🐾 Contact and links to Jutta Shelter
Tre hunder står tett sammen i skyggen av et oliventre. Det er varmt, men de holder seg i ro – og søker kontakt med hverandre. På Jutta Shelter dannes slike små fellesskap over tid. Ikke gjennom dressur, men gjennom trygghet, faste rutiner og rom for å være seg selv.
📸 Foto: Jutta Shelter – Ierapetra
🐾 Contact and links to Jutta Shelter
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📌 Keywords – Kallikratis.no
🔹 Place names & historical sites
Jutta Shelter, Ierapetra, Lasithi, Crete, Κρήτη, Ιεράπετρα, Bramiana, Jutta Animal Shelter
🔹 Common misspellings
Jutta-shelter, Ieraperta, Ieraptera, Juta shelter, Bramjana, Bramiana lake, Ierapetra shelter
🔹 Architecture & history
animal welfare, volunteer work, Greek animal homes, animal welfare history in Crete, shelter structure, landscape-integrated animal center
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animal rescue, volunteering, shelter visit, dog walking, adopt a dog Crete, animal shelter Crete, raki event nearby, social tourism, real Crete experience
🔹 Kallikratis-related keywords
Jutta Shelter Kallikratis, Crete Kallikratis, Visit Crete Animal Rescue, Kallikratis 2025 animal welfare, Animal experiences in Crete, Greece animal welfare, Kallikratis animal welfare
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✍️ Thore Johansen 2025, ✍️ ThoreJohansen Kallikratis
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