Never in their wildest dreams could the strays of Athens have imagined that they had so many friends. Yesterday afternoon 3-4000 Athenians of all ages (including the British ambassador and his wife) gathered outside Zappio. They were there to express their outrage and disgust at those responsible for the recent mass poisoning of 18 dogs and 40 cats - animals which were 'regulars' in the National Garden, Zappion and Syndagma (Constitution) Square.

Greece has never before seen such an impressive and angry gathering of animal-lovers. This is perhaps because things have never before been as bad as this. And some sick people may have already decided that things are going to get even worse.

If these mass poisonings, which occurred on 30th and 31st December, came about because 'we have to clean up Zappio because there will be lots of VIPS around for the Greek presidency of the EU' it is not difficult to imagine what is in store for the Olympics.

Only, it seems that animal-lovers have realised their strength. It is clear that the strength of yesterday's gathering and march along the streets of Athens will have shown up those responsible for the slaughter of innocent animals. And, of course, it will have shown them up them far more than the odd stray which might have dared to walk past Mr Prondi or Mr Chirac.

And now for the report: the march proceeded along Amalias to Syndagmata. There, completely spontaneously, many of the protesters took hold of the loudspeaker and gave vent to their feelings; about parliament (which was conspicuous by its absence - I only saw the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Yanni Loverdo and Giorgo Karatziferi), about the public authorities, about 'Athens 2004' and, of course, about the Government. The message - 'enough is enough'.

I looked at all these people, 3-4000 true 'volunteers', who gave up their precious, sunny Sunday afternoon, to support, not their own dogs and cats, but the innocent and long-suffering strays of Athens. People who, of course, had nothing to gain by this. Young people and elderly people, rich people and poor people, with only one thing in common - their love and care for the animals suffering today in … the centre of Europe.

After stopping in Syndagma, the protesters set off with the intention of going to the house of Dora Bakoyanni (the Mayor of Athens) behind the Presidential Palace. They were allowed to go down Irodou Attikou, but part-way down they were met by a barrier of men from … the special forces.

This was a surreal picture. Young, middle aged and elderly people, working women and 'ladies of leisure', gentlemen in suits and ties, many with their dogs (some of which started barking) - all this strange crowd up against the shields and helmets of the riot police. Only in Greece …

Finally, logic prevailed and the march continued but was again stopped, this time close to Dora Bakoyanni's house. A deputation from the protesters 'nipped' in to see Bakoyanni and to ask her to come out and speak to the crowd. Dora refused and at this point, completely spontaneously, the crowd began to chant :"Dora, Dora, ti tha kaneis tora: As ton Isidora, kai sos ta ap ti folla" ("Dora, Dora - what are you going to do now? Leave Isidoro and save them from the poison".)

And I mustn't forget the other slogan, also spontaneous, 'Poison - for the Olympic dog-catcher'.

We can draw two conclusions from yesterday's march. Firstly that Athenians are determined to support their city's strays. And secondly, that the sick minds who organise such barbarous and criminal acts will think twice, and three times, before

Article appeared in 'Eleftherotypia' on 13th January and was written by Panayotis Diamandis.