Cyprus-Forum.com

[miagre1]

Why is there so much animal cruelty in Cyprus . I was appalled to read about the rescue centre in Limassol . Those poor animals living in those conditions. Surely an advertisement in the local paper can highlight the need for volunteers to go in everyday, and ensure these dogs are fed and watered.Does a Vet visit are they innoculated what about spaying and castrating . My God it sounds like theres only a few kind soals who really care. What is the Government doing to help?

[JB Bear]

Miagre1

maybe you should visit this place and see for yourself,

if you can help in any way, we could be grateful

[miagre1]

I live in the UK.
The reason I came upon this site is because my son is thinking about moving to Cyprus . He worked as a manager in animal rescue for many years . Should he move to Cyprus I'm sure he would be willing to do what he can to help..

It upset me to read about the dogs not being regulary fed or watered due to a lack of volunteers .Do these dogs have a specific time at the rescue center or can they stay on until a potential owner comes forward.

What about spaying or castration ? I'd like to help but how ? I have very little money just enough to live on . It's heartbreaking I feel so helpless .

[pkb1]

Hiya.........i'm in the UK too but i am fundraising here, i did a quiz at our annual BBQ and raised £27..... i sold score sheets at £1 each we had 50 people so did well as they were all couples, i am also running a dog show in October and hope to raise at least £200, no matter how small the amount it will buy something....even a solitary can of food, i collect things for raffles and canvass dog food companies for samples to raffle or tombola.......you could have a carboot or garage sale, get rid of stuff you dont want and send monet on.......you will be suprised just how many neighbours will give you loads of stuff to be rid of it!............just takes a little thought and organisation, of course you deduct your site fee or out of pocket expenses if you cant afford to donate that yourself................
we have been lucky and have got sponsorship for all our expenses.....hard work on my part butyep!......i'm doing my bit from here [HEREFORD]
Pauline

[MapleLeaf]

We are animal lovers here in Canada. I've been reading alot about the lack of resources for homeless animals in Cyprus. One of the things my children and I plan to commit to is helping in this area when we move to Cyprus.

In Canada, the animal shelters do recieve some government funding; but also run on sponsors, donations, fundraising and alot of volunteers. I'm hoping some of our strategies will work in Cyprus.

[miagre1]

Hi replying to Mapleleaf and pkb1.
Its great to think there's people out there that do care about these unfortunate animals and can make a difference .
But all the money in the world cant help these animals unless volunteers come forward to give the animals the basics food and water . How can a rescue center be run efficiently if there's only one or two people involved.

I intend to do a car boot sale and donate the proceeds to the shelter could someone please give me the address of the shelter so I can forward on a cheque in due course . Is this shelter run privately. Who was the guy who destroyed 14 healthy dogs or was that another rescue center in Limassol .

Good luck to all those that care best wishes Sue

[junemichael]

It is so lovely to hear people around the world visit this site and are so supportive for the animals here in Cyprus. Yes it is a very big problem and no the government do not do anything to help. It is only people living here that do what they can every day. I myself have 11 kittens, 7 dogs (3 from the Limassol shelter and others rescued from the streets) and 28 cats - all rescued. Me and my partner have rescued probably around 500 animals in the five years we have been here (see our story at www.cypruscatrescue.co.uk) and unfortunately have lost many of them bue was also have rehomed many and even sent 13 cats and 1 dog to new homes in the UK this year! We even go to the streets to trap cats for neutering/spaying to try to control the numbers but just can't keep up. We got involved with the dog shelter in Limassol because there are over a 100 dogs there and all it is a warehouse that has been converted into a shelter to try to help many abandoned dogs. Inside volunteers have built cages but it is no hotel. Because of no funding, only donations occassionally, the shelter has to make do with wooden pallets for the dogs to sleep on, or old wooden crates as dog houses. They desperately needs bedding ready for the winter months and continuely need food as there is no money to buy this regularly. But yes more than anything we need volunteers to go a few hours every morning to clean up after the dogs, feed them, do health checks and give the dogs some attention and walks. At the moment there are only 5 volunteers that go to the shelter of which they have to fit into their working day (which is only a couple of hours each day one or two days per week) so the dogs do not get the time spent on them that is needed and it is so sad. There are many people in Cyprus that do not work that could just donate at least one morning per week to poor dogs but no one is coming forward to help.

[miagre1]

Hi Junemichael Do you still live in Cyprus? I understand you moved back to the UK .Hoping to raise some money but who do I forward it to ? I can't help thinking how on earth can this shelter survive with such little help . Can homes be found for these poor dogs . Cyprus needs to wake up to this dreadful problem. Theres got to be lots of caring animal lovers living there and able to spare a few hours a day. As you say bedding is vital for the coming winter months .Does anyone visit Cyprus from Devon if so I can try and get as many blankets as possible together and possibly food .Due to the animal situation it would break my heart to visit . I once took a holiday to Corfu and ended rescuing a beautiful crossbreed dog I named Ella . Quarantine was the law then, the difficulties were horrendous getting her out the country.
However she was worth it as she gave me 13 happy years. So come on ANIMAL LOVERS of Cyprus please help !!!!

[junemichael]

Hi Junemichael Do you still live in Cyprus? I understand you moved back to the UK .Hoping to raise some money but who do I forward it to ? I can't help thinking how on earth can this shelter survive with such little help . Can homes be found for these poor dogs . Cyprus needs to wake up to this dreadful problem. Theres got to be lots of caring animal lovers living there and able to spare a few hours a day. As you say bedding is vital for the coming winter months .Does anyone visit Cyprus from Devon if so I can try and get as many blankets as possible together and possibly food .Due to the animal situation it would break my heart to visit . I once took a holiday to Corfu and ended rescuing a beautiful crossbreed dog I named Ella . Quarantine was the law then, the difficulties were horrendous getting her out the country.
However she was worth it as she gave me 13 happy years. So come on ANIMAL LOVERS of Cyprus please help !!!!

Yes we are still in Cyprus - who told you we had moved back to the UK? This shelter is barely surviving and really does need more people involved, I am so worried for the future of these dogs. The 3 dedicated volunteers can't continue this for the rest of their lives and if they one day leave who will the dogs have to feed them and clean them?

Yes we desperately need lots of blankets for the winter months and because we can't wash them we have to throw them away once they are very dirty so need as many as possible! I hope someone comes from the UK to be able to bring all the blankets and food you can get!

We send 13 cats and 1 dog to the Uk to new homes this year and so if we can do it then I hope other will too, there are so many people that leave Cyprus and abandon their dogs and I think this is so sad for a dog to be in a loving home and then left in a shelter afterwards. Anyone wanting advice on pet passports please get in touch with me, don't leave your dog.

[Beth_Josephine]

Unfortunately, Cypriots view cats and dogs like vermin, they have no respect for them and they think looking after a dog ina good way is to tie him.her outside in the garden, not walk it, feed it rarely and barely groom it.

It is horrible to see Cypriots intentionally trying to run over stray cats and dogs all the time. And the big thing they do over here, when they don;t want their dog anymore, is to drive for miles and dump the dog on the side of the road. You may see dead dogs on the motorway, this would usually be because the owner dumped the poor thing.

There used to be a homing shelter in Nicosia, a rather large one but the government took their funding away and they had to close down. One thing you have to understand is that the government over here is useless (no offense to anyone).

A few cat shelters will put the cat down if it hasn't been rehomed in 2 months. However, there is a lovely cat society along the old limassol road, heading to Akotiri, called the Malcolm cat society, they have a webiste too. It is run by ex-pats and volunteers and has soooo many cats that are well looked after and loving.

We just have to realise this island isn't animal friendly and that the people are intentionally cruel people!