Cyprus-Forum.com

[Niki]

The situation - 2 dogs are kept locked up across the road from us in a large cage. They used to be guard dogs for poultry which have now gone.

Mr Niki went across as the corrugated metal roof was banging constantly in the wind and discovered the 2 dogs starving and with no water. He lowered a bucket of water and threw biscuits into the cage - there was a bag outside the cage.

We phoned the Limassol Government Vet, he came and agreed that they were badly neglected. His action was to tell the Municipality to get in touch with the owner. They then washed their hands of the problem.

The owner came the next day, let them out for about 30 seconds and gave them water, he took their food away! They have now been left with no food for a week. We have only just discovered this so I will take food while we figure out what to do. We have been told it is illegal to break in and release them but the Government vet and our Municipality office say there is nothing they can do.

Is there anyone who could have them if I try to talk to the owner myself about releasing them? Less confrontational than Mr Niki coming from a female maybe?

[purdey]

Niki, be careful here. My father discovered the same thing last year. He fed a dog for months every evening until the owner caught him.As you can imagine the owner was not pleased and started pushing my father and threatned to re arrange his legs.
My father asked the guy why do you starve the dog, answer it is a guard dog, if it is hungry it will tear a person apart if they trespass on my land..

[Niki]

I know Purdey, should I just let them starve to death though?

I wish there was an RSPCA here.

[purdey]

I wish I could advise. In my experience you either get stuck into the owner and expect a little violence or you try to embarass him. Stick up a board outside the property so all can see. Maybe write on it dogs starving in here, take photo's send to the local press. Get a local official round, tell them you are going to the press.

[markwoods39]

The situation - 2 dogs are kept locked up across the road from us in a large cage. They used to be guard dogs for poultry which have now gone.

Mr Niki went across as the corrugated metal roof was banging constantly in the wind and discovered the 2 dogs starving and with no water. He lowered a bucket of water and threw biscuits into the cage - there was a bag outside the cage.

We phoned the Limassol Government Vet, he came and agreed that they were badly neglected. His action was to tell the Municipality to get in touch with the owner. They then washed their hands of the problem.

The owner came the next day, let them out for about 30 seconds and gave them water, he took their food away! They have now been left with no food for a week. We have only just discovered this so I will take food while we figure out what to do. We have been told it is illegal to break in and release them but the Government vet and our Municipality office say there is nothing they can do.

Is there anyone who could have them if I try to talk to the owner myself about releasing them? Less confrontational than Mr Niki coming from a female maybe?

NIKI PLEASE EMAIL THIS PERSON FOR ADVICE [email protected],

He in cyprus and he will know what to do. Pleas email now . If still nothing is done i myself will come and break in and take to paws shelter.

Here there link http://www.dogscyprus.org/PAWS/index.php

Please let me know how you get on

[markwoods39]

Animal Welfare in Cyprus>>We are frequently contacted by people, often those who have been on holiday here, reporting cases where they consider animals are being kept in unsatisfactory conditions, or have been abused.
Unfortunately CAPCA (PAWS) does not have any authority to intervene in any cases of cruelty, nor do any of the other animal charities.

This is a short explanation of the requirements for the maintenance of the welfare of dogs in Cyprus. The law here is very much the same as that in the UK.
Any animal is entitled by law to food, water and shelter. And that is about it - even in the UK! There are minimum defined areas in which animals can be kept, but they are quite small.

Many dogs can be seen kept in cages. This is, unfortunately, perfectly legal, provided the dog has adequate room to exercise, move, stand, lie down and sit upright and has access to shelter and water and is fed regularly.

Many dogs will be seen chained up. This is also legal as long as the dog has sufficient room to exercise and can reach shelter, food and water. If the chain is too short, then a complaint can be made.

The relevant Authority for the investigation of complaints is the Government Veterinary Service. In Paphos the office is situated near Carrefour in the Polis Road. A personal visit is always better than a phone call.

Unless the dog is starving, dehydrated, severely neglected, or has been abused, they can do very little. Companionship for an animal is not a legal requirement, again not even in the UK.

Normal practice is to give the owner a warning, plus a pro-forma letter stating the recommended treatment of the animal. They can only remove the animal if one of the cases above is found to occur. The pro-forma advice is only a set of recommendations but it can be enforced if the dog has been abused as above.

CAPCA operates the PAWS dog shelter in the Paphos area. We have no presence in the rest of Cyprus, but will always pass on any complaint to the relevant authority, and any volunteer Association in that area.

The main contact for the submission of any complaint is the Director, Government Veterinary Services. His email address is [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . ALWAYS mark messages high priority, and mark for a read receipt. Follow up your complaint by asking to know what the results are.

In Paphos we do try to investigate reports passed to us, subject to sufficient staff being available, but we are limited in that we have no legal authority to enter premises or to remove an animal. We can only report the condition to the Government Vet, and hope they can take action.

Contact details for the various district Vet services can be found <here>

[Niki]

The situation - 2 dogs are kept locked up across the road from us in a large cage. They used to be guard dogs for poultry which have now gone.

Mr Niki went across as the corrugated metal roof was banging constantly in the wind and discovered the 2 dogs starving and with no water. He lowered a bucket of water and threw biscuits into the cage - there was a bag outside the cage.

We phoned the Limassol Government Vet, he came and agreed that they were badly neglected. His action was to tell the Municipality to get in touch with the owner. They then washed their hands of the problem.

The owner came the next day, let them out for about 30 seconds and gave them water, he took their food away! They have now been left with no food for a week. We have only just discovered this so I will take food while we figure out what to do. We have been told it is illegal to break in and release them but the Government vet and our Municipality office say there is nothing they can do.

Is there anyone who could have them if I try to talk to the owner myself about releasing them? Less confrontational than Mr Niki coming from a female maybe?

NIKI PLEASE EMAIL THIS PERSON FOR ADVICE [email protected],

He in cyprus and he will know what to do. Pleas email now . If still nothing is done i myself will come and break in and take to paws shelter.

Here there link http://www.dogscyprus.org/PAWS/index.php

Please let me know how you get on

Thanks Mark

I have emailed him.

We did also phone PAWS who were understanding but after the owner came we thought it was OK so didn't feel we needed to call them again. I think the owner's one appearance was just for show however!

[tessintrnc]

Oh Niki I am very sorry for your situation!!! I hope that you get it resolved soon

Tess

[Niki]

Animal Welfare in Cyprus>>We are frequently contacted by people, often those who have been on holiday here, reporting cases where they consider animals are being kept in unsatisfactory conditions, or have been abused.
Unfortunately CAPCA (PAWS) does not have any authority to intervene in any cases of cruelty, nor do any of the other animal charities.

This is a short explanation of the requirements for the maintenance of the welfare of dogs in Cyprus. The law here is very much the same as that in the UK.
Any animal is entitled by law to food, water and shelter. And that is about it - even in the UK! There are minimum defined areas in which animals can be kept, but they are quite small.

Many dogs can be seen kept in cages. This is, unfortunately, perfectly legal, provided the dog has adequate room to exercise, move, stand, lie down and sit upright and has access to shelter and water and is fed regularly.

Many dogs will be seen chained up. This is also legal as long as the dog has sufficient room to exercise and can reach shelter, food and water. If the chain is too short, then a complaint can be made.

The relevant Authority for the investigation of complaints is the Government Veterinary Service. In Paphos the office is situated near Carrefour in the Polis Road. A personal visit is always better than a phone call.

Unless the dog is starving, dehydrated, severely neglected, or has been abused, they can do very little. Companionship for an animal is not a legal requirement, again not even in the UK.

Normal practice is to give the owner a warning, plus a pro-forma letter stating the recommended treatment of the animal. They can only remove the animal if one of the cases above is found to occur. The pro-forma advice is only a set of recommendations but it can be enforced if the dog has been abused as above.

CAPCA operates the PAWS dog shelter in the Paphos area. We have no presence in the rest of Cyprus, but will always pass on any complaint to the relevant authority, and any volunteer Association in that area.

The main contact for the submission of any complaint is the Director, Government Veterinary Services. His email address is [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . ALWAYS mark messages high priority, and mark for a read receipt. Follow up your complaint by asking to know what the results are.

In Paphos we do try to investigate reports passed to us, subject to sufficient staff being available, but we are limited in that we have no legal authority to enter premises or to remove an animal. We can only report the condition to the Government Vet, and hope they can take action.

Contact details for the various district Vet services can be found <here>

So if I feed and water the dogs then it will appear as though they are not neglected, I would have to let them starve to then get the Government vet back again to prove their neglect - vicious circle.

Another problem, we are away for 2 weeks from 18th April. Our neighbours are not keen on getting involved (they thought we would have windows smashed etc when we first reported it) so these poor dogs won't be fed or given water while we are away.

[purdey]

If you feed and water the dogs you are breaking the law. If a dog dies because you have fed and watered it you are to blame.
Take my advise, either embarass the owner or confront him with threats..not a nice approach. Your neighbors obviously think there will be trouble, so either start it or forget the dogs.
Sorry for been so blunt, but this is not a isolated inccident..