Cyprus-Forum.com

[Milo]

I recieved this email this morning

Dear Supporters


It is with great sadness that we are forced to announce that unless we receive financial aid the ARGOS CAT & DOG SANCTUARY based in Xylofagou/ Ormidhia villages which presently shelters over 200 animals will be forced to close down.

Due to the great number of unwanted and abandoned animals that make their way to the Argos shelter, it is impossible to sustain over 200 animals any longer. With debts of over 100,000 euros, we are bankrupt.

As a charitable organisation, we depend on the donations of the general public, on the small income from our charity shops in order to build the shelters for the animals and support their food and veterinary costs.

The Cyprus government has turned its back on its legal obligations towards the stray animals and ignores the fact that this has become an immense social problem that oppresses our society and corrodes our very being. Animal welfare societies have been burdened with this social problem not because they want to take on this responsibility but as responsible citizens they have a duty of care to protect the animals from abuse and suffering they endure from ignorant and irresponsible citizens and local government services.

Whilst dog licence fees are collected by local authority, none of that money is used to implement their legal obligations in providing proper shelters for the strays or in helping the existing shelters who do their job.

On top of this, the government exacts from us the double taxation of 15% VAT on the secondhand items we sell in our charity shops, we are charged annual business operating licence fees, we pay 5% VAT on pet food and we are not allowed to reclaim any VAT incurred on expenditure because we are non-profit organisations!

The meagre annual government grant of 17,000 euros divided amongst the island's 15 or so animal welfare societies has not been given for 2008 and 2009 and there is no indication as to when this will be forthcoming.

The government simply does not care about animal welfare but if you care and want to help us continue our mission in helping so many abandoned animals find loving homes, PLEASE HELP ARGOS ANIMAL SHELTER BY DONATING TO HELP US CLEAR THE DEBTS ACCUMULATED FROM THE BUILDING OF THE ANIMAL SHELTERS.
Banks:
Bank of Cyprus
a/c No. 0559-01-003458-00
IBAN: CY22 0020 0559 0000 0001 0034 5800
SWIFT: BCYPCY2N

The Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd (Marfin Laiki Bank)
a/c No. 090-11-002245
IBAN: CY31 0030 0090 0000 0090 1100 2245
SWIFT: LIKI CY2N

www.argossanctuary.com email: [email protected]

Stella Stylianou
Argos Animal Welfare
99-326045