Cyprus-Forum.com

[annecollings]

As a dog groomer I am constantly being asked by customers: "I've found dogs/puppies/kittens and what shall I do with them?" In the past Paphiakos would always take an animal and collected from all over the island. At present they have closed their doors to any new intakes. I do understand why, as the whole animal situation in Cyprus is an impossible task, and hope that in the future they will re-open their doors and continue their tremendous work. BUT, in the meantime, what do we do with all these abandoned animals. I understand Nicosia Dog Shelter will help, but for how long can they continue to take in unwanted dogs, and you will have to deliver the dog to their door, which for a lot of people is not possible! Does anyone have any suggestions?

[devil]

Well, I think major problems require major solutions. The first thing is to implement the existing laws to the letter. The second thing is to extend the dog laws to cats (implanting chips, licence fees of £6 - 15/cat). The third thing is to try and round up all stray dogs and cats and to euthanise humanely all those that are not chipped after, say, 1 week. If an owner comes in that week to claim an unchipped animal, he should be punished for not having chipped it and doubly so if he has not paid the licence fee. All non-pure-bred animals should be mandatorily unsexed and voluntarily encouraged amongst pedigree ones where breeding is unlikely to be an issue. A few teams of trained animal-catchers should complete the task. All instances of cruelty (including close confinement) should be punished severely.

If all this were done, it would eliminate one of the shames on this island: Lannate (note that this is the correct spelling of the Trade Mark) poisoning.

Riyadh has introduced severe cat laws where, in addition to chipping/tattooing, licensed cats wear a distinctive collar. Any cats seen not wearing a collar are automatically narcosed with a dart gun and, if unidentifiable, are euthanised on the spot.

Tough measures, but so necessary.

Edit: Yes, I have a mongrel dog which has been castrated, chipped and has his licence paid. He adopted us nearly 3 years ago, so this is not a rant of an animal-hater.

[annecollings]

Thanks for your reply, but this is all in an ideal world! People like you and I know what has to be done, but its getting it done that is the problem. I wonder if all shelters stopped taking dogs in would the government sit up and do something? It doesn't help the current situation. I don't think the "laws" will ever be implemented in Cyprus - defeatest maybe, but "this is Cyprus, and a law unto itself!" I wish I could find a solution, like winning the lottery... I love Cyprus, but every day I find the animal side of things intolerable.

May be if there were no rescue shelters there would be so many strays on the roads, it would be a bit like Athens where they rounded up the stray dogs just for the Olympics. It was said that everything was done humanely.. I doubt it very much! What is the solution, does anyone know? Meanwhile myself, my friends and customers will continue to find abandoned puppies and hunting dogs will be run over on the roads, starve to death, or be poisoned. I have even hardened myself to believe that has been killed is better off than one left to suffer.

Can any one tell me why some Cypriots are so against having a dog spayed or neutered and think that its "lovely" to have a litter of puppies only to find they can't find homes for them and end up abandoning them or drowning them. There are so many people in town who just let their dog roam to go to the toilet any where it likes and then either make babies or get pregnant.

Sorry, once I get started on this subject, I can't stop!!!

[annecollings]

P.S. Also does everyone realise that when you have your dog micro chipped you then have to go to the Government Veterinary Office and pay another CYP 5 for registration.

Several dogs have been found already with microchips but the owner is untraceable because the microchip has not been registered. A simple solution to this would be for the vets just to forward the paperwork once a month to the Gov. offices for registration. Would this really be too hard?

One friend even had a purebred labrador dumped outside her house which was tattooed in the ear. She traced the tattoo number to the breeder - but, yes, you guessed it, the breeder didn't keep a record of who he sold the pup to!!!!! He should be struck off from breeding!!!

[devil]

The vet that chipped Beardie does send copies to the Vet Office, but they also make it very clear to the owners that they have to go themselves to register. Whether they check the vet's list against registrations, I don't know. However, there is a good disincentive to registration: you are given two copies, one of which has to be given to the Mukhtar/Municipality and you are charged your licence fee on the basis of this declaration. So, no registration=no licence fee.

However, I find it feeble that a chipped dog cannot be traced. Vets are obliged to keep a record of their chips and there aren't that number of them to ask.

You talk only of dogs, but cats are a much bigger problem IMHO. I've just come back from the dentist and, coming up our drive, there were 7 of the blighters fleeing in front of my headlights - and that is only a fraction of the local population. "Legit" cats, properly looked after and spayed/castrated, in the neighbourhood amount to exactly 3. The total population is nearer 20 and most of them think our garden is a public toilet and a place for choir practice. The most I've seen of stray dogs is 3 and I think it must be 6 months since I saw one round here.

[mrterrific]

I'm surprised you've seen so few stray dogs. Just about every time I drive any distance outside of town (Limassol) I see at least one confused abandoned mutt wandering around the side of the road.

[annecollings]

Yes, the vets do have a record and they do send their copy to the Government Office. But apparently, so I have been told, the Gov office does not register the paper work until the owner has been and paid the CYP5 and been in personally to register it! This year our local village has not even notified anyone that their dog licence is due! They used to do it once a year with (sp.?) echinoccocos injection or tablet.
You will see more stray/abandoned/lost dogs out in rural areas like where I live and especially in areas where they hunt. As I have to drive up and down the highway quite a lot I see many hunting dogs run over or stray. AND just the other day as the "delightful" children were singing outside Chris Cash & Carry Colombia a poor little grubby looking cyprus poodle sat and wagged its tale in the hope that someone would take it home!