by doglover » Thu Aug 31, 2006 3:25 pm
I strongly disagree with everything Piratis said. I've had similar conversations with Cypriots about this, and they all had the similar point of view as Piratis. They try and justify their animalistic ways, and at the same time, act all patriotic and don't like to be told that they, as a country, are largely at fault for the way they treat dogs and cats - 'domestic animals'.
How on earth can you compare the consumption of farm animals, to the sick and twisted ways of people here that torture dogs and cats for the sheer fun of it? And who in their right mind would pour a flammable substance over a dog and set fire to it, all the while singing and finding it highly entertaining? Only sick people do that. They're not going to eat the dogs, so why should they poison them for no apparent reason? I don't see slaughter houses using lanade to kill and torture cows and goats before we consume them. I live next to a farm, and it can smell at a bit at night... does that mean I would go and poison the farm animals, because I find the smell bothersome???
Shortly after my brothers dog was poisoned, I called the government vet (He's Cypriot) and he said he receives phone calls every day from people that have lost their dogs due to them being poisoned. He said it's a big problem here, and that Cypriots will never change, for the very reason that they are interested in materialistic things, such as nice cars, big houses, and gucci handbags (for the women). This is their enjoyment in life.
Their parents should be teaching their children to act in humane ways, and love animals, instead of telling them that life is all about getting married, buying a house, finding a good job etc.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. My fiancee knew someone in the army that chopped a dogs head off with an axe! And why did he do such a thing? Was it to consume the dog? Or was it because he was sick in the head and was taught as a child that dogs and cats are worthless dirty animals? I think it's the latter. Surely if he knew people that had dogs as pets.. and I'm not talking about dogs that are tied to a tree in 40 degrees weather, and thrown a piece of bread every so often. I'm actually talking about dogs that are allowed inside the home, and cared for by loving owners. If he had witnessed this kind of example as a child, then he would have thought twice about picking up that axe.
My brother overheard a Cypriot saying that he put a rottweiler into a small cage with two cats to see what would happen. Of course the rottweiler ripped the cats to pieces. It's not just one case I've heard of... animal cruelty, in all forms, is an ongoing problem here.
Some parents here will allow their children to have puppies for a short while... but when that puppy grows in size, they are left to wander the streets, and inevitably get run over by cars. Do they even consider the consequences, that the dogs will breed, increasing the number of stray dogs in Cyprus, thus creating a bigger problem? Those parents are responsible for their children, and should be setting good examples, which is clearly not the case here.
And Anastasia... if anyones dog stinks, it's the dog that is kept tied to a tree in the garden all day that has never been bathed or looked after properly. Their gardens must reek of smelly dog, and their dogs must be completely covered in tics, and other nasty parasites.
My house doesn't smell of dog because I bathe my dogs every two weeks, and they visit the grooming salon and vet on a regular basis.
I had guests over last night and they asked me what that nice smell was. I guess it's the detergent I use to mop my floors, or the pledge I use to polish my home on a daily basis. And you're saying anyone who has a dog, must also have a smelly house? pfffff.
In fact, my pethera is always boasting about how 'kathari' her nifi is.
"If you consider an animal your private property then you should keep it with you or within your property. If somebody comes within your property to harm your dogs, cats etc then this person is violating the law and can be prosecuted." But you see Piratis... the problem here, is that the police brush aside any reports from people complaining that their pets have been poisoned. There ARE laws, but the police and government are NOT enforcing them! And who said Cypriots only poison the dogs that wander into their garden? That's not always the case. They will poison the dog because they don't like the idea of living next door to a dog. Or because they hold some kind of grudge with the neighbour.
And so what if your neighbours dog comes and poops inside your garden? There are several solutions to this. Knock on your neighbours door and tell them about it. Ask that they pick up the poop, and advise them to keep the dog inside their garden for the dogs safety. Maybe ask them to put up a fence, or something. And if the owner does not do this, ask them if they really want the dog. If they don't, ring up a dog shelter, and ask that they collect the dog, and then they can find a proper home for it, where the dog will be kept under control by a loving family. See? Simple humane solution.
And what about the many dogs that are shot to death after the hunting season is over, and dumped in the skip? Another thing the government vet mentioned! It's rather sickening to hear.
It's the same thing with road accidents here... I went to McDonalds the other night, and while I was waiting in the parking lot for my fiancee to return with the food... I heard these loud screeching sounds... there were grown men in cars speeding up and down the parking lot, making sharp turns, thinking it was a dirt track. Of all the places in Cyprus, they chose Mcdonalds, a place where families take their children??? How bloody dangerous is that! And let's not forget the time I was driving through Kanika, and there were a bunch of underaged kids, doing wheelies on their mopeds, not wearing helmets. A police car was infront of me and the police men found it rather comical! How screwed up is that!?! And their parents weep and ask God why he takes their children when they are involved in road accidents? Maybe if the police enforced the law of wearing a helmet on a moped, then the road deaths would be reduced. But no, they track down the person driving the car, and blame the death
on the driver, when in fact, they should be knocking down the governments door. I can't tell you how many times I've seen underaged kids speeding past police men, without a helment, and the police men do nothing!
Same principle really. How will things ever get better here if the government and police aren't enforcing the laws, like in other countries? The RSPCA punish those who mistreat animals in the UK. But on the whole, English people generally love dogs, and will treat them with lots of love and affection.
Most English people I know here have dogs inside their homes, and give them the love and special treatment they deserve.
The Cyprus government really need to step up and do something.
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