Cyprus-Forum.com

[Slann]

I am planning on moving to Larnaca next September with my 3 dogs and 1 cat. I was wondering if anyone has any advice with regard to this and also- as I have to travel from time to time if there is a good kennel/pension to put my pets in when I am gone for a few days.
Also- I want to make sure that I understood correctly, travel with pets between the UK and Cyprus does not mean quarantine is needed- right? The plan is to move to Cyprus for 6 months and then to the UK so that I don't have to give them up for the 6 months of quarantine.

[devil]

You MUST have the correct "passport" with valid veterinary certification and vaccination records as laid down by the country you are travelling to, for each animal. These may vary from country to country. As Cyprus is rabies-free, these regulations are followed to the letter; it is not sufficient you are travelling from a rabies-free zone.

If quarantine is deemed necessary, it is usually sufficient to quarantine the animal at home. For this, you have to show that the animal cannot escape from your property or otherwise come in contact with other dogs or cats.

You would not wish to board your animals at most of the kennels on the island; many of them are horrific and most of the rest would not be tolerated in most European countries. I know of only one good dog kennels on the island, where the animals are really well looked after, fed, exercised and talked to but there may be others. I have no experience of cat kennels.

On arrival, check your animals over with a vet as there are endemic diseases here that may be different from those where you come from. They should be Frontlined and dewormed regularly.

WARNING: some two-legged animals are wont to bait meat with pesticides and scatter it around. There are many very cruel animal deaths caused by this every year, throughout the island. You must be very vigilant when exercising your dogs to avoid the trauma of seeing your pets die in agony. Of course, this is illegal, but the police are not noted to be active in finding the criminals.

You have to register the dogs with the Municipality and receive collar tags to show you have paid the tax. It costs £6 p.a. for a dog or spayed bitch or £8 for an unspayed bitch, I think. You are obliged to announce all departures, deaths and births. Puppies are exempt from the tax for the first year, I believe.

Where will you be residing?

[Slann]

Devil:Thank you so much for your helpful and prompt response!
I intend to move to Larnaca from Israel- and as I mentioned, 6 months after to the UK. I am doing this b/c I have no problem with home quarantine, but the thought of parting with my beloved for 6 months as I would need to do coming from Israel to the UK is unbearable.
I was horrified to hear that poisoning is common over there - not that I would let them roam the streets, but still it is very scary.
I was also very dissappointed to hear that there aren't any decent kennels available. Is the one that is acceptable near Larnaca by any chance??:?:
I have chosen Larnaca simply because of the distance from the airport- I guess I will have to look for a property to rent that is completely walled so as to adhere to the criterea for home quarantine....
Again- thanks for any and all advice [/img]

[devil]

I'm not sure what the situatiuon is from Israel: I suggest you check this out with the Cypriot authorities beforehand. At the very least, you will require all the usual vaccinations but I don't know whether animals from there are eligible for home quarantine.

It is not just in the streets that you will find poisoned bait. In the countryside, as well. I know someone who has many cats had some thrown into his garden. As I have a neighbour with 15 cats, breeding like rabbits, and using our garden as public toilets, as well as keeping us awake at night, I can understand why some people get exasperated, although I would never do anything as cruel. Not to mention they drive our dog crazy, as well.

The good kennels are at Ayii Trimithias, a little west of Nicosia.,

[Slann]

Again thanks for your response.
I have looked at the govt website regarding the importation of pets and it did not specify different regulations regarding different countries of origin, but I will of course check this with them by phone as well.
How far of a drive from Larnaca is Ayii Trimithias?

[devil]

As a guess, about 50-odd km. Take the motorway from LCA to NCA and get off at the link bypass road towards Troodos. This is a guestimated 12 km long, of which 2 km or so is painfully slow. Access the motorway towards Troodos and, just after the end of the motorway, you turn left. AT is about 6 km further on this road.

[annecollings]

It is bad here, but not all bad. My two rescue dogs are 7 & 8 yrs old. There are some decent kennels I know of in Limassol. I know there is a decent cattery run by an English girl in Larnaca who has a dog grooming business there. (I have a dog grooming business in Limassol and Zygi, which is half way between Limassol & Larnaca). I have travelled with my two dogs from Cyprus to UK and then back again to Cyprus. What you will have to bear in mind is that you will have to have the pet passport. When I had to obtain this in Cyprus to travel to the UK I had to have my dogs Rabies vaccinated, then a month later another rabies vaccine, then blood tested and I had to wait 6 months from the date of the blood test before my dogs could travel. No quarantine in UK. When I returned to Cyprus they had home quarantine. Ripped off left right and centre paying government vet who never even checked premises, or visited during home quarantine, took lots of cash from us, never even checked dog
crates to see if dog was in good health and that the crate was sealed and had not been tampered with. Then paid customs (which had to be in cash to the cent!!!) and BA cargo and so it goes on!!! But all that forgotten now and two years down line life just jolly. (p.s. dog groomer and cattery in Larnaca could give you name of kennel possibly). But as said before, BEWARE of poisons in Cyprus.

[Slann]

Thank you for these responses.
Many thanks to Devil for the geographical info.
Anne-
Thank you so much- this is just the type of thing I needed to know. The poison thing terrifies me and I hope to be able to find a completely walled rental propert to protect against anything like that. Would you have the name or number of the girl with the Cattery in Larnaca- also the names/numbers of the decent kennels you know of?
I assume that home quarrantine means that they can't leave the yard- but really how is this enforced? Would it really be the end of the world to take them out once in a while on a leash?

[annecollings]

Cattery is at Angela's Dog Grooming Larnaca 24 664445
Kennels I know are Happy Valley, Ypsonas (Search Cyprus Yellow Pages, I know its on there), This is the other side of Limassol towards Pafos and quite a way from Larnaca. May be Angela can recommend one in Larnaca.
Another good one, again I don't have ph. no. is Oasis Kennels, Limassol.
And of course, should you need me(!) my dog grooming is 99 941653 in Limassol and Zygi, nr. Larnaca.
Good Luck!
Happy Christmas & New Year, Anne.

[annecollings]

As I mentioned before, home quarantine never seems to be checked. We had a large piece of fenced land with a small house (rented). No one ever came to check before we moved there or indeed after we moved there. In fact, we moved house to our permanent home after 3 months! And still no one checked. But I suppose it is always a risk. If you are walking your dogs anywhere on the island, always make sure they don't eat anything they find, even grass outside of the garden which could accidentally have some insecticde/poison on it.