Cyprus-Forum.com

[twinkle]

Oh, the story of banning lanate in cyprus is an old one. This has been going on for years. George Lantis, God bless him, was a great advocate for banning the cr@p and was constantly nagging at the government. He's dead now and we are still in the same position. Things will only change if a couple of small children die from ingesting the stuff. Even then it will still take years.

Ghandi said "you can judge how civilised a country is by the way they treat their animals..." Cyprus is far from civilised.

[twinkle]

Shot with 26 pellets by hunters
By Leo Leonidou

A MAN whose dog sustained 26 wounds after being shot by hunters yesterday described their behaviour as “sub-human and criminal”.

Remarkably, the four-year-old Labrador cross survived the attack, but is facing life-saving surgery in the next few days.

The dog’s owner, Garo Keheyan, said the incident happened on Sunday, the first day of the new hunting season.

“Every weekend, I take Bartok with me to my house in Delikipos, near Kornos, as there is some land around the property that he likes to run around in,” he said. “I was aware that hunters were around and kept him on a leash but then let him loose, which I now realise was a mistake. But the main reason to take a dog to the countryside is to let it run around and enjoy itself.”

Keheyan, who is Chairman of The Pharos Trust cultural foundation, said Bartok disappeared around 5pm and didn’t show up despite repeated calls.

“The next morning he reappeared at the house in obvious distress. He was badly limping and one of his eyes was completely clouded over,” he explained.

The dog was immediately rushed to the nearest vet, who x-rayed the animal, discovering 26 pellets lodged in his head and body.

“The vet thinks it was a deliberate attack by hunters who saw Bartok as a threat who would stop their dogs catching birds and other animals. He is currently on antibiotics and has lost the eye, and it’s difficult to say whether he’ll survive the operation,” Keheyan said.

“These hunters are too trigger-happy and they need to show more control and be better educated. They must be more aware of their actions.”

Keheyan filed a report with the police, but acknowledged that there is little they can do apart from make enquiries as to who was in the area at the time.

“It’s not the first time that Bartok, who was found in an abandoned barn, has been in the wars. Earlier this year he survived two lanate poisonings,” said Keheyan.

When asked to comment on the incident, the President of the Hunting Association, Andreas Kyprianou, said he would be looking into it. “If it’s true that hunters deliberately shot this dog then their actions were criminal and should be punished.

What happened sounds very strange as in all my years involved in hunting, I have not heard of a similar case despite thousands of dogs being around.”

He noted that it is illegal to leave a dog unattended and wondered if the hunters had acted in self-defence if the dog became aggressive towards them. “Nevertheless, even if it was self-defence, and we do not know why it was shot at, there is no way that I can condone the severity of the attack.”

When told of the incident, the Director of the Veterinary Services described it as “unacceptable”, while the police say they have no suspects, as there were so many people in the area.

The punishment for anybody convicted of such a crime is one year in jail and/or a £1,000 fine.


The President of the Hunting Association is trying to justify the action by saying they acted in self-defence. The government should limit the amount of gun licences issued, the number of dogs they own and actually prosecute someone for once!!!![i]

[dinos]

Oh, the story of banning lanate in cyprus is an old one. This has been going on for years. George Lantis, God bless him, was a great advocate for banning the cr@p and was constantly nagging at the government. He's dead now and we are still in the same position. Things will only change if a couple of small children die from ingesting the stuff. Even then it will still take years.

Ghandi said "you can judge how civilised a country is by the way they treat their animals..." Cyprus is far from civilised.

Banning lannate is short-sighted, in my opinion. A proper regime of documenting, registering and regulating dangerous chemicals is what's needed. If one does not have at least three years experience using it, then they're putting everyone around them in danger.

You're right, though, that it'll probably take death to arse a little action into the authorities. That's the same wherever you go, I guess.

[G.Man]

I would love to try and keep my cat indoors, but i just dont think its possible in summer with windows and doors open...

Cats love to wander, thats where the saying "curiosity killed the cat" comes from i guess..

[Natty]

Hi, I think it's a disgrace that people kill innocent dogs and cats, etc...But why is it okay to go hunting? Isn't that killing animals too?

Just wandering....although I'm no expert on hunting...

[Marz]

There is not much to hunt, in Cyprus as for poisons the only thing they would be poisoming is cat and dogs thats the main target, really there isnt any other carnivore around to target.
Dinos i agree with you there should be areas made as hunting reserves where stocks of hares, quail, and maybe wild boar can be introduced to breed and be hunted, in a regulated manner, which can be enforced by some organisation. and the hunters will pay a few to hunt and for the animal they shoot.
That ensures there is are animals to be shot during hunting season.
lnnate should be banned from being purchesed for domestic use, and yes it will take the death of a few kids for them to ban it.