TO MARK today’s World Animal Day, the Cyprus Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) has announced a series of new measures in the hope of sensitising Cypriots on issues of animal welfare.
“The way we treat animals reflects on our society and national decency,” Toula Poyadji, the head of CSPCA, said yesterday.
Animal poisonings and excessive strays due to abandonment are the two most serious problems faced in Cyprus when it comes to animal cruelty, according to Poyadji.
“Each week, animal welfare organisations have no choice but to euthanize healthy dogs and cats due to overpopulation in the shelters,” she pointed out.
“There is prejudice, ignorance and meanness in Cyprus. Cypriots have little knowledge when it comes to animals; they may see a cat crossing their back yard and believe it will make them sick, so they end up poisoning or abusing it.”
And this behaviour is having a negative impact on Cyprus’ reputation abroad.
“We have so many complaints by tourists, who leave the island broken-hearted after seeing the way some animals are treated, swearing to do everything in their power to defame Cyprus,” said Poyadji.
So the CSPCA, which was established in 1971, has decided to take more measures in a bid to curb animal cruelty in Cyprus.
“The Action Plan will be centred on informing the public and trying to sensitise Cypriots on animals’ rights and the Law for Dogs,” Poyadji explained. “Each member of the public must know their rights and obligations towards their pets.”
The plan provides, among others, the intensification of efforts to sterilise stray dogs and cats, educating people in rural areas on how to treat animals by holding special lectures in the island’s villages, and the creation of a special body that will visit homes where pets are being badly treated to encourage owners to change their ways. In the event of non-compliance, the case will be reported to the Veterinary Services, police and local authorities, who have a responsibility to implement the Dog Law.
The body, which is made up of volunteers, currently has seven members, “and we hope this number will increase”.
Poyadji added, “We are calling on animal lovers across Cyprus to co-operate with us and let us know if they see an animal being treated cruelly or if they have evidence that someone has poisoned an animal.
“We also need the co-operation of the police, local authorities and veterinary services. The state has a duty to help us.”
The CSPCA receive an annual €3,076 from the state, which Poyadji said was not good enough. “We will need a lot of funds to put our action plan into motion.”
The CSPCA also met with House President Marios Garoyian on Thursday, who issued an announcement calling for the protection of animals’ rights.
“The protection of animals concerns all of us and reflects on our society,” said Garoyian. “Our respect towards all forms of life is indicative of our respect to people.”
He thanked the CSPCA for its tireless campaigning for animals’ rights and promised that the state would stand by the organisation in its latest efforts.
“The biggest danger to animals is people,” the House President concluded.
The head of the Agriculture Ministry’s Veterinary Services, Charalambos Kakoyiannis, said the government was intent on improving animal welfare.
“I would like to underline how significant it is for the government and Agriculture Ministry to ensure the good health and welfare of animals, farmyard ones and pets,” said Kakoyiannis. “Passing the Animal Welfare Law in 2004, along with our accession to the EU, we embodied all the relevant regulations and directives for animal welfare.”
The veterinary services, he added, make regular checks to ensure animal safety.
“In 2007 alone, we carried out 2,699 operations; quite a few of the cases went to court,” he added.
Kakoyiannis, who was representing Agriculture Minister Michalis Polynikis, also wished to relay President Demetris Christofias’ “intense interest” in the welfare of animals and his commitment to support animal welfare organisations whenever it is needed.
To prove the new government’s commitment to animal welfare, Kakoyiannis added, the funds offered to animal welfare organisations will double in 2008 – reaching €34,000. In 2009, it will be five times higher, reaching €80,000.
