PUPILS FROM Nicosia’s Pancyprian Gymnasium yesterday gathered at Eleftheria Square to demonstrate against animal cruelty in Cyprus.
The most recent public display of animal cruelty that shocked animal rights activists and spectators occurred last Sunday at the APOEL-Omonia football match.
An Omonia fan apparently sprayed a rabbit with orange paint in an attempt to taunt the APOEL team’s supporters whose color is orange.
It has been claimed that the rabbit’s legs were broken. Police verified that the rabbit died on the pitch during the incident, and that they are currently searching for the perpetrator to charge him with torturing an animal to death.
Yesterday around 20 students carrying banners and graphic posters of mistreated dogs, handed out flyers and requested signatures for their petition.
“We want to speak for those who have no voice; to put a stop to animal abuse and promote the enforcement of laws to protect animal welfare”, said Nicoletta Meleti, a participating student.
George Perdikis, who spoke on behalf of the European Green Party, expressed support for the campaign.
“Cyprus presents a very bad situation as far as animal abuse goes; we have gained a poor reputation overseas because there is no respect for animal rights here,” Perdikis said.
The aim of the demonstration was to sensitize the public to animal welfare issues in Cyprus, focusing on the return of the infamous Lanate poison, the promotion of neutering, and the creation of a police unit for animal protection.
Animal activists across Cyprus had rejoiced last year with the news of the implementation of the EU wide ban of Lanate, a pesticide widely claimed to be responsible for the agonizing death of thousands of pets and wild animals every year in Cyprus; talks of now re introducing the poison into the market have spurred wild opposition by animal rights campaigners.
Nikos Raphidias, member of the Green Party and organisation officer of the Nicosia District, said of the police unit: “We want this unit to oversee the living conditions and handling of animals by their owners. Kind of like a Cyprus version of the ‘Animal Cops’ programme shown on Animal Planet”.
Mary Anastasi, a spokesperson for the Cyprus Voice for Animals (CVA), a union of several animal welfare societies on the island, added that “We will not stop until this police force has formed; our next campaign will be outside the presidential palace if need be.”
Animal welfare is an ongoing problem in Cyprus, with animal poisoning, neglect and overpopulation due to insufficient neutering, leading to the suffering of thousands of animals every year.
Neoklis Georgiades, animal lover and co-owner of PetMatecy, a pet sitting company, said “Animal cruelty is a phenomenon that we have all witnessed in one way or another in our everyday lives. In Cyprus especially examples of active or even passive abuse in the form of neglect are apparent, and unfortunately our culture accepts and normalizes such behaviors.”
