Please help save dogs in Cyprus - online petition!!!

[save the dogs]

Hello talkcyprus forum users,



Please help!!!

http://www.petitiononline.com/sirius03/petition.html

My Mum works in a Dog Sanctuary in Cyprus. The government wants to close it down. But the dogs (100 +) will have nowhere to go so they will all be put down, killed!

Please help by signing the petition to save the dog sanctuary in Cyprus from being closed. Every signature matters, the dogs must live! Takes seconds and no money.

Unfortunately, time is running out as the court case is very soon. But this petition takes literally SECONDS!!!

You can help further by sending this link out to friends and contacts. But please, if nothing else, please sign the petition.

Every vote counts!!!

http://www.petitiononline.com/sirius03/petition.html

Thank you so much ..

[pUNKIS]

There is a forum for animals in Cyprus, please help at http://www.thebidmarket.com/ezoo

[city]

There is also a charity organization that finds new homes in Germany for Cyprus dogs.
http://zypernhunde.de/englisch/

[stavrizatz]

What I cannot understand is can't the dogs in Cyprus be free instead of having them as pets, like thousands of free dogs in Greece. I love seeing free dogs in Greece, they live in communities, they are friendly, smart (I was amazed how they stop for red pedestrian lights) ok perhaps they are dirty but so what.

[city]

I think in Greece there are certain rules and regulations regarding stray dogs. Like the government is paying to have them spayed and vaccinated and the people in the area are responsible to feed them. This way they live free but are not an annoyance (due to their sheer number).

The problem in Cyprus is that animals here are many times not treatet in a 'humane' way. I mean they starve, get tortured, beaten, run over killed etce etc. I will not point you to any details. I can provide them if you wish.
They are not taken care of, they are not seen as living creatures but many times only as toys or worst. Lots of them are locked in small cages with no place to move, let alone being walked daily! I could continue for a long time....

So, to come back to your question: the dogs in the shelters are such poor creatures that have been saved from their miserable 'homes' or abandoned, often sick ones, that no one wants. Or even 'normal' ones that are just left in the street to die cause their respective owners don't want to care for them anymore, maybe no time, no money or because they leave the island and don't want to take the responsibility for the animal.
If you leave all those dogs to roam freely in the streets without doing anything, they will soon be far too many, be hungry, spreading diseases, disturb people's lives or become dangerous.

[repulsewarrior]

spaying is good, like cats.

ghandi said you can judge people by the way they care for their animals...

thank-you save the dogs, i will sign your petition.

welcome, and as you can see you are not alone.

[stavrizatz]

Yes I know dogs in Cyprus are treated really badly. I feel sorry for all pets having to live in cages, tanks, house etc and that is why I never had a pet and never will have. I feed about 5 cats in my area but I won't call them my pets.

[repulsewarrior]

‘Treatment of animals reflects on our society’
By Jacqueline Theodoulou

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.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

[stavrizatz]

In a recycling project by Green Dot in Limassol at Mesa Geitonia Municipality, they've found dead dogs in the rubbish.

For Greek speaking readers look at politis article
http://www.politis.com.cy/cgibin/hweb?-A=825424&-V=articles

[city]

[stavrizatz]

[city]