In the months leading up to the presidential election in Cyprus, growing anger over animal welfare is forcing politicians to take action, says response to the British newspaper Guardian from Nicosia.
The article comes on the occasion of "the public outcry over animal abuse cases" which "has put animal rights at the forefront of the political agenda in Cyprus".
The newspaper refers to the reactions to the death of nine dogs in the summer, which were burned alive in their cages, as well as to the finding of dead and ossified dogs by tourists in the area of Paphos.
According to the correspondent, "the former British colony is not new to the revelations of animal abuse - in a country where politicians traditionally submit to a powerful lobby of hunters notorious for trapping songbirds with sparrows, stories of neglect abound."
The article states that "for years Cypriots, following the example of their cousins in Greece, are accustomed to killing cats and dogs they do not want by poisoning their food with a deadly cocktail of herbicides and pesticides."
He adds that due to opposition to neutering, the population of cats and dogs has increased significantly - it is estimated that cats alone number over 1,2 million in Cyprus.
After noting that in the past there were tourists who boycotted the island due to the treatment of animals, the Guardian writes that now politicians who may have considered the issue of animals inferior, are now struggling to cover the lost ground.
Reference is made to the presentation by President Anastasiadis in September of his new puppy, Fried, and his encouragement to Cypriots to take abandoned dogs into their homes.
In the same month, the newspaper notes, Nikolas Papadopoulos had presented his policy for the protection of animals. But Nikos Anastasiadis "went further" by taking advantage of World Animal Day on October 4 to set up an "animal police" that will deal exclusively with animal protection.
At the same time, the appointment of Kyriakos Kyriakos as special advisor to the President and the actions of the Party for Animals for the defense of animals are pointed out.
Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Kyriakou, chairman of the Animal Party, said: "We must stop the cycle of savagery - fines and sanctions must be increased, laws must be changed, a post of animal commissioner must be set up, registration must be introduced and the placement of micro-chips and the inclusion of animal welfare in the curriculum of schools ".
The response draws a parallel between President Anastasiadis' love for animals and Franklin Roosevelt's love for his dog, while it is noted that the cats were first brought to Cyprus by St. Helen in 324 AD. to deal with venomous snakes.
It is also noted that the government has provided an amount of 75.000 euros for a sterilization campaign.
A British volunteer who takes care of and finds homes for stray dogs in Oroklini states, finally, in the newspaper: "So far this year we have sent 218 dogs to homes and these only from Oroklini. There is so much animal prejudice here. Dogs are considered dirty and dangerous and no one likes black dogs, that's for sure. "If politicians can change the culture, if they can lead by example, it will not be bad."
Source: KYPE