The Cyprus Society for the Protection of Animals submitted its observations in relation to the regional premises for temporary care of stray dogs, in an open letter to the Council of Ministers, calling for the implementation of the existing Law on Dogs and not for the creation of more shelters.
The Council of Ministers expressed its decision to support the Local Authorities in order to develop appropriate regional premises for temporary dog care, it is reported. However, the Cyprus Society for the Protection of Animals considers that the shelters will be an incentive for more abandonment and will not work to the benefit of the large number of homeless people.
In its letter, the organization requests the implementation of the current legislation by the Local Authorities, in order to reduce the abandonments to a minimum, while at the same time the Municipalities will increase their revenues. He notes that the costs of keeping stray dogs in the regional shelters (based on the costs of the shelter of the six Municipalities of Nicosia) will reach one million a year. In addition, local authorities have the right under the Dog Law to take dogs to the vet for euthanasia and incineration, which can cost up to twelve million euros a year, he said.
Instead, it calls on the Ministries of Interior and Agriculture to coordinate their actions to implement the existing legislation, the Dog Law that entered into force in 2002. In particular, they emphasize the provisions for the obligation to have a certificate of registration and permanent marking of dogs, the commitment of dog breeder, the obligation to pay dog ownership fees and the penalties for violations.
He also notes that around 200.000 dogs are abandoned each year. They are impossible to keep in shelters, while the chances of adoption are only a few hundred. Therefore, it calls on the Local Authorities to apply the provisions of the Law mentioned above, in order to reduce the cases of abandonment of dogs.