Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

KAR EMERGENCY MEASURES August 2017
As many people know KAR receive no government financial help or funding and rely totally on the generosity of supporters and members of the public to help fund the work and care that is given to the animals.
Over the years KAR have had to alter some of their priorities and policies with regards which community programs can be run, which areas KAR can cover and sadly which animals we can help.
For some time now the only animals that have been able to come into care of KAR have been the adult dogs who are assessed as in a particular vulnerable situation or condition and those with particular medical problems. We have always taken in puppies (from within our area which covers a wide area and municipalities) as they are deemed vulnerable in status.
Sadly, due to various factors including extremely high vet costs due to an increase in tests and treatments, ever increasing Centre running costs, tanker water charges, rises in electricity bills, and lack of staff and volunteers in this extreme heat, we again have to temporarily alter our intake policy.

Our vet bills over the last couple of months have included, but are not exclusive,17000TL recently paid out, 16,500 TL due to be paid out and then July bills which will be in excess of 9,000TL. These vet bills cover the costs of treatments, neutering (cats in the community and all cats and dogs that come into the center) operations and the constant testing being done on suspect dogs against Leishmaniasis, Ehrlichiosis and Lyme’s Disease - all of which have increased dramatically across all of the Mediterranean affected countries recently. Leishmaniasis in particular can show as a negative when tested initially and then when tests are taken again, if the dog is showing some symptoms, there will be a positive test (this can be due to stress triggering the disease such as the dog/puppy physically coming into the centre). In addition there is the cost of the preventative collars and any maintenance medical program needed for the various diseases.

We are sad to announce until further notice that now our intake policy on puppies has changed - the ONLY puppies that we can now take into our care are acute medical cases of puppies.
We will take in those puppies that we have already agreed, via our office, to take but any other puppies (except those acute medical cases) will need to be dealt with by the local authorities of where the puppies are situated. They should be your first point of call now.
This decision was not taken lightly but we cannot continue to take in more and more animals when we are struggling to fund, and provide proper care of, the ones that we currently have in our care.

It is hoped that this situation will only be temporary and will not last long but in the interim if anyone can help with any additional funding for our proposed new vet room facility (which for example will save us some costs of constantly having to drive animals to/from the vets clinics sometimes several times a day), or by purchasing much needed paraband collars or any tick/flea treatments for any of the animals who are currently in our Centre please do not hesitate to contact us - every little helps but sadly the “little” that we have at the moment is just not enough for us to continue to take in more and more animals.

This is very sad news KAR do the best they can under overwhelmingly difficult circumstances.
Please keep this at the top to remind people to help where they possibly can in the ways described above.

i agree keep it in view

The best way to help is FORCE the Belediye to honour and obey their own Animal Welfare Laws and look after strays in their area. Whilst other people take over their responsibility they will continue to do NOTHING. It is up to the public to force the issue. It's the local population that vote them in and can vote them out, its up to them, not charities to do their work for them.

But there are animal charities all over the world!
As expats we have absolutely no say in how anything is run here & although attitudes have improved considerably largely in fact due to KAR I do not think that TRNC authorities give animals much priority.

It is such a shame that KAR are having to introduce this policy and I know it wasn't an easy decision to make . It does seem that everywhere you look are puppies needing homes - sometimes owned but lots and lots of street born puppies. Many of them are the result of the change in the law which used to allow charities such as KAR to run their N & R campaign for dogs. Now it is the responsibility of the local authorities to deal with the street dogs ..... and their general response is typical - Shrug of the shoulders, At least Girne are trying to do some neutering but even that is only subject to funds being available. When they open their own shelter it will not take long for it to fill up - then what ? More and more puppies reaching maturity and going onto have more litters / more puppies .... and so the cycle continues.
Surely there must be some educated people in the Government who realise, and have seen in other Countries, that the answer is mass ongoing reduced cost or free NEUTERING for street and owned dogs (and cats) and can educate their colleagues to understand.
Wishful thinking maybe !!!!!