Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Our rescue centre really is in URGENT need of physical HELP. Due to sudden staff/volunteer shortages we are so reduced on some days that we simply do not know how we are going to cope - this situation now is so very serious.
PLEASE PLEASE if you can spare even just a few hours PLEASE PLEASE come and help. Apart from the usual animal care routines we need anyone who can wash up, cook dog food, do household duties, help with the cats and kittens, go with the KAR van to collect food - ANYTHING as long as you can HELP.
Without your help we cannot help the animals in our care.

How many Animal Lovers are out there right now reading this ? - even if you each could give just 1 morning of your time it would make such an enormous difference at this really difficult time. Even just a few hours really would help - PLEASE.
For more information please contact Elaine urgently on 0533 863 1950 or call our office on 0533 8694098 or email us at kar@kyreniaanimalrescue.org

I cannot stress enough just how desperate things are at the moment because of staff shortages and illness. Please offer a few hours , just as basic as washing up bowls. Just remember the times that KAR have come to your rescue and helped you. Now the boot is on the other foot.!!!

Sorry not in Cyprus at the moment. Can only keep the topic active.

'Thanks Kath, it really is bad at the moment.

I'm going up to help.

Anyone else? If you can ring the centre and offer, the animals (and the small amount of staff) would appreciate it.

Dodgy time for KAR, what with lack. of staff and ENORMOUS increase in vet costs.

I went up this morning and will be returning tomorrow morning to assist. It seems there was only I and one other that have rallied to the call. Its a shame that so many concerned animal lovers haven't been able to join me....

Out of interest how many retired ex-pats are living here in the TRNC? Not sure how may KAR volunteers there are but it must be very low. I have volunteered and worked at KAR in the past and found it very rewarding. Due to house move and other circumstances I have not been able to do so recently but once able I will afford at least a day every other week. Ths equates to 6.5 % of my time over the year. Surely there must be others here who can spare at least 3% of their time to help such a worthwhile cause?

Raz there are a number of reasons why there is such a low take up of the KAR appeal;

1... The British community is mainly retired and, by definition, ageing. Many will not have the strength to do the jobs required.

2. Albeit there is a reason, KAR kennels are in an accessible place and some, do not have transport or the type of transport that easily copes with mountain tracks. Perhaps KAR could offer transport.or such volunteers as there are offer lifts.

3. Many are looking after stray dogs direct....although we may feel rewarded by the dogs themselves, it can be an expensive and onerous task and leaves no time or money to support an animal charity which does not support them in troubles. Or perhaps they simply do not want to leave their own dogs for that length of time. Finding a real home is so much better for the dogs than being cooped in kennels, as anyone who has adopted a dog can testify their delight at having a human of their own is so emotional) but sadly there is no support either from officialdom nor the Charities for those who need a little help THEIpermanent or temporary

4, A lot are supporting Charities for people , and particularly children. There are so many charities for good causes, you can hardly blame those who feel people should come first, They may simply not have time or energy left over to support KAR as well, particularly those who are also looking after dogs direct.

5. A few people may actually have full jobs or no time to spare. Others are carers for sick or disabled relatives or friends. They need help, rather than extra work,, but sadly are another group who get little or no support.

6. I regret to say (and not just because this view will result on attacks on me) that unfortunately sometimes KAR put people off. Not eveyone agrees with ALLtheir policies, and they are unwilling to consider the views of those dog owners who sadly will be affected by their policies and their attitudes can be aggressive. I have also spoken to those who wanted to join KAR but were put off by a climate of clique and lack of welcome.

7. And of course, there are those who quite simply do not like dogs or cats (though I find the former difficult to understand), or who are allergic or have a medical condition which precludes handling furry creatures or risking infection or infestation with parasites

8 And of course there are so many who are "only here for the beer" and to laze by a pool in the sun, and dont care a ..............for the problems for animals or othe people. There are now too many of them, but not all and please dont tall us all with that brush

RR I hope you do not mind me adding
9. Many people are perhaps unaware of this desperate need, not everyone reads Kibkom or the Cyprus Today has this been advertised in other places?

It was also posted in Lemon Grove Forum not sure about elsewhere.

I went again today and met the 'other volunteer'.

I get the points 1-9 above and the point being answered actually said that those who were retired so the workers mentioned can be discounted.

I wonder if you take all those from 1-9 as a percentage - 2 people is still a poor show for those who could be eligible. And I will also probably be unpopular for this view but people and children charities historically get higher patronage compared to animal charities and usually have a lot of volunteers so someone has to look out for the animals and there are some of us who prefer them to people

It seems that there is plenty of work that needs doing URGENTLY - not all of it is heavy manual work ...the original post says
" wash up " - no age limit on that . Most people do washing up at home - same work different place.
"cook dog food " - again no age limit. Most people cook - same work different place.
"household duties" - ditto above
"help with the cats and kittens" - not big bouncy dogs just pussy cats and kittens.
There are very few staff at the minute so ANY help will allow those who are used to working there to be able to get on and do the main work - without having to also deal with the other work (which still needs doing). You do not have to agree with all of KAR policies to help the animals that they care for.
Transport can be arranged from Lapta to Catalkoy for anyone volunteering for the whole day and maybe some transport East of Kyrenia for anyone who can help on a morning.
This request has gone out on many mailing lists, Cyprus Today, Cyprus Scene, Bayrak, other media sources FB, other social media sites. other animal welfare groups.
PLEASE contact Elaine if you can help in any way .....0533 863 1950

ozankoys wrote:RR I hope you do not mind me adding
9. Many people are perhaps unaware of this desperate need, not everyone reads Kibkom or the Cyprus Today has this been advertised in other places?

No objection at all - it is a good point and glad it has been taken on Board.

Mr DAvidson;Please Where do you get the info.that people and children get more support than animals? Not in North Cyprus When I worked for a Charity for disabled people it was one of our major difficulties that the disabled attracted less attention and were less attractive than children and animals and got little support, and virtually none from the BritishCommunity

Cally I hope you dont mind my pointing out that for the sake of brevity I was a little resticted. Retired can include a wide range of ages and conditions, and some people are luckier than others and stay active longer. Others may be tired and aching after doing their own washing up and cooking and caring for their own dogs, and cannot face standing for longer periods

same with lung conditions: Those who have to groom two or three dogs may not want to risk inhaling hairs from a number or dogs and cats; Grooming is the only dog/cat care that I can think of that involves sitting down

Another point which would concern me personally i- and that is very relevant to the thread on Vet fees is that I would not want ot risk carrying parasites or even disease to my own dogs, particularly as the cost of Vet treatment or even just self administered treatment (eg Frontline) would be a seirous drain on my finances.

What I am trying to say is that KAR could be more receptive and more helpful (I really dont want to go into more detail here Tto the problems of non member animal lovers, those animals lovers might be in a better position to help them.

Ragged Robin

See here for a UK breakdown...
https://www.theguardian.com/news/databl ... ns-britain
I also worked in the charity sector for 20 years in various roles as well as inspecting government funded initiatives.
I suspect the people here (including the nationals) if marketed would say they would be more likely to support a people charity than an animal charity.

With regards to disabled children - this might be a cultural issue in N. Cyprus but in general I stand by my comments. No doubt I will be disciplined for not taking members 'advice' and having a different view LOL.....

RR, I am not quite sure why in message 15 you refer to me when I have made no comments on this thread.......

Mr Davidson wrote:Ragged Robin

See here for a UK breakdown...
https://www.theguardian.com/news/databl ... ns-britain
I also worked in the charity sector for 20 years in various roles as well as inspecting government funded initiatives.
I suspect the people here (including the nationals) if marketed would say they would be more likely to support a people charity than an animal charity.

With regards to disabled children - this might be a cultural issue in N. Cyprus but in general I stand by my comments. No doubt I will be disciplined for not taking members 'advice' and having a different view LOL.....

Dont worry Mr, D, It is I who am kicked if I take a different view from the favoured clique , , but I have no objection to honest and politely expressed disagreement!!

Anyway I am very grateful to you for the link, but I cant help commenting that the RSPCA are very high on the list.

Generally it is fascinating, but to me it appears there is , as here, far too much competition, and a strong suspicion that many of the donations are for the "feel good factor "( to put it politely) and not genuine charity in the Biblical sense.

A census of preferences in Charities would indeed by interested, and perhaps beneficial. I think you would find that the Cypriots, Turks and most other races woud vote for people and the Brits for dogs and cats!!!!!

Going off topic: I cannot help wondering what on earth is the Tony Blair charity for governance! It is certainly one I will not be voting for and for once I think I might have a lot of support here!

Cally wrote:RR, I am not quite sure why in message 15 you refer to me when I have made no comments on this thread.......

Cally My sincere apologies!!!! It was ifonly 's post No.12 that I was referring to.

Robin....its interesting where the funding comes from for so-called charities. The ONE charity comes to mind that the philanthropic benefactor 'Bono' from U2 set up - out of the 9 million it raised I believe less than one million went to the true intended recipients - the rest to directors etc. Many of the charities are a smoke screen for financing executive bodies and furthering corporate interests in other countries usually. Retired politicians head them up such as David Millband still meddling politically via charity interests abroad.

As for Tony BLIAR - the war criminal himself - there is no difference between the political parties. We have arrived at left right politics and identity politics where a single issue can ride an entire 'democracy' on its back - hence the introduction of 'political correctness'. Its just a distraction to stop people doing a bit more research away from the mainstream media and some critical thinking to watch the Wizard behind the curtain. The string pullers banking families, Zbigniew Brzezinski when he was alive, George Soros and his political foundation (charity LOL), Kissinger who is still interfering despite old age, the Bush cartel, the CFR and the Committee of 300 - these are the real movers and shakers but we still allow ourselves to be divided and distracted. I could go on and on but I won't - I really do need to get a life

Off topic, but very very interesting Mr. D. Makes one feel the need to be "hands on" and just giving money to a Charity may be a waste. Uk wise I shall continue to stick to Guide Dogs for the Blind, and look further for dogs for the disabled, which covers both my interests. Thank you for adding an obviously informed and intelligent highlight to a Kibcom thread.

Here I shall continue mainly with charity at home and continue to care for three for happy , mainly healthy little dogs, which otherwise would have a very miserable, if any, life.

As far as KAR and other expat TRNC charities it does highlight the need for complete openness to non members as well as members

Mr Davidson, you don't need to "get a life", in fact you are drawing attention to what should be drawn attention to!! I've banged on for years about what I consider the illegal use of the word charity. You can add to the number you have mentioned a load more others i.e. most of the Red Brick universities (I hate to knock Cambridge though!!) and probably most of the top Public Schools, just because their ancient constitutions prove they started off as honourable charities. Its a real eye opener, to read just how many lauded institutions claim charitable status,