Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

These two GSDs have endured living in appalling conditions in Alsancak for many months. The female had been in a small cage with dirty bowls and rubbish, was extremely thin and with both eyes badly infected. The male was on a short chain attached to a tree unable to reach either the water tank shelter or the dirty water bowls which were in amongst dirt and rubbish.
Yesterday with the help of Girne Belediyse the Government Veterinary Department officials they were successfully removed to a place of safety.
KAR had spoken with the 'owner' several times offering to help with cleaning up the site, supplying kennels etc but was told that he did not need help and that he 'loved' his dogs and cares for them himself. We reminded him that he needed to take the dogs to the vet for Micro-chipping and Registration but the appointments made were not kept.
KAR sent in reports to the Gov. Vet Dept, had meetings with Alsancak Belediyre and visited Lapta Police in the hope that something could be done. After many reports, meetings etc it is only now that it has been achieved by the Gov. Vet. Dept and Girne Belediyre.
We feel that the law is seriously flawed in that it is only the Belediyre that have the jurisdiction to prosecute or correct the injustices and inhuman methods in which so called 'owners' subject their dogs!!! Perhaps the Gov. Vet. Dept and or the Police should also have this permission so that local authorities, that are unprepared to help for one reason or another, can easily be overridden for the sake of the lives of the animals?
Sadly there are many other dogs being kept in small cages, on short chains with no shelter or shade, no access to clean water or nutritious food. Owned by local people who 'love their dog' but are unable to see that what they are doing is cruel and inhumane. We need all local authorities to step up and take responsibility for the animals and not just the humans (for which they were voted in office for) it is a far more reaching problem that needs more than just simply building an animal shelter.
The two GSDs will now get the proper health care and help for their physical and mental recovery and their previous 'owner' will be prosecuted.

Thank you for the good news for these dogs - its a positive step for the authorities to step in - no doubt with your pressure!

Well done KAR for your perseverance hopefully you have set a precedent & other cases will not be so protracted.
What I cannot understand - apart from the inhumane treatment of course - is that these pedigree dogs are expensive to buy so you would think they would be cared for properly unless they are unwanted 'gifts' from friends & family.
Keep up the good work.

ozankoy, you think that, I think that, any right minded person would think that, but its different here. Why are there so many toy dogs being dumped here there and everywhere, why are there so many Husky and Chow dogs and X Husky and Chow because they are a commodity and got rid of when they are a bit of a nuisance or out of fashion, But more importantly there are people here who actually believe dogs don't feel the heat and cold, don't need water or food regularly and can go without both for days on end. Its sheer blind ignorance, nothing more, nothing less.

sophie wrote:ozankoy, you think that, I think that, any right minded person would think that, but its different here ... more importantly there are people here who actually believe dogs don't feel the heat and cold, don't need water or food regularly and can go without both for days on end. Its sheer blind ignorance, nothing more, nothing less.

Sophie,
It is true that Turks/Turkish Cypriots do in general have a different relationship to animals than, say, Brits do ... it is cultural thing. Allow me to use my TC neighbour, here on the Lefkoşa side of the mountain, as an an example - he actually treats his dogs well, but sees them as hunting dogs, not pets as such ... but as a cultural difference, I turn a blind eye to my neighbour's activities, because I feel we should try our best to live amongst our hosts ...

It is actually ironic that, at least, the stray dog problem around Girne is exacerbated by the predominantly non-Turkish holiday-makers who, according to KAR themselves (see page 6 of link), "feed dogs for a short time," leaving KAR to pick up the pieces.

For the record, my Turkish Cypriot wife and I have kept a retriever, Jessie, for the last three years. We're often out of the country, but fortunately we have many TC friends and family, permanently residing here, that are very willing to look after her while we're away.

Source : http://www.kartrnc.org/PDF/LetLive.pdf