Animal Compound to be built - Meeting this morning!

[bigbadbob]

I attended an open meeting this morning with members of the Girne Belediyesi, the Mayor, Vets from Lefkosa, representatives of local newspapers and like me, just people who live here and are concerned about the welfare of the street animals.
In my opinion the situation for the dogs and cats has worsened as more are being either dumped or born on the streets and something has got to change to give them a chance of a safer, healthier and more caring life.
The intention is to build a compound that will hold initially 240 dogs/puppies which will then be later extended to hold 480.
The map of where the compound is going to be was on display for us all to see and also the plans for the lay out. As well as the kennels there will be eventually recreational parts, educational areas and lots more.
There will be a clinic with Vets on hand, rooms for treatment and recovery and in time they plan to have a cemetery for the animals.
To raise income they are thinking of building, apart from the main kennels, somewhere to be used for boarding animals - A Hotel !
They are asking for input or suggestions from us to help them and the closing date for this is 30th October 15.
The Animals they take in will first be checked for a microchip and they will try and find the owner anyway by publicising they have the dog. If this does not work, all dogs will be neutered if they already have not been, microchipped and given a full medical.
They are saying that to put all of this together, in different stages, they are looking at an 18 month time scale.
I came away slightly disappointed in the number of British that were there because I know of many people who try their best to help the street animals. There were I think 2 or 3 Ladies from KAR which was good to see. I was impressed with the way the meeting was run and the fact we were allowed to ask as many questions as we wanted.
This may be the way forward! This could be the help the Street Animals so desperately need!

BBB's Other Half.

[sophie]

I won't elaborate on any thing else re the meeting, as BBB's other half said of the 36 people attending, there were just 8 expats, 3 of which representing KAR (one of whom was the KAR Dog Warden) It never ceases to amaze me, how people go on to forums, write to C2D, winge at every possibility opportunity but when the Girne Belediye make a very determined and well thought out proposal, ex-pats are conspicuously absent.

[jacob]

This is an excellent idea, is it to be run by KAR? are the animals going to be permanently homed at the compound or dumped back on the streets as is KARS terrible policy.

Also when and if the Cyprus problem gets sorted, there will not be any street dogs, the GC's will round them up and if necessary euthanise. They know the effect stray dogs have on tourism and they will not tolerate it.

There will be big changes ahead that will probably not please some expats.

[Gdrunk]

Fantastic news. If I had been aware of the meeting I would have attended.

Was this made public, as I'm sure that if it was more expats would have gone?

[Aitchie]

Any means to have stray animals removed from the streets is to be applauded, however if the policy is to permanently house these animals in this new compound then IMHO it is only kicking the can further down the street, after the 480 limit is reached there will be no option but to follow “Kars terrible policy” of neutering and release. Can’t these people learn from KARS mistake and realise that the only feasible way of controlling these numbers is to adopt a ‘short stay and euthanize’ policy, returning them to the streets is leaving the inevitable to mother nature, and she doesn’t always make it as humane as these animals deserve.

[Maisiemoo]

This subject has been visited time and time again regarding KAR's policy of neuter and return. It is the only feasible way of controlling the stray population given that the vets will not euthanise a healthy animal (and animals can only be put down by a vet,) they really do have their hands tied on this issue.

[tomsteel]

What is the Cypriot view on street dogs, stray cats? My Cypriot neighbours have dogs and a cat and they appear to be ambivalent on this issue. I do wonder though who will actually euthanize, given vetinary practitioners will not slay healthy animals. If people will not spay/neuter their animals, continue to dump failed/old hunting dogs and dump puppies, the problem will persist

[Owl Lady]

I was aware of the meeting, but was unable to attend today, On Tuesday last week I was told that the meeting had taken place the previous day 21st.Received my info of the correct date (yesterday) from a friend in the UK, now here on holiday. Consequently neither of us went!!! saw no info here at all. Piss up and brewery spring to mind!!!!

[Gdrunk]

I was aware of the meeting, but was unable to attend today, On Tuesday last week I was told that the meeting had taken place the previous day 21st.Received my info of the correct date (yesterday) from a friend in the UK, now here on holiday. Consequently neither of us went!!! saw no info here at all. Piss up and brewery spring to mind!!!!

Agreed Owl Lady

[Aitchie]

Tomsteel
The question of who will euthanize can only be put direct to the government officials who allow the veterinary practitioners to dictate their terms, if it is a legal issue then they should change the law to suit.
Building premises for 480 stray dogs will be a short term solution for the 480 first come first served occupants, they had best keep building when the target figure is reached and they will have a job for life because this problem is always going to be here with the current restrictions in place.

[tomsteel]

Aitchie, you are partly correct. However, you cannot compel by law to make euthanasia something a vet will not, ethically, do. Doctors also have their views on abortion for example. The huge problem will only change when locals change how they manage their animals. Most, not all, expats do have a sensible approach to animal population measures.

[bigbadbob]

In answer to a couple of comments:-
The meeting was made public and invitations to it was in the Cyprus Today newspaper dated 19th September 2015. It was also duplicated on Facebook.
Euthanasia was discussed today openly with us the general public, the Belediyesi and the Vets from Lefkosia and I do not think I have got it wrong by saying that they do not intend to put the animals back out on the streets.
Please anyone else who was at the meeting, correct me if I am wrong.

BBB's other half.

[Ragged Robin]

BBB Other half: Unfortunately I didnt even know about the meeting, and I dont think it was well publicised or I am sure more Brits would been there.

You say suggestions are requested, but not where to send them. Can you take them here and pass them on?

There is a lot of disagreement among Brits as to the right way to deal with the stray problem, but in my view this is a step in the right direction, but I foresee one major snag. 420 dogs in one place will make one **** of a lot of noise. If memory serves me, KAR had to move from their original location to the present isooted one because of complaints about the barking etc. Rather than have one centralised place, in my view it would be better to have two, one East and one West of Girne, which would also help to provide sufficient parking spaces nearby (not everyone is able to carry a sick or injured animal any distance) and ease traffic congestion It would also help those who have no transport or have mobility problems, both to participate and take advantage of the facilities.

I also think the ultimate best solution for the dogs is finding them a home, but many are put off, or experiencing problems with dogs alreadyadopted, by the either ever increasing cost of animal care and/or lack of knowledge and experience. This would be an ideal opportunity for some form of dropin centre perhaps with team of volunteer Vets to give advice/assistance on training, minor health problems and to get people together to discuss and help each other with mutual problems, and perhaps share dog sitting.

PS Just seen your latest post. I dont "do" Facebook (not everyone does) and if it was in CT it must have been small because obviously I mssed it.

[bigbadbob]

The email address that was Printed in the Cyprus today for suggestions and any input is as follows:-
halklailiskiler@girnebelediyesi.com.
If anyone would like to get in touch I am sure they will be grateful for your show of interest and support.
I think this is a positive and not a negative and the Mayor, the Girne Belediyesi and everyone involved in putting this plan into action should be congratulated for trying to help the street animals.
If some of you have not got access to a computer I am sure that someone in the Girne Belediyesi offices would be more than happy to pass on anything from you. I got the impression today that this does really matter to them.
BBB's other half..

[cathywallen]

I seem to remember there was some talk of a new kennel/vet/centre being built at the base of Karmi. Surely that can't be the location? Was a location mentioned?
If it's not the location for this particular project where is it? Which leads on to the question is there any truth in the original rumour about Karmi?

[bigbadbob]

Maybe anyone with genuine concerns would be better to contact the Girne Beledgiyesi on the email address they supplied us all with.
From memory and I am not as young as I was, the position of the compound is going to be on a 10 donum plot, a large proportion of this is going to be left woodland to provide exercise area's for the animals.
If you were coming from Kyrenia towards the GAU you would turn left and then go up towards the mountains, a road parallel to the one that takes you to the Green Hill Cemetary.
The Villages of Karaman and Zeytinlik were mentioned and the distances they were from this land. There was a couple from Karaman at the meeting and they did not seem concerned at all about the nearness of the compound to the village, in fact the Lady gave her support for the plan,
The map they had on display was very clear, nothing was hidden !
I would imagine that if anyone wanted to see the plans and contacted them they would be quite willing to oblige.
There were newspaper people at the meeting taking notes and photographs, the plans and map included so maybe you can see for yourselves when the papers come out!
Hope this helps and if any of the other seven British people who were there feels I have got anything wrong, feel free to correct me

BBB's other half.

[jacob]

The GC vets will euthanise, as will the TC ones, all this rubbish that they will not put a healthy animal to sleep is cods, and NO I will not prove my words just to appease the bleeding heart brigade.

KAR will have to fall in line end of:

There will be probably be a lot more individual people who will help as well.

This 'centre' is an opportunity to sort the stray dog problem out, it is to be welcomed.

[bigbadbob]

In reply to Jacob's comment about KAR.
I did not put this posting on here to enable anyone 'to have a go' or make negative comments about KAR or any other FB Animal Groups.
I posted because I wanted to share what I feel is going to be both positive and good and a big improvement in the welfare and care of all the street animals., which are increasing daily despite the efforts of so many.
As I previously said, in my first post, there were representatives of KAR at the meeting and they were fully supportive of the Belediyesi plans.
Please everyone, this is not about any individuals, charity or groups - This is about the homeless street Animals of North Cyprus.

BBB's other half.

[jacob]

BBB's other half, I apologise if you think I am attacking KAR, I do not agree with their policy, I do understand they have served a purpose, we all have different ideas about the dog situation in the TRNC, my concerns are for the dogs not the institutions.

[cjtill]

Jacob
The best way to change a policy that you do not agree with is to be part of the change !!!
To do this I suggest you join KAR (by becoming a life member) and then putting yourself forward for election to the Committee at the next AGM (July 2016?).
If\when you are elected then you can then try and get your ideas implemented by the democratic process.
Until then all the whinging in the world wont change anything.
Go on, give it a go !!!
Michael

[erol]

.....my concerns are for the dogs not the institutions.

Your concern is for the stray dogs to be put down it would seem to me ?

[Mozgor]

Girne Beledeyesi placed a rather large advert in Cyprus today a couple of Saturdays ago advertising the meeting, so in my opinion, they did publicise it, but perhaps not everyone who would have liked to have gone saw it?

It's a positive move by Girne Beledeyesi who are actually the second Beledeyi to adhere to the law and in particular trying to involve the public is commendable! Famagusta Beledeyesi's compound is nearing completion and sounds like a similar set up to what Girne Beledeyesi are proposing.

As ex pats, all we can do is be encouraged by the fact this is actually happening, it will take a lot of pressure off KAR which is a privately run charity rescue centre. Who, in my opinion, have done and continue to do a great job where nobody else has until now.

Even if dogs are neutered and returned to the streets, it's a whole lot better than leaving them to breed and perpetuate the problem. Neutering will address the source of the problem, but it will take time to make a significant difference as it will just mean the 200-500 dogs will be encarcerated rather than roaming free. However, at least they will be safe, fed, neutered and receive veterinary treatment.

Well done Famagusta and Girne Belediyesi for actually doing something!

Moyra

[Hippocampus]

I find the term "stray", although widely used, to be an unfortunate one. The animals wandering the streets have not strayed away from their home but been dumped because they are sick or pregnant, grown up from being a cute puppy, no good for hunting etc. or simply because they need a clip! What is required is a massive education campaign with a view to changing the attitude of the irresponsible masses. Collecting more and more animals in prisons is very costly indeed and does not give them a good life, and those removed from the streets will very soon be replaced by more.

I welcome a Cypriot run shelter, simply because the publicity may spawn a greater awareness of the need for a responsible attitude towards companion animals, but those involved must understand that hoarding more and more in shelters is NOT the answer, the emphasis has to be on neutering, along with actual prosecutions for breaking the animal welfare laws.

I did not attend the meeting because I assumed it would be held in Turkish.