A sorry story: animal lovers in Ozanköy beware

[Rambling Rose]

Last year on two separate occasions, I found two dead cats in the corner of mygarden under an orange tree. No wounds or signs of convulsions, so I hoped natural causes, but worried about poison.

This year late Fri evening in May found litter of four sweet black kittens in the hedge which shades the dog run - dogs v. upset! No way could afford Vets bills for 5 more animals (incl. Mum) even if I could catch them single handed. Shut the dogs out, left food for Mummy cat and emailed KAR, explaining and adding they would have no access problems since on my property, and in dog run which shut off three escape routes, and also there was a potential poison risk and the cats were causing my and neighbours dogs to bark and possibly attract poison so many animals at risk. Mon afternoon phoned KAR and nice lady said she would ask "cat catchers" if they could come. Cancelled appointment for day in question and then got email from KAR saying stop feeding and Mother cat will move kittens out of danger zone. She did - straight into harm's way in the garden of the neighbours most suspect for poison. Reported to KAR whose reply distressed me to the state of tears.

Cat and kittens sat on garden wall and taunted dogs. Through all the hot weather I could not work, rest or play or even eat without jumping up several times to chase off cats and hush dogs .

Last week dogs came to tell me mother cat dead under the SAME tree as last year. Two kitten still around teasing dogs. Sun evening dog took me by the hand (literally) and lead me back to the same tree. Not much fun disposing of dead kitten with one hand holding torch. Thank goodness for a spaniel cross whose instincts with dead animals is to mark and report. The other two (particularly the puppy) arent so trustworth.

I asked a Cypriot friend for advice . He says there are a lot of rats around
and it is almost cetainly poison but will abate soon in colder weather - not much comfort.

continued

[Rambling Rose]

This morning I went out on a rather hopeless hunt to rescue remaining kitten, though if I had and how I would have coped with the dogs I dont know. It was on the roof with yet another black cat - an enormous one (the mother cat was petite) and no doubt a tom come a-courting, and the whole thing will start again. I dont think I can take much more. Can anyone give advice or assistance.

Meanwhile it looks as if someone is putting poison out of reach of dogs (all but one of the adjoining houses have dogs of their own)but where cats being climbers and less subject to restrictions are getting at it. But dogs can get secondary poisoning. Ozankoy residents please beware for your animals and keep an eye out for poison possibly placed at high level.

What is needed is not culling dogs (as I believe the Government is now authorsing) or putting more stress and cost on responsible owners by illogical and difficult registration procedures as some charities advocate.
A solution has to be found to destroying vermin and farmers and shepherds etc. taught to use it in a safer way. Surely the EU should be looking at this island wide, rather than spending our taxes improving their golf handicapps.

Sorry about the rant and long post but I have reached the end of my tether. I cant walk my dogs except one at a time on a lead and I cant even let them run in my garden without supervision.

[Marions]

What do KAR or a local vet recommend. surely someone in thelocality should have some kind of an answer for you.Understand your frustration. I have only one dog and am paranoid about taking her for a walk because of all the hazards. Been poisoning in this village a ocuple of times, so...... and the cats are safe, but do not spend too much time out of doors. But there must be some kind of answer. Doesn't anyone see anyone put poison anywhere?

[Rambling Rose]

Marion: As I tried to indicate (but didnt stress for fear of starting a contentious thread) KAR didnt want to know, though it was an ideal opportunity for them. Local Vets are aware of poisening generally but seem to be helpless and what could they do in an individual case?

Ive never seen anyone laying poison(you would certainly have heard about it if I had!) - no doubt they take great care not to be seen: but I suggested that in this instance it could be at high level where people dont normally expect it - partly why I did the post. I should also make the point that cats can access places most dog's can't - so they are not only also at risk but can carry poison to places where other animals can get it, such as gardens which have been made secure for dogs. If I hadnt got to the dead cats soon enough (and one of my dogs wasnt a spaniel) and my dogs had bitten or rolled on the body they could have been poisoned> Attacking the stray dog problem in isolation is not going to solve the poison problem.

I am not just frustrated - I am seriously upset . It is not only the risk to my dogs and spoiling their and my lives. I am not a cat person but I care enough not to like four cats possibly dying in agony in my garden. And I am not young and slightly handicapped - it is difficult and unpleasant to keep having to dispose of dead animals. Which is another point: unless there is a hygenic method of destroying dead poisoned animals, strays and vermin will attack the bodies and spread the poison. Not a pleasant subject, I know, but I am fed up with people going all smarmy about soft cuddly animals (although I must admit I nearly fell for the kitten!) and not facing the underlying problems.

[stellasstar1]

My friend just told me about some dogs in her lane in Karsiyaka , including one of her neighbours being poisoned last week. The neighbours dogs are in an enclosed garden, and the owners were out. One dogs was inside, and the other had been left in the garden, and that was the one that ate the meat and died. This seems to be getting worse at the moment. Her immediate neighbour whose dog died is English, but the other 3 houses that lost animals were all Cypriots.

[Rambling Rose]

Yes, Stella, that is another problem. The poisening used to be done by farmers, shepherds etc., protecting their flocks and crops and livelihoods - not nice but while poison is the only weapon against predators available to them , it is inevitable and difficult for any Government to deal with. This is why I was trying (ineptly I am afraid) to get people interested in pressing spefically for an alternative solution to vermin rather than a useless cry of "The Government should do something"

But there is another problem now that people appear to be specifically targeting pet (including rescued) dogs on their own premises. There is evidence that these are British who object to dogs on principle (or because of the noise) and are not prepared to accept things as they are, but must go to nasty extremes to change them to their liking. Dogs and their owners (even responsible ones who , againat great expense, provide gardens for their dogs to run and play without disturbing others) are increasing being restricted to the inside of their own houses , which is no life for either. We need pulic support and that of the animal charities. And, to repeat, cats are not exempt - they can get to places another animals cannot reach, and carry the poison.