Girne mayor announces "feeding points" for stray animals

[iancrumpy]

Seeing as we have so many animal-lovers on this forum I thought it appropriate to tell you what’s written in this news report :

http://www.gundemkibris.com/girne-beled ... 44269h.htm

Yesterday, the mayor of Girne, Sümer Aygın, announced that “feeding points” (as shown below) for stray animals would be placed at various locations around the town. Aygın said that over recent years, largely because of the municipality’s neutering programme, they had reduced the number of strays wandering the streets. He went on to say that the remaining animals had a right to be treated more humanely.

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It is not clear from the report who is expected to provide the food at these “feeding points”, but I presume it would be the public.

One wonders why such an inititive is only in Girne ... and a couple of reasons spring to mind :

- Girne’s population probably increases by at least 50% in the summer months and innevitably this leads to homeless animals in the autumn – and no, I don’t mean because of the expats holidaying around that region (but yes, they are a factor) – I was thinking more of the Lefkoşians, many of whom have summer homes in and around Girne.

- It would seem to me that Aygın is aware of how sensitive the expats living in his town are on animal welfare ... and possibly (putting on my cynical hat) he just wants to appease them with a scheme that will cost him and his belediye next to nothing ... that is, of course assuming Joe Public cooperates by providing the food.

By the way, here in China we don't seem to have any strays ... you probably know the reason why ...

[DAVPAT]

Seeing as we have so many animal-lovers on this forum I thought it appropriate to tell you what’s written in this news report :

http://www.gundemkibris.com/girne-beled ... 44269h.htm

Yesterday, the mayor of Girne, Sümer Aygın, announced that “feeding points” (as shown below) for stray animals would be placed at various locations around the town. Aygın said that over recent years, largely because of the municipality’s neutering programme, they had reduced the number of strays wandering the streets. He went on to say that the remaining animals had a right to be treated more humanely.

************************************************
It is not clear from the report who is expected to provide the food at these “feeding points”, but I presume it would be the public.

One wonders why such an inititive is only in Girne ... and a couple of reasons spring to mind :

- Girne’s population probably increases by at least 50% in the summer months and innevitably this leads to homeless animals in the autumn – and no, I don’t mean because of the expats holidaying around that region (but yes, they are a factor) – I was thinking more of the Lefkoşians, many of whom have summer homes in and around Girne.

- It would seem to me that Aygın is aware of how sensitive the expats living in his town are on animal welfare ... and possibly (putting on my cynical hat) he just wants to appease them with a scheme that will cost him and his belediye next to nothing ... that is, of course assuming Joe Public cooperates by providing the food.

By the way, here in China we don't seem to have any strays ... you probably know the reason why ...

.and you never go hungry Ian!!!!

[Rambling Rose]

Well on first sight it makes good sense . KAR (I dont disagree with them on everything!) have long been advising people to feed strays away from houses as neighbours may object to lots of animals around, and it also makes sense not to feed near restaurants and food stores . So if the sites are well chosen - the problem may be to find somewhere they will be seen put not too populous. I also wonder if they remember animals need water as well as food and who will top that up. And what they will do about the vermin and snakes which might also be attracted.

I think they will also need some form of warden to check the sites regularly - and clean up!

[cyprusishome]

Saw one of these this afternoon in main car park wooded area. Excellent idea except both sides of this one were full of water!

An idea, when you have eaten in one of the cafes opposite Belediyse wrap your left overs in napkin and put them in feeder rather that fed cats at the table.

[Philoz]

Feeding up strays is creditable in some ways- no animal lover wants to see a starving dog,or cat.
However, once the strays are all well fed, their thoughts will turn to breeding with another stray-so the problem goes on.
The only answer is a neutering program in my opinion.
And while I'm at it, why not spend some cash on a huge sonic anti dog barking devise on the top of the mountains_ I would definitely chip in some cash for that!

[Jo Valentine]

The Winter Strays have upset me for many years but unfortunately I don't spend enough time there to do anything of practical assistance. It has been left to KAR and some amazingly good animal lovers. Anything that is being done by Girne will be a big help, but as pointed out, will there be anyone to clear up after dinner?
Jo Valentine
http://www.jamesvalentineremovals.co.uk
The Specialists in Removals and Shipping to and from North Cyprus

[Philoz]

Ooo hello Jo.
I never thanked you for moving me here-so A big thank you JO!!

[Rambling Rose]

I agree neutering is the best answer to the stray problem, Philoz, but it is long term. This is short term palliative,and at least it shows recognition of the problem, even if it may have been motivated by the fact that starving animals are not a successful tourist attraction! And healthy , nourished animals undergo operations better than starving ones.

I hope, though, that anyone donating scraps will remember that some human food is dangerous for animals - fish and chicken bones, for instance, can stick in animal's throats.

[CatalkoyChris]

I think this is quite a dangerous move.
It will attract/encourage rats, pigeons, seagulls and all sorts.
Strays will accumulate at the best feed points, and it will become a pack territory - there may be some aggression from the packs.

Strays should be re-homed (ideally), neutered, or sadly destroyed (as a last resort, coming from an animal lover).

And just like a previous poster, healthier strays will breed exacerbating the problem.

[cyprusishome]

If somebody from belediye put food out at regular times so critters get used to it then get a crew out to catch them all and neuter.

It would not cost much as part of the town clean up program. Wherever one travels there are always dogs and cats around bars and restaurants, it is a fact of life but simple control by the authorities makes visitors more likely to return and may even drop some pennies into a collection box to maintain the system.

[annanirvanna]

Not being cynical and if this is genuine offer to help the poor animals then well done the mayor and hope it really works.

Howver what went through my mind is:- Hmm!!! collection points to feed strays, what an ideal way for some nasty "unfriendly-to -strays" people to pop some poison in the feed points and cull as many poor unwanted animals as possible. From what I read these people are quite happy to chuck a bit of poisoned food into some-ones garden or on their paths (all of which is private land of the house owners).

[Rambling Rose]

Oh my dear Anna! You do rush in where angels fear to tread - or at least I ( though no angel , am cautious. I thought of the poison risk but didnt post about it for fear of putting ideas in people's heads!

I was also keeping some reservations to myself because I really hate to pour water on what I am sure is well intentioned, but I share CCs concerns about attracting vermin etc. and pack aggression.

What I rather hope is these points might be sited near (but not TOO close) participating restaurants etc. and the owners might monitor them in return for not having their customers pestered by begging animals..

As for using the collection points for a "crew" to catch and neuter the animals. First catch your crew. Without wishing to appear either elitist or racist, the fact is that most of the Belidye workers will (a) disapprove of neutering (particulary males); (b) hate dogs or (c) be afraid of them - with some reason I I think catching some of the larger, more traumatised strays (short of a stun gun) would make the average animal owner/lover think twice. I one tried to catch a feral cat* and bear the scars to this day. And who is to do the neutering? Maybe a few farmers castrate large animals in James Heriot films, but unless you are going to get a cruelty outcry you need an awful lot of Vets, where are they going to come from?

* before anyone starts criticising - the cat belonged to a friend who had gone to UK for health treatmentleaving money with a neighbour to feed the cat. When her condition was diagnosed as terminal , she appealed to me to take in the pet animal. Unfortunately the money had run out, the cat gone completely wild and bore the scars of several fights and (appeals for help to the obvious source having been rejected despite my offer to adopt the cat) I was unable to catch it single handed .

[Rambling Rose]

Just to lighten the thread a little, having posted the above, I found Yahoo had chosen to draw my attention to the story of a Russian grandmother who had tackled with her bare hands a wolf which threatened her flocks My I record here and now that I have no intention of trying this at home with any stray animal which might chose to patronise the feeding points.

[woodspeckie]

In Akyaka in Turkey where I holiday every morning and afternoon a lady from the Council walks round the village putting dried food out for the cats & dogs, even though there are a lot of them around you never get a visit from them in the Hotel I stay in or the Restaurants around, volunteer vets and assistants drive round the area once a month to check on the condition of the animals, they have all been neutered and wear red or blue tags in their ears, also in Cesme the vets travel round checking the animals but I haven't seen them being fed there.

[sylv]

I too think that these feeding points leave the way open for poison to be laid. The ideal way to get rid of several dogs in one go! Plus, of course, the odd child as well if no care is taken.

The Turkish Animal Rescue Organisation (TARO) has an army of caring people who go out every day armed with bags of food for the stray dogs. The dogs know where the feeding points are going to be and gather there. Surely a similar scheme could be introduced here.

[Rambling Rose]

Another snag is that the strays may be carrying disease and will certainly have ticks, fleas and worms, so it would be unwise to allow a child near these points, or even a properly cared for pet animal.

But it is interesting that Turkey seems to be coping with the stray problem better than here! Does anyone know if they have a poison problem, and how the feeding points deal with the varyious points raised here - eg fighting, vermin etc.

Meanwhile the only way to find out if it works it to try it. I dont get to Girne very much these days, so for the benefit of people like me I hope anyone seeing them in action will be kind enough to report here.

[woodspeckie]

Rose. I have never heard of any poisoning and never seen any dogs or cats fighting for the food and I have been going to Turkey for 15 years, not just to the places I have mentioned above and seen the same dogs year after year, some do have their own territory and will chase others off, we have had dogs joining in with us on walks quite funny with a couple of them they have walked in front of us and kept turning round to see if we are following.

[sylv]

I think that there seems to be more people in mainland Turkey trying to help the stray dog population. However it is an uphill struggle. The Government are trying to introduce a Bill whereby all stray dogs would be rounded up, taken to remote forests (called 'natural parks') and left with no access to food, water, etc. In other words left to die. There have been huge demonstrations against the Bill all over Turkey but as yet the Government has not relented.

The mayor's plan therefore seems a good choice if it works. At least the strays will be given a chance of life albeit a difficult existence.

[Rambling Rose]

Woodspeckie: You reminded me of a holiday in Turkey some years ago wwhen a lovely friendly dog came up and insisted on showing me all its favourite walks - who says dogs can't talk! I assumed it belonged to someone from the hotel as it seemed reasonably well nourished and in fairly good condition. Perhaps that is the answer to the stray problem - train them as tourist guides!!!!

I Googled TARO and it seems they are British based (though ith a lot of local support) and have some pretty good funding - Marks & Spencer and Debenhams no less. So it seems its the old , old problem here, lack of money and non-recognition! At least the Mayor has made an effort. Lets hope all our fears are not realised and at least it alleviates the problem.

[sylv]

As a member of TARO, the organisation is not directly supported by large companies in the UK but uses a system to raise money by asking people to register with 'Easyfundraising' whereby each time you shop on line with some companies, i.e. Debenhams, Next, etc. an amount is credited to TARO, so far only £680 has been raised but this is better than nothing.

I think this is only available to charities that are UK based otherwise I would suggest that KAR maybe join a similar scheme to raise funds.

I am not sure who is going to keep these feeding stations maintained with food for the dogs. Hopefully people will not chuck in any old bits of food who use them as litter bins!

[Munchkin]

It is a stupid idea to encourage stray (potentially starving) pack dogs into one of the main very busy tourist areas in Girne, has the Girne mayor not read of the horrendous unprovoked dog attacks that have been happening in Cyprus ? these dogs should be kept well away from the main crowd or put down.

[sylv]

All the street dogs I have encountered in Girne seem fairly docile and rather desperate for some attention. Never have I seen hoards of dangerous dogs rampaging through the streets.

The situation here is so appalling with stray animals, both dogs and cats, the only answer is education regarding neutering. I think the last post advocating 'putting down' is somewhat extreme to say the least. Obviously not an animal lover!

[Rambling Rose]

Sylv: Sorry if my post was misleading. I did not mean to imply TARO had direct funding from the orgnisations mentioned, just to make the point that, being British based, it had access to methods of funding that aren't available here (to KAR or anyone else concerned with stray animals). But I suppose in Britain they are more concerned with strays there, and Charity begins at home!

I have been attacked by a pack of large strays (or rather they attacked a small puppy and me in trying to protect it ) and it was very frightening - but it was some time ago and in the foothills, not in town. I agree that most of the strays around Girne are docile and seem actually tame, which tends to suggest that they were abandoned rather than second generation feral.

AS for feeding, I hope people will adopt an earlier suggestion here, and take their meal leavings to the boxes rather than feeding strays at table , and hopefully restaurants will also use them for suitable surplus food.

[cyprusishome]

The dogs may appear docile however if there is a bitch in heat and 20 dogs all trying their luck then you will have a problem.

Most of the groups in Girne are quite small but have a look just past the roundabout going to Tourist harbour, near Manpeni restaurant and you may see 15 or 20 of various age, size and gender. All probably well fed from the restaurant but they are a potential hazard to individuals and to traffic. In this instance a cull is required before an incident occurs. I have seen young chilldren encouraged by the fool parents attempting to give morsels or even stroke. Imagine what will happen when one of the dogs turns and the child becomes a plaything!!!!!

[Rambling Rose]

I think the attacks Munchkin refer to were not by strays, but "owned" dogs on or near their own territory. This is going slightly off topic, but it is relevant in that if these dogs are allowed to stray or abandoned and breed the stray population will become larger and less decile.

I dont think it can be said too often a policy is needed to make owners more responsible for large aggressive animals (ideally to stop them being imported or bred) and certainly to prevent them being abandoned to joint the strays, Most of the current strays may have been abandoned or neglected - but generally it is dogs that have been subject to deliberate cruelty (possibly even to encourage their aggression) that are particularly dangerous

[iancrumpy]

Source : http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/ ... ame/toplum

TRNC's Veterinary Association have weighed into this debate saying that, although they appreciate the efforts of the municipality, they feel these feeding points will not really help the animals. They also stated that these points will not reduce the likelihood of humans contracting diseases such as zoonosis and leishmaniaisis.

The Veterinary Association is advising the belediye to collect the animals, put them in temporary shelters, providing them with food and medical care ... until kindly folk out there are willing to take the animals off their hands ... at first I too thought the Vets' Association were living in cloud cuckoo land, but then I realised it is (probably just a vain) attempt to earn more business for their members ... sorry, am I being too cynical again ...

[Rambling Rose]

Not too cynical at all Ian, I agree. Unfortunately I think we are reaching (if we have not already reached) the situation where the number of strays exceeds the number of people who , with the best will in the world, are able and willing to take them in. The ideal situation is to give more support to animal carers while conducting an Island wide neutering programme - but now it is I who am off into cloud cuckoo land! Meanwhile they should at least take the opportunity when they are got together of painlessly destroying those that are oviously diseased . injured and in pain, or large and wild enough to pose a threat to people and other animals.

[Rambling Rose]

Not too cynical at all Ian, I agree. Unfortunately I think we are reaching (if we have not already reached) the situation where the number of strays exceeds the number of people who , with the best will in the world, are able and willing to take them in. The ideal situation is to give more support to animal carers while conducting an Island wide neutering programme - but now it is I who am off into cloud cuckoo land! Meanwhile they should at least take the opportunity when they are got together of painlessly destroying those that are oviously diseased . injured and in pain, or large and wild enough to pose a threat to people and other animals.

[suehowlittle]

If the cat feeders are on the floor - will they get any food? The dogs can reach it and will scoff the lot. 10 cats meals = 1 dog's meal. Cats will still be hungry and the dogs will sit there all day waiting for food to be put into the trays.

[maggymay]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me where these feeding points are. Thanks.

[woodspeckie]

There is one on the square near the main car park it was full to the top with food one cat feeding and one in the park near the footpath leading to the car park that was full too at 4pm yesterday.

[Rambling Rose]

After all the correspondence there was on this, it would be nice to hear if and how they are being used, and whether they are creating the problems we anticipated. I dont often go into town, but I will keep a look out for the one in the carpark.

[woodspeckie]

Another one on the Harbour yesterday had plenty of food and water in it.