Dog Breeding Compound on Ozankoy Church Land

[Enchanted]

I would like to bring your attention to the wanton vandalism of the Ozankoy Greek Chapel. (For those who do not know its location, head 500m east from Erdener supermarket & turn right at the fruit & veg stall into Gamarez Caddesi. It is 500m on the right by the sharp S bend).

The land around the church has been rented out to grow vegetables.
Sadly building work has now begun on the church land to provide kennelling for dog breeding and a cess pit for the animal waste. This area is right up against the village graves.

This wil be a humanitarian issue for our Greek neighbours and their church leaders need to be informed before it is too late.

At least once a year there are several parties of Greeks that come to this chapel….and indeed bring a Priest with them and a service is conducted.

Whilst we here in the North are struggling to find a peaceful solution with our Greek neighbours it is essential to show respect to their Churches.

[Deniz1]

Not Ozanköy its in Çatalköy behind Anı restaurant rear car park. It was a lovely peaceful place with many wild flowers.There is a newish house there I think they will be very happy with puppies yapping night and day right next door.

[Deniz1]

Iwish I knew how they got permission we have enough dog problems without breeding more!.

[Cally]

I couldn't be more in agreement about having respect for the Greek Church & those that visit it.
I also am totally against dog breeding for money anywhere as the innocents usually live a life of hell.
My only suggestion is to bring it to the attention of KAR & Hope for Pets as both have charity status in TRNC. There are also local animal groups that might be able to help, Altin Patiler Dernegi & Kibris Hayvaniar Hakiari, they both have fb pages.
Good luck

[Cally]

I have just copied your post to both the local animal groups, Altin Patiler Dernegi & Kibris Hayvaniar Hakiari.

[DieHard]

Where is this happening? The land has been cleared around the Greek church in Ozankoy, why has Catalkoy been mentioned, I am confused.

[Enchanted]

I have a jpg showing the destruction of the Ozankoy chapel land. how do I post this please?

[Keithcaley]

I have a jpg showing the destruction of the Ozankoy chapel land. how do I post this please?

There are instructions on how to do this on the forum, but if you don't have the time to read up on it, please just email the picture to me keithcaley@yahoo.com & I will post it for you...

The picture can be full size - as big as you like, I'll make it fit

[Enchanted]

Pictures showing the concrete base for the dog kennels, & foundation trenches for wall and fences. The olive trees have been vandalised too.

[Deniz1]

The tiny ruined greek church in Catalkoy where people leave flowers on the graves is surrounded by piles of excavated earth. I apologise I thought this is where you meant. Something is going on there too then.

[Enchanted]

Now with pictures showing the construction of the concrete slab for the kennels. Trenches with concrete are right up against the graveyard & will no doubt be walls & fences.

[ljarvo]

I wonder if the kennels have approval - as we all know there is enough dog problems as it is...let alone more breeding.

Would Vakif rent this land for this purpose - do they even know??

[sophie]

Those with real concerns, could you read and then follow the instructions as below.

1. This basic thread (not individual ones other than the original) has been passed on to the appropriate department at Girne Belediye. As a result they have been to the area concerned in Ozankoy and spoken to the person concerned and he has assured them that the area is to be used as a garden, with trees, vegetables etc. However he will be keeping his own TWO dogs there but NOT for breeding purposes.

2. For those of you who wish to take the matter further, please write an official report of complaint to the District Office in Girne AND to Eski Eserler Dairesi (the Government Department which relates to Ancient buildings/Ministry of Tourism). If you are able to find out who he is renting from or the actual owner of the land, this will help the authorities. Speed is of the essence and it needs to be sorted out quickly before it goes too far

3. The person who is renting the land is actually a Belediye worker who says he doesn't want to be disrespectful to
anyone regarding the religious aspect and is ready to cooperate with anyone and the relevant Authorities.

4. I'm not in a position to hand out email addresses, but the contact at the District Office is Naile Soyel and where your written official complaint should be sent.

You are right to be concerned and the more information you can supply the better. I repeat that speed is of the essence.

Please do not contact me here or privately as I can do no more, but the above do want you to contact them with FACTS asap. Obviously you can keep Kibcom members updated!!

[Enchanted]

Perhaps the gentleman concerned would like to visit the solicitor Peyman in Girne and provide her with a document/ letter outlining his intentions.
Then there can be no misunderstandings.

I understand this gentleman lives in a house further down the road from the chapel. The dogs concerned are large, and bark aggressively.

I suspect these dogs have been driving his neighbours mad, so perhaps he has come up with the solution of moving the problem up the road. Should this be the case then he should be required to keep them muzzled.

The concrete infrastructure and extensive groundworks belie that this is a home for a couple of family pets.

This is a resting place for the dead and should be respected as such.

Take a walk down there and see for yourselves.

[jazzdolly]

Clearly I am the first to say it.

Respect for our Greek neighbours?!!!!!!

Come on! Are you serious? Do you actually watch the news or know anything about the bile that is fed through the Greek Orthodox church about the TRNC?!!!!!

And yes, I consider myself a christian and see wholly inappropriate unchristian sentiment from the Greek side ALL the time!

As for the dogs. Yes, I agree, it shouldn't be allowed. And this is what the post should be about. It should have nothing to do with what the Greek Cypriots do/ do not think!!!

I really don't think it is for any of us to tell people who have lived through the atrocities they lived through, what to do regarding the Greeks, unless they were actually there during the war and fought for their freedom, along side them.

[Soner]

I am not familiar with the church and surrounding area, but there is clearly some concern as to what is going on. Irrespective of personal feelings on what the Orthodox Church may have done and the way they may act towards muslim TC's, does not mean that we should not care about places of worship and graveyards, whatever the religion. An eye for an eye is not a solution, to do what is morally correct is a far better approach. Let's not turn this topic into racial politics.

[Welldigger]

Why mention what the Greeks will think in the first place then?! Who cares what they think? If the issue is illegal building in TRNC land then it is a local/national issue and is of no concern of what “our neighbours” may think.

[sophie]

There was a lot of "gnashing of teeth" at the start of this thread. I wonder if anyone actually went along with the recommendations in Messg. 13. Such a pity if no-one did.

[sophie]

No-one?

[Cally]

Some strange people Sophie, whilst I am against a breeding facility of any kind I am based in UK.

I did bring it to the attention of a friend who lives in Ozankoy & who had no idea & said she knew a "legal" person. I haven't heard anything since

[sophie]

Cally, "you can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink" comes to mind.

[Enchanted]

All the appropriate departments are aware of what is going on at the chapel land. Inspectors I'm told have been down to the church land. Work stopped at present, and the lawyers are on the case. Lets wait ans see what happens next.

[Cally]

Thank you for the update Enchanted, it was a little worrying being in UK & having no idea what is happening

[sophie]

Re Message 3. The authorities did want as many people to write and complain, so that they had more ammunition, but as you say Enchanted "lets wait and see"