Stella's Corner : the Latest Animal Welfare News

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On this page Argos founder Stella will regularly bring you up to date news on a wide range of subjects concerning the shelters activities and any other information that concerns animal welfare in general. Whatever the news and however it affects the shelter and its mission, our supporters have a right to know.

February News.

In July 2011, CVA launched an islandwide survey for the purpose of determining the philozoic sentiments of the island’s population and the performance of the relevant authority ( Community Councils/ municipalities, District Veterinary Services and Police), commissioned under the animal welfare and protection laws in  the implementation of repressive and aversive measures for abused animals.
The survey was conducted in both Greek and English and 1072 people participated. The results were astounding and apocalyptic. It is evident that the majority of the population is disappointed with the performance of the relevant authorities in the way they handle problems in relation to animal rights and animal welfare and control. Moreover, it reveals that ignorance predominates around the whole system of animal control.
The survey results are by no means an unexpected outcome to animal welfare organisations that have been striving for many years to persuade the government into instituting a proper system of animal control and implementation of the relevant animal welfare laws. Instead, the government remains indifferent and continues to ignore public demand.  Here are the synoptic results of the survey:

  • 88% Believe that Cyprus does not offer a proper system for animal welfare.
  • 70% Believe that the veterinary services do not execute their duties efficiently.
  • 41% Are not satisfied with the services offered by the Local Authorities.
  • 70% Are dissatisfied with the non implementation of the law by the police.
  • 84% Have stated that they are in favour of an annual general tax of €10 to be levied on all taxpayers and used for the creation of a well organised pet animal welfare and control fund only 4% were against such a tax.
  • 42% Stated that such a fund would be administered efficiently and with transparency by animal welfare organisations.
  • 31% Stated that such a fund would be better administered by a combination of animal welfare organisations, veterinary Services and the police.
  • 42% Stated that they are in favour of the abolition of the dog licences and the same percentage stated that they are against its abolition.
  • 79% Stated that they are willing to sterilise their animals and the same number called for a subsidised sterilisation scheme.
  • 60% Stated that animals do not enjoy good living conditions.
  • 80% Stated that the police did not respond adequately to calls related with animal matters.
  • 87% Are dissatisfied with the local authority’s refusal to deal with issues relating to cat problems.
  • 41.3% Are not happy with the services offered by Local Authority on the control of stray dogs.
  • 63.7% Stated that if they lost their dog they would not trust the local authority looking after it in the pound.

It is evident that the government is either ignorant regarding the wishes and demands of the population regarding animal welfare or deliberately chooses to avoid the issue.
          
The survey findings send an important message to the state; those designated as the competent authority under the relevant animal welfare Laws, are considered as inappropriate and incompetent to handle the welfare of animals.  We have all been witnesses to the suffering of dogs in the hellholes they call ‘pounds’ and the way that colonies of cats are dealt with.  They have stated many times that they do not want to have anything to do with animals and in fact, refuse outright to implement the law. 

The most important issue arising from this survey is the desire of the people to proceed with changes in their own lives for the purpose of improving the quality of life of animals.  Similarly, nearly half of the survey participants expressed more confidence in animal welfare organisations implementing the law than by government authorities.

Animal welfare organisations have shown that they can do a better job; they have proven that they are the competent and appropriate authority to control and care for our homeless pets and by popular demand; the responsibility should be legally assigned to them.  Why does the government not support the already proven authority on this subject?

Stella


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