Paphos People

On my way to work today I came across around half a dozen animals that had been killed on the roads. I can't understand why there seem to be more some days than others, but today seemed particularly bad.

I am not going to bang on about how awful it is because yes, of course it is. But IMHO it is no worse than in the UK. Over Christmas we saw many animals dead on the UK roads. The difference was that they were mainly wild animals, not domestic ones, whereas in Cyprus we see mainly domestic animals.

The One Show has highlighted the abandoned animals in the UK following Christmas. They have been dumped in the streets and by roadsides. This is no different to what happens in Cyprus at the end of hunting season, except that in the UK there are more animal charities to take them in and put them to sleep. You don't have it "in your face" so much.

I just find it sad that the animals are allowed to roam so freely in Cyprus. Having a licence doesn't seem to mean anything - just a source of revenue really, as I feel sure the owners aren't traced. The roads are very dark at night, and it is difficult to see them on unlit roads. I dread to think how I will feel if I ever kill an animal on these roads, but I don't think I could just leave it there to get mangled some more.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

On an animal welfare note, but going off at a completely different tangent Verity, my son-in-law Dan and I were working at a customer's house last week, just east of Limassol. Having completed the job we were sitting having a drink and a chat with the customer and the conversation turned to his two dogs.

He then mentioned that he didn't like cats because they roam into other people's gardens. He went on to say that some time ago he bought a brand new car and a few days later he noticed paw prints on the paintwork of the car, which annoyed him intensley, because the car was so new (as if the cat was supposed to know that).

The next time he spotted the offending cat, sitting on top of his car, he went indoors for his air rifle, aimed it at the cat's head, shot and killed it. He also took aim at another cat in his garden at the same time and shot and killed that too. He told us this quite matter-of-factly, without any remorse or feeling of guilt. His view was that the cat was on his property - and worse still, on his brand new car - and was therefore fair game. He made no bones that he would do the same thing again. He even knew that Dan and I were both cat owners and lovers, but it made no difference.

On the spur of the moment it's hard to know what to do, or say, when someone (a customer) is as blase and indifferent about his cruelty. Human to human, he was a really nice, friendly and hospitable individual, which made his actions all the more surprising.

A couple of years ago, I remember a taverna owner in Acheleia telling us (while Ann and I were having a meal there) that he had such a problem with stray cats in and around his taverna that one day he put down poison...and killed thirty of them in one go. Again, no remorse or feeling of guilt, it was said so matter of factly. As has so often been observed, it's a cultural thing. Lloyd

Hi Verity,

Puts a lump in my throat everytime i see a dead animal at the roadside. I ran a cat over last year and obviousley stopped and picked it up,Went to the closest house but nobody was in. Next morning went back to the same house and asked if they had lost a Cat to which they said theirs had,nt been in all night. (Gulp). Anyway told them about the poor cat that i ran over and they said it must be theirs but never mind, "Its only a Cat" Nearly kicked him in the B*****KS.

Russ.

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Did you think i would leave you dying.
When there's room on my horse for two.

Personally I think the people of Cyprus should be accountable for their animals & a law should be passed to that affect

At present, most Cypriots who have a dog & if it runs off, they don't go looking for it, no, they just go to the animal rescue centers & try to get another one to replce it...

To keep an animal you have to get it chipped (approx 35€), registered with the Govenment Vet (approx 9€) & then registered with the Muhktars office in your villiage (approx 20€) so its not a big expense to kep an animal maybe thats the problem

Cypriots need to start understanding that animals are for life, not just a quick fad that they can just throw away when they get bored with it It make me quite mad seeing all these dead animals & it seems no matter how much we complain about it, nothing changes

Pete

I have seen two young dogs on the road to Polis today. Both alive, but I don't think they have an owner nearby. A beautiful brown hunting puppy dog looked half starved. When I see these dogs it haunts me. I almost stopped to see if the brown one would get in my car, but I know it would not be right as we can't care for him/her.

At this time of year we see many like this around our area. Either they have run off or their owners have dumped them as they are no good for hunting.

I am going to start carrying dried food in the boot of my car. At least I can feed an animal if I see it. The danger is that I won't be able to leave it there then. Phil will kill me if I turn our house into an animal sanctuary.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com

Lots of pet animals get killed on the roads in the UK. The difference there is that they are quickly removed by the local authority so you tend not to see the problem. Cats especially have no road sense whatsoever.

Here the animals are usually left to become a tarmac pizza.

It wasn't that long ago that a horse was left at the roadside in Paphos, and was only removed when the smell became intolerable for those living nearby.

One thing we Brits have brought here with our love of pet dogs is an ever growing amount of dog crap on our footpaths. We didn't have that when dogs were kept in pens

I agree with you on that one KG, I have a puppy & when we take her for walk, whether it be around the village or down at the Lighthouse beach path, we always carry a poopy bag with us and 9 times out of 10, we'll use it as a dog as to go, when a dog has to go.....

The other 1 time she doesn't do anything, so no mess anyway but we see other dog owners just letting their dogs crap on the path & not bother with it, which is disgusting imo

Maybe the government should start fining people for allowing their dog to foul without clearing it up, it might stop the majority of them then

It doesn't take a minute to clean up after your dog and it is disgusting that people don't.

It is illegal to take dogs on beaches, but that isn't actively enforced, although you never know when it will be. I have no problem with dogs being on beaches. My problem is with the owners who don't control them and clean up after them.

Verity.

_________________
Verity.

Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

http://coecyp.blogspot.com