Filenews 5 June 2021 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
Penalties for serious animal abuse are doubled, while municipalities are given the power for the first time to issue out-of-court documents for various violations of the law. These are provided for in two bills prepared by the Ministries of Agriculture and Justice.
According to a bill prepared, anyone who kills an animal or mistreats it will be punished with imprisonment of up to five years if it is a second time or a fine of up to €20,000. The two new bills are in consultation and once the green light is received they will go through the Cabinet to be sent to the House.
The amendment of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act proposes, by the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and the Police, to the Ministry of Agriculture to amend Article 27 of the Law to increase the penalty for serious offences, such as:
- Killing an animal
- Organisation of matches between animals or during which they are mistreated or killed
- Hard work or training of an animal that reaches the limits of torture
- Tying/towing an animal to a vehicle in a manner that causes stress, injury and suffering.
According to the recommendation, the prison sentence of 1 year or €10,000, or both together, is increased to 3 years imprisonment or €10,000 or both together.
In the event of a second conviction the sentence is increased from 2 years imprisonment or €20,000 or both together, to 5 years imprisonment or €20,000 or both together.
At the same time, with the amendment of the law, there is a proposal to divide the offences into serious and lighter forms, since now all the offences are together. In amending the law, a recommendation is made for lighter offences such as:
- Crowding animals in means of transport
- Dog tethering, unless it is temporary in a public place
- Keeping or isolating a dog or cat on a balcony, terrace or terrace
- Administration of substances for the purpose of altering their physical performance.
The penalty for the above offences, be 1 year imprisonment or €10,000 or both together. In the case of a second conviction the sentence should be 2 years imprisonment or €20,000 or both together.
According to the Justice Ministry's bill, the extrajudicial law is being amended. In amending the law, it is recommended that local authorities should also be able to issue out-of-court fines. Today, the Police and Veterinary Services issue out-of-court fines.
The following offences now provide for an out-of-court £50. The amendment is to increase the penalties, depending on the seriousness of the offence to €150 –€500.
- Infringement of basic obligations towards animals
- Mistreatment of animals
- Failure to take general care of animals
- Transport of animals under conditions of unnecessary suffering
- Possession and use of traps or other means to capture stray animals without authorisation
- Violation of licence or approval conditions.
The Department of Agriculture is currently looking to operate a line on allegations of animal abuse. The line will operate at Veterinary Services until 3 p.m. and there are thoughts of extending the hours so that there is no gap.
In this line, the citizen will be able to submit his complaint, to record and to make the appropriate actions and consultations with the Police, so that officers can undertake the examination of the case. The line is expected to open around mid-to-late June.
The Police have already trained 26 of its members who will work hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and then there will be a waiting person who will be notified in the event of a complaint.
Strays gain space
The Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation welcomes the intention of the Ministry of Agriculture to establish five regional animal shelters, one per province.
The Second Vice-President of the Movement, Adonis Yagos, said that this is a very important development for Cyprus, as stray animals will have the necessary care and space to be accommodated, while at the same time the full shelters will be discharged and the dozens of volunteers who have been offering their help for years will be relieved. We are, of course, also waiting for the tabling of the relevant amendment to the State budget to secure the €750 000, which the Minister himself has estimated is needed for the establishment and operation of five large shelters for three years.
Mr. Yagos expressed the hope that the relevant procedures would proceed immediately and that there would be a corresponding positive response from the local authorities who would be called to cooperate and operate these five shelters. In conjunction with the implementation of the legal framework and the adequate staffing of the Animal Police, we hope that the hundreds of thousands of stray animals in our country can be properly managed.
