Filenews 27 January 2023 - by Angelos Nicolaou
A storm of reactions was aroused by the decision of the Veterinary Services on the basis of instructions from the Police, which essentially characterizes as illegal the creation of feeding and drinking areas for stray animals on the part of volunteers. In fact, going a step further, he notes that at the discretion of the prosecuting authorities, if it is considered that proper containers are not used, a criminal offense and an offense of common nuisance arise!
Specifically, as reported by animal welfare organizations, the Police does not investigate complaints about the destruction of food facilities, since they are created by volunteers.
Speaking to "F", the president of the Association for the Protection and Welfare of Cats, Dinos Agiomamitis, in this way essentially the Police wants to get rid of more than 60% of the complaints made by invoking the violation of the provisions of the legislation for the protection and welfare of animals, which concern the destruction of feeding areas. In an effort to remedy the situation, the Association is calling for the directives to be withdrawn and at the same time for the legislation to be amended so as not to leave any room for misinterpretation.
In a letter from the Director of Veterinary Services dated. 24/01/2023 to the district veterinary officers, the agricultural veterinary stations and the Border Control Posts (CLA) located at the port of Limassol and the old Airport of Larnaca, informs them about the question posed by the Police to the Legal Service regarding the definition of a) for the feeding and drinking areas of stray animals, b) the destruction / withdrawal of containers with food and water placed by citizens in public places for feeding and drinking (c) the provision of the law stating that the destruction of feeding and drinking areas for stray animals and/or the withdrawal from such areas of food and water intended for stray animals is prohibited.
The Police sent the relevant letter, after finding that complaints to the Police regarding the destruction / withdrawal of containers with food and water placed by citizens in public places for feeding and drinking stray animals have increased.
According to the Police's interpretation, the law does not include a definition of the term "place of feeding and drinking stray animals". Given that the Law does not specify the ability of citizens to determine themselves places for feeding and drinking stray animals, the legislation concerns only the feeding and drinking areas of the competent Local Authorities and not the place where any citizen decides on his own to place a container with water or food.
It is emphasized that in case public feeding places are chosen by citizens, it becomes impossible to assess whether the used containers are appropriate. The Veterinary Services emphasize that if it is considered that the provision covers any public space that each citizen decides to establish as a place of feeding and drinking stray animals, then, in the event that, in the judgment of the prosecuting authorities, it is considered that proper containers are not used, a criminal offense and an offense of common nuisance arise.
It is noted that in a recent meeting that the Association for the Protection of Cats had with the Minister of Justice in the presence of the responsible officer of the Police, he was informed about the opinion of the Legal Service on the destruction of the feeding areas for strays, on the basis of which the Police does not examine complaints about the destruction of the feeding areas except for places designated by the Local Authorities.
According to Mr. Agiomamitis, no Local Authority has designated feeding areas for strays. Exceptionally, he notes, the Municipality of Aglantzia has created two feeding points and in the Municipality of Strovolos the Association created, in cooperation with the municipality, feeding areas with the placement of special cat houses in the Linear Park some years ago. Apart from these points, however, there are hundreds of other places, not only in the municipal boundaries of these municipalities, but also throughout Cyprus, that are cared for by strays and no one ever thought of asking them to "get a permit". Mr. Agiomamitis notes that police officers tell people that it is forbidden to feed strays without the permission of the town hall.
Unconscious people throw away food containers
In recent weeks there has been an upsurge in the phenomenon of unscrupulous people throwing away cat food containers as reported by volunteers. "It is certain that this situation will lead to self-justice, with the risk of confrontations and quarrels that can lead to injuries and perhaps even worse", according to Mr. Agiomamitis, who expresses his concern that until the issue is clarified with the amendment of the legislation, "we will have to deal with incidents of confrontation and quarrels with incalculable consequences". He warns that it is not excluded that volunteers caring for strays will be asked to stop doing so, until the Police and other competent authorities respond to their requests. In such a case, he adds, within a short time a state of chaos will be created.
