Filenews 27 April 2023 - by Despina Psillou
A fine even for the bags of dirt of dogs (at €100), comes to be added through a law proposal to the bitter extrajudicial procedures provided for offending owners. At the same time, another proposal for a law proposes a significant increase in the annual dog license fee, which rises from €5 for neutered dogs to €25 and €160 for dogs belonging to dangerous breeds. These proposals concern the "Dogs (Amendment) Law of 2022", which began, yesterday, to be examined by article in the Environment Committee. During the discussion, concerns were expressed about dog trapping, while reference was also made to the serious problem with the dog pack recorded in the linear park along the Pedieos River.
In particular, MP Kostis Efstathiou, proposes, among other things, the walk of the dog that is not tied to a leash, which is attached to the collar of the animal or the walk without the possession of a bag for collecting the dog's faeces, to incur an extrajudicial fine of €100.
At the same time, MP Charalambos Theopemptou proposes an increase in the annual license fees for dog ownership. The bill provides for fees of €5 per year for all neutered dogs and up to €30 for unneutered dogs. According to Theopemptou's proposal, the fees are increased to €25 for neutered dogs and unneutered males. At €40 for unneutered females. At €160 for neutered dogs classified as dangerous breeds.
This proposal also provides for all dogs older than three months (instead of six as provided for in the bill) to be registered in the dog registry. The purpose of the draft law is to tackle the phenomenon of abandonment of dogs and their uncontrolled breeding. "In particular, it is proposed to delete the provision according to which a person who ceases to own a dog may declare it to the competent authority with a solemn declaration, to reduce the age limit for registration in the register of dogs from six months to three months, as well as to increase the fee for dog ownership."
Finally, a proposal for a law by ELAM calls for the extension of the period from the arrest of a stray dog whose owner has not been found, so that the competent authority can take the necessary actions from the 15 days currently, to 30 days. At the same time, it is proposed that with the advent of this deadline, instead of euthanasia, the dog should be delivered to an animal shelter.
With regard to the article-by-article discussion in the Commission, concerns were expressed, inter alia, about the term "approved trap" and about what specifications and form it should take. On this occasion, the problem of the pack of aggressive dogs along Pedieos was mentioned, for which no solution has yet been found. As noted, it was determined to exploit a large-scale, corral-type trap used to trap mouflons for research purposes. It was underlined by the Veterinary Services that today there are no anaesthetic weapons in Cyprus, as those that were once available have been destroyed.
