Filenews 18 April 2023 - by Despina Psillou
The furry Arrow and the naziara Athena, two purebred German shepherd puppies, run to meet us. Thor of the same breed growls from the background, making it clear that there is a watchful guard in this area. In addition to the chip, this dog has a pedigree/pedigree certificate (i.e. a detailed history of its ancestors) as well as DNA registered in a database. These are the dogs of Andreas Chimonis, owner of the Vom Chimonis Haus kennel that operates in Cyprus and New York.
On the occasion of the amendment of the existing legislation, Mr. Chimonis spoke to "F" about another dimension of cynophilia, underlining that purebred dogs as well as dog sports, can contribute in multiple ways to ending dog abandonment and consequently put a definitive end to overcrowded shelters.
Keeping purebred dogs and specific breeds, Chimonis explains, can ensure that every dog owner gets the right four-legged dog for their needs. "Not all races suit all people. Some breeds were created for hunting, others for companionship."
In a purebred dog, he explains, you can even know what to expect from a puppy. "What characteristics he will develop and to a large extent what his behaviour will be. Before acquiring a dog, you should do research and be patient. To decide based on the space available and with his program which breed suits his life. If he is led to the wrong breed, he will definitely get tired. In this case, if the owner does not have strength, it is not excluded that he will abandon him."
In addition to choosing a dog correctly in advance, another measure to limit strays, Chimonis stressed, is to stop unregistered litters. "Declare litter and chip dogs." Another good practice is to create a DNA database, as Germany does. DNA collection, he clarified, is a simple process and can be done along with labelling. This practice will ensure that there will never be an unidentified dog again. "With a blood sample you will know who the dog is and where it comes from. Even if there is some initial cost for such a base, you are actually solving the long-term problem of strays and the need for shelters." Both the marking and the DNA base of dogs, he noted, could be done door-to-door in communities and municipalities.
Regarding pedigree certificates, he noted that in addition to detailing the external characteristics of the dog, genetic testing is also performed that acts as the animal's medical history. He, he explained, has had access to ancestral data of his own dog since the 1960s.
Regarding the legislation, Mr. Chimonis said that they must be taken into account beyond the obligations and rights of dog owners. "In Germany I can go into a department store with my dog and at the airport they urged me to have him outside so he wouldn't be trapped in his box for hours. In Cyprus it is exactly the opposite." He urged that the right to enter all areas be guaranteed if the dog has passed a behavioural test.
Finally, he stressed that there is a need to revise the legislation for those who do quality and controlled breeding, i.e. up to two litters per year. "They are asking, among other things, for farming to take place in an agricultural zone. But the dog must be raised in the family and must not be mass-produced." After all, he said, the breeder's purpose "is not to produce puppies, but to improve and highlight the breed he treats."
Number 34 in the world ranking
Mr. Chimonis' relationship with German shepherd dogs begins in his childhood, as his father was one of the first police officers in Cyprus to be trained in America in counterterrorism with dogs.
"After my studies I wanted to have my own dog. I wanted to do German shepherding, but the dog I bought had a leg problem and was missing a tooth, which excluded me from all dog loving activities, such as morphology racing. So, I decided to start breeding myself."
In 2013, after a two-year search, he found Osaka. In 2016 he made his first pairing in Germany from which "emerged Kastro Vom Chimonis Haus, who is number 34 in the world ranking and also champion of the Netherlands and Greece". Other dogs and successes followed.
Vom Chimonis Haus, registered with the World Cynological Organization (FCI), apart from Cyprus, breeds dogs through cooperation in New York. "My goal is to compete often in the World German Shepherd Championship, as good breeding is also highlighted through the process."
