Filenews 6 February 2025
The President of the party for the animals of Cyprus, Kyriakos Kyriakou, had a meeting yesterday with the Mayor of Limassol Yiannis Armeftis, with the agenda of the Zoo, the installation of automatic feeding machines and water in combination with the recycling of plastic bottles and regional shelters (temporary dog detention areas).
The Mayor is clearly in favour of the permanent closure of the zoo, pointing out that this is his own personal and political position. In this context, the President of the Party for the Animals of Cyprus proposed the creation of e-coZoo, an innovative zoo that will not include captive or caged animals. The two sides agreed that within the next month the proposal will be presented to the plenary of the city council, where the possibility of its implementation will be examined in detail.
Automatic food and water machines for strays through recycling
Regarding the installation of automatic feeding and water machines for stray dogs and cats, which will operate through plastic bottle recycling, the Party for the Animals of Cyprus undertook to examine technical and operational details of the project. Once all the necessary data are gathered, it will come back with a complete proposal for the construction and installation of the machines.
The final decision is expected to be taken by the Mayor and the city council, after which the search for suitable placement points will begin, aiming at the optimal coverage of the needs of stray animals.
Party for the Animals categorically opposes the creation of dog shelters
The Party for the Animals of Cyprus was negative towards the proposal for the creation of temporary detention places or shelters for dogs. As pointed out, such structures are not a solution to the problem of strays, but on the contrary may encourage the abandonment of animals, as citizens may feel that they are shifting their responsibility to the state.
Instead of shelters, the party argues that substantial interventions are necessary to curb the phenomenon, such as:
- Recording all dogs and cats
- Mandatory installation of a marking microchip
- Enhancing the education and enlightenment of students through school programs and interactive extracurricular activities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The need for a comprehensive and effective policy on animal protection emerges as a priority, with the aim of reducing strays and cultivating an animal welfare culture in society.
