in-cyprus 5 April 2025 - by Stelios Marathovouniotis
A woman who was bitten by an off-leash pitbull in Paphos has called for stricter enforcement of dog control laws after experiencing dog attacks by unrestrained animals in public areas.
Charlotte, suffered a “deep, substantial wound” to her leg on March 11 when an unleashed, collarless white pitbull attacked her 3.5-year-old German Shepherd during a routine walk, according to her statement shared with in-cyprus.
“While out on a walk, an off-lead, collarless white pitbull suddenly charged toward us, ran free from its owner’s control. The pitbull jumped onto my dog and attacked him. In a panic, I shouted repeatedly at the owner and three other family members who had emerged, yelling, “Get your dog! Get your dog!” But, shockingly, none of them made any attempt to intervene. Instead, they stood by, leaving the situation to escalate.
“In the midst of the chaos, I found myself struggling to protect my dog. I was bitten in the leg, sustaining a deep, substantial wound and smaller ones. Thankfully, my dog wasn’t visibly hurt, but the emotional trauma we all endured was profound,” Charlotte said.
The attack required hospital treatment and was reported to the police. Compensation was later arranged with the pitbull’s owner.
“I’ve been through a lot in my efforts to train and care for my dogs, and it frustrates me deeply when other owners fail to act responsibly. The incident was a painful reminder that mistakes can happen, but they must be learned from,” Charlotte said.
The incident is part of what she describes as a pattern of encounters with off-leash dogs in Paphos.
“A week later, while out on a walk, a dog suddenly bolted through an open gate and charged towards us in an aggressive manner. Thankfully, it quickly turned around and ran back to its owner,” she said.
After, on April 1, she reported another confrontation on a public coastal pathway, where a man refused to leash his three dogs despite her requests.
According to Charlotte, when reminded about leash laws, the man responded: “I’ve lived here for five years, I’ve never use leads. They’re older dogs; they don’t attack.”
Cyprus law requires dogs to be on leads in public spaces, and owners are obligated to ensure their pets wear collars with identification tags and contact information.
“It’s deeply frustrating when dog owners fail to recognise that not everyone is comfortable with their animals, especially when it comes to the potential for unpredictable behavior,” she said.
Charlotte, who describes herself as someone who has “invested a lot of time, effort and resources” into training her dogs, has urged all dog owners to comply with existing regulations.
“The last thing I want is for them to be approached by off-leash dogs, especially when the owner refuses to acknowledge the risk,” she said.
“The responsibility lies with us as dog owners, and we must act with respect, care, and mindfulness for the well-being of others,” she stated in her account.
