Filenews 18 June 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The Federation of Animal Welfare Organizations of Cyprus "Voice for the Animals of Cyprus" made serious allegations of "indirect blackmail", referring to arbitrary and unfair practices by the competent authorities, which link the annual state sponsorship with the obligation to host confiscated animals.
Specifically, as they say, in the context of the procedure for the annual sponsorship of 2025, shelters are asked to sign a "Solemn Declaration", with which they commit to take care of animals confiscated by the Veterinary Services for welfare reasons, if there are available spaces.
As the organizations denounce, this declaration is essentially mandatory if they want to receive the financial support, which they characterize as unacceptable blackmail.
The Federation clarifies that the shelters operate on private initiative and are not state bodies. Therefore, the state cannot impose responsibility for the confiscated animals on them – a duty that belongs to the Local Authorities, as provided for by the legislation since 2002. Despite the commitments to create suitable regional premises for the temporary storage of stray and confiscated animals, the problem remains unsolved.
"When they have space, shelters already help beyond their obligations, taking over confiscated animals. But we cannot be forced to accept all incidents, especially when we are already overcrowded and without support", the president of the Federation, Mary Anastasia, tells "F".
The situation in the Cypriot shelters is described as tragic. According to animal welfare organizations, many structures are on the brink of closure, while others have already significantly reduced the number of animals they can accommodate.
"For years now, the private shelters of Cyprus have been overcrowded to the extent that they have now bent, but no state agency is seriously interested. Some have already initiated their closure with all that this entails. Others have reduced the number of animals they take," they say.
Adoptions abroad are decreasing
Adoptions abroad – a solution that until recently somewhat exacerbated the situation – have fallen dramatically. According to official data from the Veterinary Services, from 2015 to 2024, 39,701 dogs were sent abroad for adoption. But in recent years, due to the pandemic and the economic crisis in Europe, adoptions have fallen sharply: From 5,646 in 2020, to just 2,755 in 2024. The adoptions of 2024 are the same as in 2015 where they reached 2,859. In 2016, adoptions increased to 3,703, in 2017 to 4,289, in 2018 4,615, in 2019 4,791. After the big mission in 2020, thanks to the pandemic and the economic problems in Europe, it began to decline, which seems to continue to this day. In 2021, adoptions reached 4,365, in 2022 3,556 and in 2023 2,755.
The result is thousands of animals accumulating in facilities that can no longer respond. "We have nowhere to put them," say shelter representatives. They ask us to accept more animals without offering any substantial help for the costs of hospitality or veterinary care."
The notorious Solemn Declaration, according to the organizations, does not provide for any compensation or a fixed amount for the accommodation of the confiscated animals for the period of 30 days provided for by the legislation. Nor is there any mention of the cost of medical care or long-term residence, which can take years until an animal is adopted – if it is ever adopted.
Call for immediate intervention
The Federation asks the Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou, to immediately withdraw the disputed declaration from the requirements of state sponsorship, characterizing this practice as intimidating and counterproductive.
"The fact that private shelters receive a meagre sponsorship (according to their annual expenses) – which you can see from their applications, does not mean that they should be intimidated and we would expect more respect for the work they do, providing solutions for which we are still waiting for the state to provide (e.g. the regional detention facilities for stray dogs) which will accommodate, in addition to the abandoned animals, the confiscated animals as provided by the legislation. The marking and registration of all dogs, neutering programs and in general the proper control of dogs," the Federation states.
At the same time, he calls on the Ministry to cooperate with the Local Authorities in order to finally implement the legislation that makes them responsible for the care areas and the welfare of strays.
Animal welfare organizations clearly state: "The state must assume its responsibilities. It cannot continue to rely on the backs of the volunteers and the shelters that bend every day." And if there is no immediate reaction, the risk of the collapse of the shelters of the animal welfare organizations of Cyprus is just around the corner.
Reported Shelters
• Argos Animal Rescue (Famagusta)
• Nicosia Dog Shelter (Nicosia)
• Sirius Dog Sanctuary (Limassol)
• Paws Dog Shelter (Paphos)
• Association for the Protection of Animals and Birds (Larnaca/Famagusta)
• Robert Dog Sanctuary (Limassol)
• Dog Rescue Cyprus (Nicosia)
• Rights for Animals (Nicosia)
• Malcolm Cat Protection (Limassol)
• Dog Valley Rescue Center (Limassol)
and others.
Increase of state sponsorship to €140,000 from 2024
In an important move to recognize the action of animal welfare organizations and volunteers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment announced on October 4, 2024 the increase in state sponsorship to organized bodies that are active in the protection of animals. From 2024, the amount of the annual sponsorship has increased from €100,000 to €140,000, reinforcing – according to the Ministry – the effort of those who work daily for the welfare of stray and abused animals in Cyprus.
The Ministry's announcement was made on the occasion of World Animal Day, which is commemorated every year on October 4, reminding the importance of respecting and treating all animals – whether they are pets, productive animals, working animals or wildlife.
According to the Ministry, the increase in state sponsorship to animal welfare organizations is a practical support and reward for the constant contribution of volunteers who often, with minimal resources, undertake enormous social work. The Ministry points out that cooperation with animal welfare bodies is of crucial importance for the implementation of animal protection policies and the cultivation of animal welfare awareness in society.
In the same announcement, reference was made to the six-year program of €1.5 million for the creation of premises for the temporary custody of stray dogs by the Local Government Authorities.
