Cyprus is constantly getting a bad rap for its treatment of animals, and the animal shelters and charities of Larnaca certainly have their work cut out trying to protect and care for animals with little or no funding, and a severe lack of volunteers. There is no doubt that there are people that practise cruelty to animals, and I am not going to argue that fact as we see evidence of it daily, but on the other hand, I also see evidence of many animal lovers and responsible pet owners and wonder if our reputation is a little unfair and outdated.
You only have to take a walk down the Salt Lake to see how many dedicated dog owners are there at all hours of the day giving their very healthy and happy-looking pooches a long walk. There are a large number of pet shops in Larnaca that seem to be doing well, and every pet owner I know treats their animal like a member of the family. So why are we considered to be so heartless compared to the UK and other European countries?
A quick internet search brings up numerous stories from the UK of animal cruelty; cats in washing machines, multiple animals kept in squalor, animals used for fight matches to the death – to name but a few. The RSPCA received 1,163,428 calls to their 24-hour cruelty line in 2012, which is an average of one call every 30 seconds, yet the British have the reputation of being animal lovers whilst the Cypriots are considered to be something akin to butchers of the sweet and fluffy.
If someone were to cite the tradition of hunting birds and hares on the island, then it could be countered with the tradition of fox hunting in the UK or bull sports in Spain. I am not talking about the illegal practise of using mistnets and limesticks here, and I don't particularly agree with these kinds of sports, but in all instances, the sports have their origins in traditions that will take time and education to break. The people partaking are more likely to be ignorant or conditioned rather than vindictive individuals with a penchant for cruelty.
I am of the belief that this issue and reputation are borne of the fact the island is small, therefore any instances of animal cruelty are obvious, whereas in larger countries they can become lost, and that wherever you go in the world you will find animal cruelty and animal lovers in equal measure.
Of course, we have a very serious issue with poisons and their regulating. The use of Lannate and other poisons is a disgusting and terrifying reality that puts our children as well as our animals at risk and needs to be dealt with properly. But our reputation speaks of a whole population of sick individuals going around poisoning animals when it is the minority that act in this evil way.
I don't want anyone to think I don't value animal life, or am in denial that cruelty exists. My point is quite simply that this is an unfair reputation that we are all tarnished with without being given credit for the many, many people who love and cherish their pets, and this is something we should all work on changing.
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Larnaca Parents network expanding
First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper, 30/11/13
