Animals in deplorable conditions, some injured and others dead after horrific torture.
Dozens of cases of animal abuse that have seen the light of day in Cyprus in recent years. This was also the reason why it was decided to set up the Police for Animals, which now undertakes the investigation of these cases.
Speaking to the Cyprus Times the Head of the Police for Animals, Byronas Byronos said that at the moment "we cannot talk about an increase or decrease in the incidents of animal abuse in Cyprus as the problem can be assessed once the three years from the day the Police for Animals was established have passed".
However, based on the data before us, what we know for sure at this moment, is that compared to 2020, before the establishment of the Police for Animals, the reported incidents were much less.
2020
Asked about the last two years, Mr. Byron reported that in the year 2020, before the establishment of the Police for Animals, a total of 31 criminal cases were recorded following a witness or complaint.
More specifically, of these cases, 6 involved harm to animals (abuse) and the remaining 25 involved the Protection and Welfare of Animals Act, which deals with the handling of animals to ensure their health and welfare.
2021
As for the past year, when the Animal Police had now been established, a total of 72 general cases of which 42 criminal cases were recorded.[/B]
Typical cases include.e.g. horse), 4 cases of harm to an animal whose value is less than 2 thousand euros, as well as 14 cases of poisoning of animals.
Other cases that concerned the authorities during the same year included 7 cases of animal abuse causing horrible death, one case of killing an animal for entertainment (dog fighting) and 3 cases of torture of animals.
"For all cases that come to us and if offences are found, then the owner of the animal will either be denounced on the spot or called for testimony. If there is satisfactory testimony, then we proceed to prosecution in court," Byron Byron told the Cyprus Times.
Cases that led perpetrators to jail
Regarding cases of abuse that led perpetrators to jail, according to the Head of the Police for Animals, there have been such cases in the past. "There are several cases which were brought before the court and eventually the judge imposed sentences such as suspended jail term on the accused," the Chief added.
He tied up the dog and dragged it in his car
Answering the question what was that case of animal abuse that caused a shock in the country, the Chief referred to the incident of 2013 in Limassol when the 66-year-old then, retired teacher killed his dog after he had tied it to the back of his car and dragged it until it burned to death.
At that time, the Limassol District Court had imposed a 2-month imprisonment sentence[/B] on the defendant, which caused a storm of reaction.In fact, the General Prosecutor's Office had filed an objection to the sentence and further requested that the defendant's right to own an animal or animals be removed.
In the works for amendment of penalties
It is worth noting, finally, that among the new legislation, programs and actions planned by relevant ministries (Agriculture and Justice) is the implementation of an amendment to the legislation to increase penalties for animal abuse and neglect, the introduction of new Regulations to regulate the standards to be met by shelters, hotels and dog farms, the new Bill to improve the conditions of detention of animals in zoos and the new Bill to regulate the sale and possession of pet animals.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
