Regarding yesterday's press conference of the Cyprus Society for the Protection of Animals, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment notes the following.
Through the implementation of an Integrated Framework for the Protection and Welfare of Animals, the Ministry has implemented a number of new programmes, legislation and actions, many of them pioneering in the territory of the European Union.
The following are indicative:
- The Law on the Protection and Welfare of Animals was amended, incorporating regulations that enhance the protection and welfare of animals in our country:
- The penalties for animal cruelty were increased from 1,700 euros to 10,000 euros in the case of a first conviction and from 3,400 to 20,000 euros in the case of a second or subsequent conviction.
- The tethering of dogs and the keeping of dogs and cats on terraces, balconies and verandas was prohibited.
- The operation of dolphinariums, i.e. the holding of marine mammals in captivity, was prohibited.
- The annual state subsidy to animal welfare organisations and animal shelters was increased to 100,000 euros, recognising the valuable work and contribution of animal welfare volunteers.
- The Protection and Welfare of Animals Regulations (Protection of Dogs and Cats in Breeding Establishments, Hotels, Shelters and Custodial Establishments) were passed, which set out specific criteria for the operation of shelters in order to improve the living conditions of animals, and additional aid of €100,000 was granted to stray animal shelters, helping them to comply with the new Regulations.
- A €1.5 million[/B]
- A free dog tagging and registration scheme was implemented to facilitate the identification of owners of abandoned, lost or stolen dogs.
- A free dog tagging and registration scheme was implemented to facilitate the identification of owners of abandoned, lost or stolen dogs. Through the Scheme, approximately 20,000 dogs were tagged nationwide.
- Regulations were passed defining for the first time the types of animals that can be owned or sold as pets in Cyprus, which are described in the "Positive List". The new Regulations prohibit the keeping of wild mammals as pets.
- Increased the annual amount allocated for the Pancyprian Stray Cat Sterilisation Scheme from 75,000 to 100,000 euros.
- Granted emergency financial assistance of 50,000 euros to animal welfare organisations for feeding stray animals during the period of restrictive measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Implemented, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, a Protocol for investigating complaints of animal abuse or neglect cases, which details the actions to be followed by veterinary inspectors.
- Prepared new regulations and submitted to Parliament in 2022 to establish welfare requirements for premises where dogs are kept.
Animal welfare is an issue that touches all citizens of our country and is a sign of our education and sensitivity as a people. Important steps have been taken in recent years to protect animals and surely more can be done through the cooperation of government agencies, local authorities, non-governmental organizations and every citizen.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will continue to work towards improving the level of animal welfare, helping to break down outdated perceptions about the place of animals in our lives.
(MX/SX)
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