Nicosia, Cyprus. The president of animal welfare organisation Rights For Animals, Chrysso Kakofengitou, criticised amendments to the Dogs Law passed by parliament, saying the cost of owning an unsterilised dog should be significantly higher to encourage sterilisation.
Concerns over revised fee
Speaking to CNA on Friday, Kakofengitou described the revised fee for keeping an unsterilised dog as a “major mistake” and said it reflects a lack of understanding of the realities surrounding stray and unwanted animals in Cyprus.
Warnings about uncontrolled breeding
Kakofengitou said that if dogs in Cyprus remain unsterilised, they can produce around 5,000 puppies every year, rising to 12,000 within five years and 36,000 within 15 years. She questioned whether there are enough people willing to adopt them and asked who will take the puppies, adding that many newborn animals are abandoned at shelters run by animal welfare groups.
Call for higher fees and possible action
She said the right to own an unsterilised dog should come at a substantially higher cost, suggesting fees of up to €1,000, to encourage responsible ownership. She said sterilisation benefits both the health of animals and wider society.
Kakofengitou also said the organisation may step up its response, including taking puppies to political party offices “so they can understand what is really happening”, claiming decision-makers are out of touch with the scale of the problem. “We need to address uncontrolled breeding. It has to stop,” she said.
Next steps
Rights For Animals is expected to study the amendments in detail and issue a formal response in the coming days.
How do you think Cyprus should balance dog ownership rights with measures to reduce uncontrolled breeding?
