Cyprus police investigate 208 animal abuse cases, with 25 before court
Police investigated about 208 animal abuse cases in Cyprus between January and October this year, with 25 serious cases involving poisoning now before court.
Paphos, Cyprus. Police investigated about 208 animal abuse cases across Cyprus between January and October this year, with 25 of the most serious cases now before court. The investigations covered 218 offences in total.
Poisoning cases registered with courts
The 25 most serious cases involved the poisoning of animals, a criminal offence under the animal welfare bill of 1994. Police confirmed that all these cases have been registered with a court.
Tougher penalties for animal cruelty
The figures follow parliament’s approval of tougher penalties in April last year.
A first conviction for animal cruelty now carries a fine of up to €20,000, a prison sentence of up to 24 months, or both. A second or subsequent conviction carries a fine of up to €30,000, a prison sentence of up to 36 months, or both.
Kitten allegedly shot in Paphos
The most recent case to emerge concerns two 18-year-olds and a 16-year-old in Paphos. They are alleged to have shot a 56-year-old’s pet kitten 13 times with a firearm on October 3 as it crossed the road.
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