Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
I know this isn’t ''hard news'' for some, no ministers, no scandals, no new roundabouts being announced. But bear with me. Because not caring for animals is just a hop, skip, and a jump from not caring for people.
A few years ago, Cyprus proudly unveiled the Animal Police Unit. Remember that? The press release had it all: fancy fonts, logos, and a healthy dose of optimism. Animal lovers cheered. Finally, help seemed real.
Fast forward to today, and that optimism feels almost cruel.
During this morning’s rainstorm, the one flooding half of Nicosia, I spotted a frail, tiny dog tied outside a house near my office. Hail was pelting the plastic roof of its little doghouse, which was basically collecting water like a kiddie pool. Neighbors had already warned the owners. Nothing changed.
So, I did what any decent person would: started calling for help. Six numbers later, including a personal contact I’d used before, I had… nothing. Redirected. Ignored. Dead ends. Are the animal police too busy polishing another press release? Or maybe they’re all having a very long, very strong frappe.
Here’s the thing, when the system fails, people usually do one of two things: walk on by or break the law out of compassion. And by “break the law,” I mean volunteers hopping fences and risking legal trouble just to stop an animal from dying, while the authorities sit on their hands. That’s not heroism; that’s desperation.
And forgive me, but aren’t my taxes paying for those polished uniforms? Shouldn’t an officer show up when someone reports neglect? Isn’t that, quite literally, their job description?
The truth is, it’s not the officials changing the mentality in Cyprus, it’s the volunteers. Locals, foreigners, people who actually care. Ask any one of them about the animal police, and you’ll get a sigh, an eye-roll, maybe even a laugh. Because they know what happens: either they handle it themselves or call an NGO that will.
Reporting animal neglect here is like applying for a building permit: endless calls, circular answers, and a lot of waiting. Who’s got the time to chase down an officer while a dog is freezing in the rain? I eventually gave up and sent an email. Maybe I’ll get a reply before they finish the Nicosia–Troodos road...you know, the one that’s been “under construction” since disco was still a thing.
And let’s be honest, why even get a dog if you’re going to leave it tied up outside like an old bicycle? Especially one small and frail enough to be blown away by the next gust of wind. No excuses. Not for the owners. Not for the authorities.
I’m not asking for a cinematic rescue, no slow-motion scene with violins. I just want a phone line that’s actually answered, an officer who shows up, and an animal welfare unit that treats a neglected dog like a life, not a nuisance. Accountability, not another glossy campaign.
If you feel helpless, don’t. Take a photo. Note the address and time. Report it. Share it with NGOs or the press. Offer temporary shelter if you can. Small acts matter. They’re the only reason anything ever changes here.
Because let’s face it, there’s a special corner of karma reserved for people who ignore suffering. But karma doesn’t arrive with sirens or a rescue van. Until it does, we move. One act of kindness at a time...for animals, for people...because that’s how the world actually changes.
