Martha Kehagias
An Erasmus student staying in Paphos has appealed for help over the alleged neglect of two dogs kept at a residential property, saying the animals appear severely underweight and are being left in poor conditions.
The student, who has been in Cyprus for less than three weeks, said she began feeding the dogs after noticing that their ribs were clearly visible. She also said she has been trying to provide them with water, claiming one of the animals has been seen carrying a bucket in its mouth.
According to the student's account, the dogs are kept outside throughout the day, including during periods of high temperatures. She described their garden as dirty and cluttered with rubbish, and said the animals are covered in flies, are not taken for walks and appear to defecate where they stand.
The student said she first contacted the Animal Police on Sunday. After speaking to an officer, she was given another telephone number to call, only to discover that it was the same number she had already contacted. Further calls went unanswered, she said.
She also contacted the District Veterinary Services, but said she was told the Animal Police should deal with the matter. When she did not receive a response, she made another attempt to contact the Animal Police before calling 199.
A further number was then provided to her, which she said was also connected to the Animal Police. Someone answered and, after hearing her account, advised her to call the earlier number at 7.30am the following morning. When the student asked what she should do if nobody answered, she said she was told to contact Paphos Municipality.
The student has also sought help from people living nearby. She said a neighbour who had seen her feeding the dogs contacted an animal shelter, but was told the shelter could not intervene while the animals remained on private property.
The same neighbour later contacted police, according to the student. She said he was told that the situation had already been reported and that the dogs had an owner who was taking care of them. When he reportedly told police that the animals looked extremely thin, he was told that information had been received indicating that the dogs were sick.
The student said she has also contacted the company through which she rented her accommodation. She was told the company was unaware of the situation and was advised not to approach the owner directly.
She said she is particularly worried because she will remain in Paphos for only around another week and a half and fears the dogs could remain without adequate care after she leaves. She also expressed concern that her lack of Greek and the fact that she is calling from a Polish number may be making it harder for her to obtain assistance.
The student has since appealed to local residents through a Facebook group dedicated to lost, found and adoptable pets in Cyprus, asking for advice and help in getting the situation addressed.
The allegations in the post have not been independently verified. It was also not clear from the account whether authorities had subsequently inspected the property or taken action concerning the dogs.
With information from @takemehomecy/@miszelka.federowiicz Facebook.
