Newsroom
Anger is growing in Cyprus after a series of disturbing incidents in which dogs were shot in the same village area, with animal welfare advocates warning that the situation is now becoming a public safety concern.
The Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation says it is furious over what appear to be repeated attacks in Pera Chorio Nisou over the past few weeks.
According to the group, one dog named Maili was shot on April 22, 2026. Just days earlier, on April 10, another dog called Rocky was also shot in the same area. Rocky survived and is recovering with veterinary care but will need surgery to remove a pellet.
The group says a complaint has already been filed with police over Rocky’s case. But it also claims that delays in handling the incident and in passing it on to the animal police may have allowed further attacks to happen.
There are also complaints, according to the organization, about how reachable the animal police actually are. Pet owners say they have tried repeatedly to contact officers in Nicosia without success, claiming phone lines go unanswered or are switched off.
That has left many residents frustrated and worried.
“It’s unacceptable that people can’t reach the Animal Police when something like this happens,” the group said, adding that complaints are piling up while public trust is being tested.
Authorities are now being urged to act quickly, to find whoever is responsible and, if necessary, remove any weapons involved.
There’s also concern the incidents may not be isolated. The group says there are indications of at least two other similar shootings in the same area.
While the focus is on animal cruelty, the warning from activists is broader: stray bullets or reckless use of guns, they say, doesn't just endanger animals, they could easily put people at risk too.
For now, residents in the area are left uneasy, as what started as isolated reports is now being treated as a pattern that no one can ignore.
