By Bejay Browne.
Animal shelters in Paphos describe their situation as critical, as they are desperate for food donations to enable them to feed the animals in their care in the wake of the lockdown that came into force in Cyprus to help curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the government agreed a €50,000 grant in emergency funds to animal welfare organisations, they say this will go only some way to cover the needs of the shelters in Cyprus.
“There is hardly any food coming in now and our charity shop is closed. We currently have around 150 dogs at the shelter and we get through about 5 bags of 20 kilo biscuits a day. As well as donations, we relied on restaurants and hotels for leftovers and they are now closed,” Nieske De Jonge, founder of Stray Haven dog rescue and re-homing told the Paphos Post.
Hotels in Cyprus are currently closed until April 30, and cafes and restaurants and food outlets which operate a home delivery service, are the only ones currently permitted to open.
The next 4 weeks will be the worst times ever face by the initiative, she said, as their charity shops are closed and there is no income for food or vets bills. “I do hope that this ends after the lock down for the dogs sake.”
President Nicos Anastasiades, announced additional sweeping measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in Cyprus earlier this week, notably restriction on movement for people wishing to leave their homes. These will remain in place until at least April 13. Everyone outside must carry their ID or passport and additional proof, a completed, signed form and / or text message permission, regarding their movements. Violators will be fined an on the spot fine of 300 euros.
This was making it hard for volunteers to help out at shelters, however, the veterinary services announced that special permits may be granted to animal welfare organisations’ staff and volunteers that will allow them to feed and care for the animals in their shelters.
Adoptions have also slowed down, a spokesman for Animal Rescue Cyprus said, and an increasing number of pets are being abandoned.
“We inform pet owner that coronavirus cannot be passed on according to the information we have, and that they should keep their pets safe just as they are themselves.”
It costs around 22,000 euros a month to operate Paws shelter and due to canceled events and the closure of their high income charity shop in Chlorakas, they have lost around 30,000 euros in much needed funds, said Matthew Harris, manager of Paws dog shelter in Achelia, Paphos. The shelter is currently home to 149 dogs.
“When shoppers are out for a permitted time, if they donate whatever pet food they can in the donation cages of Papantonious supermarkets found in central Paphos and Kato Paphos branches we would be so grateful,” he said.
The ‘Cat lady’ of Paphos, Gaynor Georgiou, has been feeding the towns stray cats daily for over thirty years, she is now seriously struggling. She said that the coronavirus break out is a disaster for the animals of Paphos, and that donations are all but dried up.
Donation baskets at shops that support her in Paphos; Cycleband and Pets Stuff, are empty and she is spotting ever increasing numbers of cats on the streets in desperate search of food as restaurants and cafe in the old town are closed.
She is currently printing off papers each time she leaves the house and rushes to complete her rounds in the three hour permitted time frame.
“I get 490 euros for my pension and it can only stretch so far. The cats come first, they are my life and I really need some help.”
Georgiou is currently feeding between 160 to 170 cats a day, who rely on her for food, she said. She also catches them and takes then to be spayed or neutered or to a vets when they are sick. Every three days she uses up 20 kilos of dry food and 38 tins of wet food.
Paphos cat lady (Gaynor Georgiou) : www.paphoscatlady.com
Stray Haven : www.strayhavencyprus.com
Paws Dog Shelter (CAPCA) : www.pawsdogshelter.com
Cyprus Animal Rescue : www.cyprusanimalwelfare.com
