Cyprus-Forum.com

[yialousa1971]

Fears over inner city dog fights

BBC News Saturday, 3 October 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8288182.stm

An increasing number of dogs are suffering horrific injuries as a result of fights, the RSPCA has warned.

The charity says it is seeing a new wave of dog fighting, known as Chain Fighting or Rolling.

Unlike previous cases, the fights are informal and often take place in inner city public parks.

While the RSPCA has questioned whether the police have the powers to deal with such fights, ministers insist they have introduced tougher penalties.

Police have closed down many organised dog fighting rings but animal welfare groups say the number of people involved in "ad hoc" fights has risen dramatically.

David Grant from the RSPCA said he was seeing "unprecedented levels" of injuries.

He said: "We see two or three fights most days. At the weekend it can be quite bad, a few weekends ago we had 10", he said.


The RSPCA's Claire Robinson: "People want to look tough, with a dog that looks tough"
Mr Grant said the dogs were often badly hurt: "We frequently see ears torn off, eyes torn out. In my career as a vet - nearly 42 years - this is the worst it has ever been.

"I have never seen things as bad as this."

The charity says gangs of young men are meeting in parks to turn their dogs on each other.

The dogs are often Rottweilers or Staffordshire bull terriers. It says their owners view the dogs primarily as protection or as a weapon.

Ministers says there are now tougher penalties for dog fighting and that the new Policing and Crime Bill will make it easier to seize dogs owned by criminal gangs.

But the RSPCA says the authorities still have limited powers to seize dogs kept by their owners as weapons.

[JimB]

Lorry loads of bird-trapping kits seized in dawn operation
By Patrick Dewhurst

DHEKELIA'S Sovereign Base Area (SBA) Police dealt a devastating blow to the illegal bird trapping industry yesterday.

Over 100 Police and soldiers stormed buildings in the Pyla range, within the eastern SBA, seizing thousands of euros worth of equipment, used to illegally catch small migratory birds.

All of the buildings were deserted when the raid took place and no arrests were made.

Stuart Bardsley, spokesperson for the Sovereign Base Area, said: "The operation began at 5am, with the aim of collecting the bird trapping paraphernalia."

The haul included a large number of mist-nets and tape-recorders, which play birdsong to lure and trap small birds on an industrial scale. These are then harvested and made into a local delicacy called ambelopoulia.

"We seized a full range of equipment, and have filled several lorries with mist nets, poles and tape recorders." Bardsley added. The nets and poles, which cost around €100 each and are thought to have been smuggled into Cyprus and sold illegally, will be destroyed.

This raid is part of a larger operation led by the Dhekelia police codenamed "Operation Freedom". It brings together the SBA police, the Game Fund and local bird charity, Birdlife Cyprus in an effort to eliminate the barbaric and outlawed ambelopoulia industry. "This is a sustained and ongoing operation. There have been eight or so similar operations in the past few years- some smaller and some larger. There will be more operations like this."

Superintendent Charlys, Dhekelia district commander and boss of yesterday's operation, said "I called this operation freedom because in past operations we have found live birds in the trapped nets. Since August we have freed 600 birds. Fortunately there were no birds caught in the nets yesterday."

Despite being illegal since 2004, ambelopoulia is still on the menu in many restaurants. Bardsley explained "These birds are not caught to feed households, this is a big business."

BirdLife Cyprus estimates that trappers caught 776,000 birds in autumn 2008, and early indications from the organisation's undercover monitors show that even more could be caught this season. Each bird is reported to sell for up €5.

Last month the Interior Ministry met with a pro bird-trapping group, called the Friends of the Limestick, who advocate the centuries old limestick method. The recent haul shows, however, that commercial bird-trappers now rely on modern technology.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

[Gasman]

If you have any connections with animal welfare rescues, sanctuaries or charities in Cyprus, you will be aware of the recent increasing numbers of pets Brits (a so called national of animal lovers) are leaving behind in their rush to leave Cyprus.

[JimB]

If you have any connections with animal welfare rescues, sanctuaries or charities in Cyprus, you will be aware of the recent increasing numbers of pets Brits (a so called national of animal lovers) are leaving behind in their rush to leave Cyprus.

Yes. And most of those charities, rescue centres and welfare sanctuaries are run or have been founded by the Brits.

[Gasman]

Yes, and I, like many other 'Brits' have given my time and money to assisting them (almost all Brits who do it).

Doesn't make me any less disgusted with the Brits who are abandoning their Cyprus 'pets' to return home. They CAN take them with them. They just have to pay to do so.

[JimB]

Yes, and I, like many other 'Brits' have given my time and money to assisting them (almost all Brits who do it).

Doesn't make me any less disgusted with the Brits who are abandoning their Cyprus 'pets' to return home. They CAN take them with them. They just have to pay to do so.

Most certainly agree. Difference being highlighted is that in the UK it is not socially or legally acceptable to do this.

In the RoC however cruelty towards animals is pretty much the norm and is, on the whole, tolerated and to a certain degree expected.

I've personally re-housed three dogs that were dumped outside my house. My neighbour (Cypriot) informed me that I'm singled out to deal with the dogs as I'm a Brit. The Cypriots wouldn't go near them.

This forum is read by more than a few locals. I'm more than happy to keep this issue at the top of the forum list.

[Gasman]

Good on ya! I now restrict my efforts to assisting the sanctuaries and feeding the unwanted. I will NEVER buy or own another pet in Cyprus since my own beloved old 'mate' died last year (bought her with me from the UK). They just don't 'like them' enough here for you to feel comfortable owning or walking one.

Won't ever stop being an ardent animal lover tho. Just don't understand how these animal loving Brits can just dump their 'Cyprus pets' and return home to Blighty. I am guessing they probably dumped their Brit pets too when they came here. After all, a pet is a pet is a pet isn't it?

Bit emotive about this because, having worked with animal charities here for some years and in the mindset that it is Cypriots who don't value or treat their pets well, am finding it difficult to come to terms with the recent revelation that nor do some Brits.

I understand they want to try to sell their TVs and furniture before leaving the Island - but don't understand them deserting their 'pets'.

[JimB]

Brits biggest animal lovers going, now thats a fucking joke!

Who's laughing? This isn't some point scoring exercise you imbecile.

[sweetie pie]

I think the difference is that in the UK anyone found to have been cruel, in most cases, feels the full weight of the law! The RSPCA works closely with the police to remove animals who are neglected and abused and to prosecute those guilty of such a crime.
There doesn't seem to be any like organisation in Cyprus and cases of animal cruelty generally seem to be ignored by the authorities. I would like to know the procecution rate in Cyprus.

[kurupetos]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-n ... d-10737787