Animal Party calls for state funds after shelter forced to close

The Animal Party has urged the government to finally allocate funds and find a suitable land to rehome animals from a Nicosia shelter in Ayioi Trimithias that was repossessed by the bank.

The shelter was home to 40 dogs, 10 cats and three donkeys.

“For several months now, the Animal Party has been making great and overwhelming efforts in order to convince the agriculture and interior ministries to finally find a suitable land for the shelter,” a statement released on Monday said.

“It is urgent and necessary to solve the issue immediately because the responsibility for abandoned animals falls on the state’s shoulder. Shelters being built, operated and maintained by volunteers are a great convenience for the state.”

The party said that the agriculture ministry had announced plans to create five state-operated animal shelters in Cyprus, one per district, but, so far, nothing has been done.

The party added that it will hold consultation talks with both the interior and the agriculture ministries on January 7 regarding the operation of animal shelters in the country.

“We hope that this meeting will be constructive and that decisions and good news will be announced after it

“The animals in the Ayioi Trimithias shelter cannot wait and cannot be abandoned another time.”