Animal police have arrested a man after his dog was found in a rubbish bin on Thursday night in Peyia, Paphos, in terrible condition.

The dog is being treated at a veterinary clinic.

Police crime prevention spokeswoman Nikoletta Tyrimou told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that an arrest warrant had been issued against the dog’s owner.

A woman residing in Peyia had found the dog in a rubbish bin after she heard it barking and reported a case of animal abuse to the police.

Peyia mayor Marinos Lambrou and Environment and Animal Welfare Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou were informed of the incident by chairwoman of Simba Animal Aid organisation Natasa Michaelidou, who had been in contact with the woman who had found the dog.

Michaelidou had sent letters to Lambrou and Theodosiou, requesting their personal intervention in investigating the complaint.

Theodosiou told CNA that people should treat their dogs like their children and called for the tragic incident to be investigated the soonest possible.

She added that managing dogs, especially abandoned ones, should be a collective effort.

Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou expressed regret over the incident and called on everyone to report any case of animal abuse.

Animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility, she added.

On Thursday night, Michaelidou had been informed by a member of an animal welfare organisation that while on her way home she had heard barking coming from a nearby rubbish bin.

She then called other members of the organisation to help find the animal.

They found the dog in the bin, sealed in three bags, which had been secured with glue.

The dog was too big to fit in the bag, so the perpetrator had twisted its head.

The 10-year-old dog was taken to a veterinary clinic in Paphos, where it is being treated.

It was malnourished and had suffered a stroke, which is believed to have been caused by the shock.

The dog had a microchip, through which the police found the owner.

Lambrou told CNA that penalties for animal abuse should be increased.

Animal Party Cyprus said in a statement on Friday that the animal police, Peyia’s mayor and the veterinary services should immediately investigate the incident.