Cats have been repeatedly shot at with air guns in the Lakatamia area, pet-owners told en.philenews, with one individual revealing that two of her own kittens were killed in her own garden.
A Facebook post which made the rounds on social media this week, noted that there have been a number of animals in Lakatamia that have been shot at recently. Irene Sidiropoulou, who made the post, noted that for a third time, a cat of her own was attacked, fortunately surviving, despite the broken leg it received due to the bullet.
Sidiropoulou told en.philenews that she and her partner, Constandinos Andreou, found the kitten “crying and bleeding,” thinking at first that it had been bitten. She took the animal to the veterinarian, where it was held for three days, before passing away from sepsis caused due to the wound.
She continued, noting that she tried to contact the animal police multiple times, to find they “were not answering neither calling back.” Sidiropoulou stated that she later went to the station to file a report.
She told en.philenews that she provided the police with information, including “who is a hunter,” and “who [she] knew had a gun.” She also stated that she listed individuals who she believed had “already killed animals in the neighbourhood.”
She continued to disclose that her neighbour’s animals were also victims of a shooting, who reported that their dog was shot, as well as a cat that did not survive the incident.
Sidiropoulou expressed that both incidents happened inside their own gardens, meaning the perpetrator had stood outside their houses to shoot a pet specifically.
The perpetrator uses air guns, the post claims, as all victims were seen to have evidence of a shot. She continued to reveal that three more kittens were found dead due to gun shots.
Alleged police inaction
In the post, Sidiropoulou questioned the police on their efforts to find the perpetrator, writing “What are you waiting for? How many injuries and deaths will it take for you to do your job?”
She emphasised that she contacted Animal Police Cyprus multiple times, and was told that no action could be taken if no one saw the act happen.
According to official police statistics, the number of animal abuse cases that have been recorded since 2021 rise to 286, however, animal rights activists believe the number is much higher. The cases included physical harm, administering poison, causing animals to suffer painful deaths, killing for entertainment and/or target practice, torture, and more.
The police, she noted, made it clear that they could not take action due to a lack of witnesses to the shooting itself. She said that after a lot of insisting for more information, the police admitted that there had been a number of other shootings in her area. She claimed they also admitted that the individual “drives and shoots pets outside their homes.”
Sidiropoulou continued, telling en.philenews that after she insisted the police take action, they told her they would hand out fliers, to inform people of the illegality of the situation. “They did not even do that,” she stated.
A second of Sidiropoulou’s cats was shot a year later. She explained that she arrived home and “heard screams,” later taking the cat to the vet, where it “passed away from sepsis once again.”
She commented that the police were slightly easier to get in contact with this time, “but not more useful at all.” She told en.philenews that a police officer visited her house to write a report, with the police officer telling her they still “could not do much,” due to no witnesses.
Last month, in June, a third cat of Sidiropoulou’s was shot. After noticing her leg was “completely limp,” she rushed the cat to the vet, where it received surgery due to the extent of the injury, fortunately surviving.
She added: “this time, the animal police just ignored [her].” She later called the police, informing them of the incident, to which they emphasised that they could not do much, due to lack of witnesses.
“Sooner or later, a human will be shot,” Sidiropoulou stated, disclosing her worries that “The people meant to protect us instead do nothing.”
Volunteers taking matters into their own hands as animal abuse cases in Cyprus reach “alarming” levels
Vasiliki Mani, an animal rights activist and volunteer of 15 years, told en.philenews that the increasing reports of animal abuse in Cyprus is “alarming,” especially in highly populated areas. Mani stated that after a recent incident, she decided to take matters into her own hands, and created a Facebook group to document the incidents herself, hoping to compile enough evidence to evoke action from the authorities.
This incident is just one of many en.philenews has been informed about. Multiple other citizens have reported their own animals being subject to abuse from other individuals, with air guns being a recurring weapon of choice.
Another resident told en.philenews that their cat was also a victim of a shooting. They discovered the cat had three bullets inside its body, with one “very close to the spine.” After taking the cat to the vet, the resident said that the vet was unsure when the incident took place, so decided not to contact the animal police.
They noted that they began investigating the neighbourhood afterwards, to try to uncover the perpetrator, adding that they witnessed a man on a balcony shooting an air gun into a residential field. They continued, saying that they have heard of multiple other incidents like this in Lakatamia.
The resident gave en.philenews a description of who they believe the perpetrator to be. They stated that the man was in his 30s, of average height, with dark hair and tan skin.
They emphasised that the police ‘are not helpful,’ telling en.philenews that they contacted them in regards to another incident of animal abuse, where multiple dogs have been locked in cages continuously, “not taken for walks,” or let out. When the resident informed the police of the situation, they told them to contact the municipality, who then told the resident to contact the police, they stated.
En.philenews repeatedly contacted the Cyprus animal police for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.