The court has ordered the demolition of a shelter in Paphos: volunteers are searching for a way to save a thousand animals

About 1,000 animals risk being left homeless following a court decision to demolish a large shelter located in the Kato Paphos area. The ruling was made over violations of urban planning regulations; however, animal protection organisations have not yet been offered an alternative solution for housing the animals.

The Animal Party Cyprus made an official statement on the matter, calling the situation “a humanitarian disaster for animals.” The statement noted that the demolition could leave hundreds of dogs and cats on the streets, while municipal services lack the necessary capacity to accommodate them.

The party reminded that according to Law 184(I)/2002 on the keeping and control of dogs, it is the responsibility of municipalities and communities to organise temporary shelters for stray animals. However, as Animal Party representatives stressed, in the Paphos area these obligations have been practically ignored for many years, leaving all the burden to volunteers and charitable organisations.

Earlier meetings were held with the Commissioner for the Protection of Animals and representatives of local authorities, but according to the party, none of the proposed measures were implemented, and the plan to establish a joint municipal shelter has remained stagnant.

Animal Party announced that it intends to convene an emergency meeting with the participation of the Yeroskipou municipality, veterinary service representatives, environmental organisations and shelter volunteers to discuss possible ways to save the animals and temporarily accommodate them until the legal issue is resolved.

In conclusion, the party stressed that the situation in Paphos reflects a broader problem — the lack of a systemic approach to animal protection in Cyprus. The organisation called on the government and municipalities “to intervene immediately to prevent a tragedy and avoid a mass abandonment of animals on the streets.”