Cat killer on the prowl
A Çatalköy resident warned this week that a “maniac” was targeting cats after his ginger tom was killed by an air rifle.
Retired English teacher Paul Robinson said: “His name was Roger. He turned up on our doorstep in May last year suffering from mange, but we took care of him, got him neutered and he was transformed into a lovely fluffy cat.”
Mr Robinson studied veterinary science for two years before he was forced to switch professions due to shoulder injuries. “I’m not a great fan of cats,” he said, “but we care for them and have seven at home with three dogs, all of which were strays, and another seven or eight street cats. Once people know that you care for them, you find more on your doorstep.
“He didn’t go far from home since he went missing last year and came back with his leg smashed. It seemed an odd kind of break, as if done on purpose, and he needed four pins in his leg.
“I warned the neighbours, reported the shooting to Kyrenia Animal Rescue and the local police, but they weren’t interested, promised to send an officer but no one turned up.
“All Roger ever did was occasionally wander down the road, down an alley and back over our garden wall. Some nutcase must have had it in for him. “
Roger died at Lefkoşa’s Petline Clinic on Friday last week. Petline Clinic vet and head of the Veterinarians’ Union, Tayfun Çanakci said: “An X ray showed internal bleeding and two pellets in his chest. Unfortunately we could not save him.
“There will be many more unfortunately. Our clinic sees this type of injury once a week or every two weeks, about 30 cases a year. Many more probably don’t even reach the clinic.”
“On Friday last week a dog was shot dead with a shotgun. In Kaleburnu, shepherds can lose up to 50 lambs to feral dogs. People resort to these methods to solve the problem, but as that stray goes, another takes its place.
“The government has 50 salaried vets on its payroll. If there is the will, there is the way but the culture on animal welfare here is not informed nor well developed.
“Municipalities are obliged to provide animal shelters but many have not.
“It has been seven years since the Animal Welfare Law was passed and six and a half since the law on dog registration and chipping but not much has changed.”
Last November, the torture of four pet cats in Karşıyaka, whose tails were later amputated after they were hung by barbed wire, sparked horror in the community.
Alsancak’s Garfield Clinic vet Fuat Gülyaz, said that the attacks had ceased after widespread publicity, adding: “I must have treated around 20 cats shot with air rifles in my career and I see one or two cases a year. It’s very common.
“We sterilise from three to eight a day but we just can’t get on top of the population problem and it’s got worse due to the lockdown. This can only be solved by a determined government campaign.”
Mr Çanakci added: “I invite anyone to come to my clinic for a week to see how many stray animals are brought to my clinic. I get three or four phone calls a night from people who find them on the street.
“They don’t want to pay for treatment and want to leave them here and they often become quite agitated about it.
“I say OK, don’t pay but what happens after I treat them or sterilise them and care for them? Do I just release them back on to the street?
“I work one day a week on wildlife rehabilitation at Taşkent Nature Park and we have to conserve our wildlife and consider public health. We don’t want feral cats and dogs, just domestic, healthy pets.”