Appeal launched to help dogs and puppies found in ‘squalid surroundings’

AN APPEAL has been launched to provide 26 dogs and seven puppies with better living conditions after they were discovered in squalid surroundings on privately owned land.

The appeal — named the Madonna Project — is an initiative by the Hope 4 Pets (H4P) charity which is aiming to raise £4,000 to improve the surroundings in Karaoğlanoğlu where the animals live, and to find homes for the puppies.

After one of the 26 dogs was reported to H4P as missing, a visit was paid to the land where they and the puppies were being kept by a family who are believed to be Turkish Cypriot.

The charity’s Emma Eminsoy and Stephanie Harrison-Croft said they were shocked to see the conditions the animals were being kept in, although they had been fed and received veterinary treatment when required. All of the female dogs had already been neutered and H4P hopes to have nine males treated in the same way. Twenty kennels have been ordered and plans to improve the surroundings are also in the pipeline. Tomorrow, a team of volunteers will descend on the site to clean it and erect fences after gathering at the Karaoğlanoğlu Lemar Supermarket at 9am. To make a donation or for more information about helping with tomorrow’s project, call 0533 845 0640. Chairman of H4P Mrs Harrison-Croft said: “People have been doing the best they can for these animals but they became overwhelmed, with the dogs being in an awful situation which we hope to urgently improve. We are starting the Madonna Project straight away to raise funds and we also need foster carers for the puppies as an interim measure to them finding forever homes.”

Meanwhile, a “Wag and Walk” is being organised by the Golden Paws Association on Sunday, February 25, to raise money for dogs being cared for since a private shelter at Vadili was shut down. Some of the dogs are in foster care and some have been found permanent homes, including in the UK.

The sponsored walk will start at Çatalköy’s SeAngle Bar at 11am and people are being urged to come along with their own pets for a fun hike.

Sponsorship forms can be obtained by visiting the Save Vadili’s Dogs: Rescue and Rehoming Facebook page.