Pet travel scheme partially suspended

KYRENIA Animal Rescue (KAR) has partially suspended its pet travel scheme. The charity blamed the decision on the departure of their pet travel co-ordinator, who they say left KAR “without notice and did not leave any clear instructions”.

“Due to this fact, we have no option but to temporarily suspend our Pet Travel service for ‘non-KAR pets’ until we can find

a suitable replacement,” KAR said in an announcement via its Facebook page.

KAR also stated to “all of its friends customers, volunteers, supporters, and members that Pet Travel/TRNC Pet Travel (previously known as KAR Pet Travel) is no longer affiliated with our charity”.

A separate statement published on the KAR website said: “Our Pet Travel services are temporarily on hold.

“This only applies to private pets, and doesn’t affect dogs or cats that are already in the care of KAR.

“We will still be available to give advice to people wishing to import or export their own pets.”

The news came as a shock to many, especially those with pets who may have been planning on taking them out of North Cyprus and using KAR’s long-standing service to do so.

In addition, the sudden nature of the announcement left the public in no doubt that the feud regarding the running of the charity is still very much ongoing, following the resignation of the former KAR committee and ex-chair Margaret Ray in July.

This was further fuelled by a social media post by Robert Betts.

He wrote that he is “sick of the tittle-tattle, assumption and finger pointing” by some, and also criticised what he called the “actions, behaviour, and attitude” of the new committee.

Mr Betts outlined his version of events in the social media post, though refrained from naming any single person directly, adding that “there is much more I could say but won’t”.

Cyprus Today contacted KAR for further information, but the charity declined to comment.