Exposing the Brutal Reality of Cyprus' Hunting Dogs: A Plea for Action

The hunting season has begun in Cyprus, so it seems apt to shed light on the grim reality faced by many hunting dogs in this country. Tragically, these dogs are often treated in a similar callous manner as stray dogs; their lives also characterized by neglect, cruelty, and suffering. Oscar, a purebred Istrian hound, knows this all too well. Born with a deformed back leg, he was cast aside as useless by his owner, confined to a tiny cage for ten agonizing months. When Veronica Gerardini finally rescued him, he was nothing but skin and bones, weighing a mere ten kilograms—another victim of a heartless system and society that treats dogs as mere tools. (See my previous post: Oscar's Journey from Cage to Courage https://www.savegreekcatsanddogs.com/post/oscar-s-journey-from-cage-to-courage).

Oscar at the vet with his rescuer, Veronica Gerardini

During hunting season, hunters bring in dogs that have been bitten by snakes, poisoned by rivals, or even accidentally shot. Outside of hunting season, it’s the pregnant bitches that suffer—brought in sick or struggling to give birth, their only value lying in the next generation of hunting dogs they might produce. These dogs arrive at the clinic in metal cages, dirty and terrified, carried by the scruff of their necks. The majority of hunting dogs in Cyprus never experience the kindness of a gentle touch.

What’s most striking is their emptiness—their vacant eyes and their complete lack of connection to the world around them. These dogs have never experienced affection; they’ve learned that nothing good comes from human interaction. They spend most of their lives in cages, only released for brief, harsh training sessions or hunting expeditions. For the dogs who do see their owners, it’s often just for a moment, to be given little food and water in their cages; many are left to starve to death.

The conditions these dogs are forced to endure are horrific. Many are malnourished, with wasted muscles and overgrown nails, their bodies covered in ticks. Even those that make it to shelters face an uncertain fate. With an estimated 200,000 stray dogs on the island—90% of them hunting breeds—shelters are overwhelmed and underfunded. The government provides little to no support, and the few volunteers and donations that do come in are not enough to cope with the sheer scale of the problem.

Consider Nelly, a three-year-old crossbreed beagle. Locked in a cage by her owner, she spent her days howling and crying for help. When she finally managed to escape by digging through the dirt floor of her cage, a kind neighbor took her in. Despite numerous complaints to local authorities, her owner faced no consequences. Nelly eventually found a loving home in the UK, but countless other dogs are not so fortunate. (Reported by Cyprus Mail, December 30, 2018).

Many hunting dogs in Cyprus spend their entire lives in cages, only let out during the hunting season—if they are deemed useful. Those that don’t make the cut are abandoned, left to die on the streets or worse. The lucky few might end up in shelters, but with resources stretched to the breaking point, many of these dogs will be euthanized. Others will suffer a slow, painful death from starvation, poisoning, or neglect.

The government’s failure to address this problem perpetuates the cycle of cruelty. Despite the dire situation, there are laws against animal cruelty are rarely enforced, there is little government funding for shelters, and no public education efforts to address the root causes of this crisis.

We cannot stand by and allow this cruelty to continue. It’s time to demand change for:

-stronger animal welfare laws,

-government funding for shelters and spaying/neutering of stray cats and dogs,

-prosecution of offenders who commit animal cruelty,

-fostering a cultural shift that recognizes dogs as living beings with rights, not just disposable tools, and

-the creation of a government organization, such as a branch of the police that deals with animal cruelty.

Oscar’s story is a powerful reminder that we cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of these animals.

We must take action—by speaking out, by donating, and by supporting the organizations that work tirelessly to rescue and care for these dogs. Every life saved is a victory, but the ultimate goal must be to end this cruelty once and for all. Let Oscar’s story inspires us to fight for a better future for all the hunting dogs of Cyprus.