For pets who might be home sick , Limassol based Helios Animal Healing provides flower essence therapy for animals.
Despite the growing number of pet owners, and subsequently vets and veterinary services in Cyprus, views regarding where one can and cannot walk their dog still differ, with some municipalities clamping down and restricting areas where dogs are permitted. Yet there are individual efforts made by some municipalities in this direction, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel for all us dog-loving, walkway-demanding citizens.
Whilst the newly constructed pathway around the salt lake in Larnaca has been designated a ‘no go’ area for dogs which means there is nowhere one can legally walk their dog besides the streets of the town, the municipality of Ayia Napa has moved in the opposite direction and has allowed a two-hundred-stretch of beach called ‘Louma’ - formerly used by goat herds - to be accessed by dog owners and their dogs. Although going to Ayia Napa is not the most practical solution for dog owners, it is a positive sign since until recently, it has been illegal for dogs to be walked on beaches and the majority of parks throughout Cyprus carry the ‘No Dogs Allowed’ sign. According to Mayor of Ayia Napa Antonis Tsokkos, “We have seen lots of people taking their dogs for a walk since the establishment of the designated area, and we have been inundated by phone calls from happy pet owners thanking and congratulating us for this initiative.”
There are also many brave individuals in Cyprus who have taken it upon themselves to create more options for pet owners in Cyprus. Lindsay Cowie, owner of K9 solutions, explained: “The lack of activities for dog owners in Cyprus inspired me to create the agility classes involving jumps and obstacles to stimulate both dogs and their owners.”
Lindsay’s agility classes have received very positive feedback from dog owners in the region and she aspires to create even more dog activities in the future, such as a new and improved agility course in January 2009.
One pet event that had become an institution for pet owners in Cyprus is the annual Nicosia Dog Shelter Dogathon, a five kilometre fun run/walk to help raise funds and awareness for the shelter. Nicosia Dog Shelter is a registered charity working hard for the care and welfare of dogs in Cyprus and with this event they aim to increase knowledge about basic animal welfare and care and the responsibilities of owning a pet. There is also an annual Hot Dog Show held in Paphos by Paphiakos & Cyprus Cat Protection Animal Welfare, a registered charity entrusted with promoting the Cyprus Government for improving animal welfare throughout the island.