Cyprus Local Reference INFOrmation
Information on veterinarians, registration, licencing, and what to do if a pet is lost or found including the contact information for local animal sanctuaries and shelters in Cyprus.
Below is information on: All dogs in Cyprus must be registered and licenced. Any residence that includes a dog must have a visible "Beware of the Dog" sign posted VeterinariansThe Cyprus Veterinary Services is organised into four main divisions: Animal Health and Welfare, Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary Laboratories and Veterinary Medical Products. All sections work under the guidance of the Chief Veterinary Officer. There are five District Veterinary Centres and eight Rural Veterinary Centres across the country.
Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare provides veterinary care to animals that are abused, injured or in distress.
Pet TravelThe inclusion of Cyprus in the EU means that the EU Pet Passport scheme is now in practice. This has made travel with a pet easier.
Animal Identification & RegistrationMicrochippingDogs brought to Cyprus must be identified by microchip and registered in the Cyprus Databank; they must also be licenced with Central Registration. It is the owner's responsibility to register and licence a dog - it is not done by a veterinarian. Failure to register a dog can incur a large fine. If the dog is not microchipped, owners should take their dog to a veterinarian to have a microchip implanted. The veterinarian will give the owner microchip documentation and also issue a health book for the dog. A microchip is no bigger than a rice grain and is injected beneath the animal's skin, usually in the neck area. The chip contains identification information and is read with a hand-held scanner. The microchip is preferable to a tattoo as a form of ID as it does not fade and the animal does not need to be anaesthetised ( as it might to be tattooed). Registration and LicencingOnce the dog is microchipped, the microchip documentation must be taken to the District Veterinary Services and a small registration fee paid. The owner will receive a registration certificate. The dog and owner's information will be registered in conjunction with the microchip so the dog can be identified in the future.
When the dog is registered, the registration certificate and health book must be taken to the local Municipality or Community Council in order to receive a dog licence. The following are required:
If the dog changes owner, the District Veterinary Services must be notified in order to change the registration information and the dog licence must be transferred to the new owner.
Additional registration optionsEuropePetNet is a supplementary free animal registration service which may be useful in the event a pet is lost or found in an EU country of which it is not resident. When an animal is found and taken to a vet or a shelter, the vet or shelter can use EuropePetNet to find the owner.
Animal Protection Organisations & SanctuariesThe Cyprus Association for the Protection and Care of Animals is a charity associated with the RSPCA and WSPA. It manages the PAWS Dog Shelter. The British Forces Animal Welfare Society (BFAWS) is an organisation providing refuge and re-homing for dogs and cats. Their shelter is funded through charity fundraising, donations and the sale of promotional items on their website (caps, T-shirts, mugs, baby clothes, the Christmas calendar).
BARC (British Forces Animal Rehoming Centre) is a volunteer-run animal rehoming organisation and pets available for rehoming can be viewed on the website. It does not take in stray dogs and cats but rather works specifically to rehome cats and dogs that must be left behind when the owner leaves Cyprus. Advice on pet travel is available.
Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare is an independent animal welfare organisation providing many services including a dog shelter, boarding and training facilities and fund-raising charity shops.
The Malcolm Cat Protection Society (MCPS) is a charity that operates a cat sanctuary with cats available for adoption. Volunteers are always welcome. It has an active calendar of fund raising events.
Catsnip is a Limassol organisation that aims to reduce the population of unwanted cats born every year in Cyprus by trapping, neutering and releasing feral and street cats. Funds are raised through car boot sales (donated goods appreciated) and through cash donations. Animal Responsibility Cyprus (ARC/Kivotos) is an organisation that visits schools and lobbies government for animal rights. The Cyprus Donkey Sanctuary houses over 100 donkeys that were neglected, abandoned or could no longer be cared for by their owners. This charity operates through the donations of visitors.
PARC (Peyia Animal Rescue Club) helps sick or injured homeless animals, treats and finds new homes for them. The club has no boarding facilities, but foster the animals in their care in private homes. They also run a trap neuter and release programme. Lost & FoundIf a pet is lost, contact the police, the municipality, local vet offices during office hours and the after-hours emergency clinics and animal shelters giving them a description of the animal and its identity number. Visit the pounds: stray dogs are kept in the pound for up to 15 days after which they may be euthanised. If a pet is found at the pound, the owner will be required to pay any costs incurred in keeping the animal. Pet ThreatsThe island is free from all serious contagious animal diseases. Be aware of the summer heat can be a danger to some dogs. There is a danger of chemical poisoning, especially near farmland, to dogs that tend to scavenge. Poisons may include carbamate pesticides Lanate (Lannate) and Nudrin (Methomyl), which can be highly toxic to a dog. If it is suspected an animal has ingested poison seek immediate help from a vet. There are three types of venomous snakes found in the wild in Cyprus, the most dangerous being the Vipera lebetina or Blunt Nosed Viper. It is a fat, front-fanged snake, identifiable by the "blunt nose" and dull grey/brownish shade. It typically reaches 130 cm in length and is most commonly found near streams and in shaded areas under rocks or shrubs. All snakes are most active during the summer. If a pet receives a snakebite, seek immediate help from a veterinarian. Prohibited Dog BreedsThe following breeds of dog are not allowed in Cyprus:
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