In Cyprus, plan to sterilize about 70 prison cats stalls over €5,000 — Cyprus Mail

In Cyprus, a plan to sterilize about 70 cats living in the central prison has stalled because approximately €5,000 in funding for the procedure has yet to be secured. The Animal Party stated this, Cyprus Mail reports.

Preparations have already been completed

According to the party, preparations for the programme were completed in cooperation with the relevant authorities. In particular, permission was obtained from the acting director of the central prison.

The party president also contacted the relevant ministers, the environment commissioner and veterinary services to coordinate the programme and set a date for the sterilization. However, the project cannot begin because funding of approximately €5,000 has still not been secured.

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Call to find funding

The party called the situation an example of excessive state bureaucracy. In its view, a relatively small sum is preventing the implementation of an initiative that is already ready to be carried out.

The party stated that sterilization would help control the number of cats, prevent uncontrolled reproduction and improve animal welfare in the prison. It called on the state to find a legal and transparent mechanism for providing the necessary funds, stressing that it is not asking for special treatment or for established procedures to be bypassed.

The party also appealed to President Nikos Christodoulides to intervene and ask the relevant authorities to find a solution. In its view, it is contradictory to recognize the need to address the problem of stray animals while failing to implement a specific initiative due to a lack of funding.