Daily News of Life and times in North Cyprus goes around the world
By Chris Elliott……..
Hope 4 Pets is a registered animal rescue charity in England and Wales in the UK and also here in the TRNC and they will be holding a celebration party at The Courtyard Inn, Karakum on Friday 15th September 6:30pm with entertainment by Brian Delaney and Mr ‘James’ Smile.
Introduction by Margaret Sheard ……
I remember way back in the 1950s a work colleague of mine had a cat which she named Elvis. Her mother refused to go out to call the cat with this name. I was therefore very amused to receive a reader’s letter from Bob Scott, which he thought the KAR staff in North Cyprus would enjoy.
Girne Municipality signed a protocol with the Association of Veterinary Doctors in order to sterilize stray dogs that are not owned.
According to the information given by the Municipality of Girne, Girne Municipality Mayor Nidai Güngördü and Veterinary Physicians Association President Umut Sayılı signed the signing ceremony held at Girne Municipality.
Under the protocol, 100 street dogs will be sterilized.
100 dogs were neutered within the scope of the protocol signed between Girne Municipality and Veterinary Medical Association last year.
Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü pointed out that there is sensitivity to street animals in Girne in the related explanations and noted that they are sensitive to this issue as a municipality.
Nidai Güngördü stated that some problems were experienced due to the uncontrolled increase of the dog population and that studies on sterilization, temporary shelter, animal shelter and rehabilitation projects were carried out to solve the problems.
Güngördü stated that when the animal shelter and rehabilitation project is completed, 240 dogs and 60 cats will be taken to the shelter in the first stage and added that volunteers, non-governmental organizations and associations will cooperate with the shelter to be operated under the supervision of the health branch.
Umut Sayılı, the President of the Union of Veterinary Physicians, stated that although the dogs were not owned, they were left to fend for themselves.
Umut Sayılı stated that dogs living on the streets did not live in a healthy way and said that these dogs face some threats.
Defending the dog population to be neutered and under control for the reduction of the number of street dogs, Sayılı said that the signed protocol should be an example to other municipalities.
Introduction by Margaret Sheard …..
Although we tend to leave our dog at home as she would get far too excited, we always try to visit the annual KAR Dog Show to see the many entries of dogs of all shapes and sizes and breeds, doing their utmost to show that they are the best in their various categories. They were all so well behaved as well.
This year was a very special one for KAR as it is their 20th Anniversary and during all of these years KAR have been rescuing and caring for possibly thousands of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats in North Cyprus. I dread to think what the island would be like now had it not been for KAR and its volunteers.
The Wednesday market area where the dog show is held is now much improved and is a really nice venue for this type of event, with ample parking and plenty of additional space for stalls etc. near the large judging enclosure.
By Margaret Ray………
KAR Chairperson……..
The dog show attracted a magnificent 184 entries (73 more than in 2016) and many went away with a beautiful rosette. All had a certificate and some great prizes. It was a very happy, lovely 
atmosphere with people and dogs enjoying the special event.
We would like to thank all of our fantastic sponsors: Alpet, Petline Veterinary Clinic, Credit West Bank, Comfy Pet Shop, Petstop, Selpa Trading and Girne Belediye. We also would like to thank those that donated towards the refreshments, TFR, Gul Pastanasi, Ali Tektan and friends.
We would also like to thank our judge Lesley Dent who had a very difficult job in selecting the winners, there were so many beautiful dogs that she wanted to give prizes to all of them. You can read a list of the awards by clicking here.
The money raised, which was 4,790 TL will be going towards purchasing medicines, veterinary and parasite treatments for the many dogs and cats currently in our care.
We would like to thank everyone that joined in our anniversary event, the wonderful people that helped on the day and all our wonderful supporters who made this event special.
Introduction by Chris Elliott……..
The first time I came to Northern Cyprus was for a holiday in 2002. We stayed at a holiday complex and I was so surprised to see lots of cats around the holiday bungalows and soon found out that holidaymakers were feeding them with food bought from the little market on the site, so was it any surprise there were so many waiting to greet you wherever you went.
A few days later sitting in the shade near the pool, suddenly a group of dogs ran through the complex and I will never forget that one of them seemed to have a large tumor on its body. A few days later reading a local newspaper, there was an article about the large numbers of roaming animals and there were suggestions that an animal cull was needed.
Many years later after I moved here and our family and friends came to visit, one of the delights we had was to take them to the KAR Animal Rescue Centre in the Five Finger Mountains and take two friendly dogs each for a walk. Time then moves on and when I started to write and publish articles, one of my favourite subjects was of course, Kyrenia Animal Rescue and perhaps this is because my companion is a cross Alsatian/Doberman bitch called Rusty who was one of the offspring of two dogs I had seen roaming around locally some 9 years ago.
So what happened about all of those animals that were roaming around all those years ago?
Margaret Ray – Chairperson
Kyrenia Animal Rescue
I would like to tell you the story of the beginning of KAR.
Some friends and I got together to form a group to help some dogs we had seen on the streets that were desperately in need of help. With the help of Mr Nidai Güngördü (now our Mayor) who at that time was in charge at Girne Belediye, a piece of land was found between the cemetery and GAU School in Karaoğlanoğlu that we could use. This was prior to the first registration of KAR as a club in 1997. This land we surrounded with fencing and put together temporary shelters to give home to around fifty dogs.
In those days there were very few Veterinary clinics, but help came in the name of Mehmet, who then worked at the Girne Government Veterinary Department, and Dr Mehmet Isfendiyaroğlu, who is now in charge at the Lefkosa Veterinary Department, donated his free time and we began weekly neutering operations. This was in a neighbour’s garage on a kitchen table and using an outside tap for water. Animals were transported in members’ private vehicles and I can remember transporting at least six dogs at a time on the back seat of my old small VW Beetle car. A dog that we had taken in very pregnant produced fourteen puppies but every time there was a funeral at the cemetery the dogs would take up a very loud barking and howling so we decided that we were not in the right area and it was time to move.
Once again Mr Nidai came to the rescue and found us a wonderful piece of land at Beşparmak leased by the Forestry Department. High in the mountains and away from residential areas where the dogs can howl and bark without disturbing anyone. With the small amount of money that we had collected and the support of our members and friends we rebuilt the small derelict house, built a kennel block of sixteen kennels, put in electricity and water tanks. At the beginning of May 2000 a sponsored walk was arranged to walk twenty three dogs from Karaoĝlanoĝlu up the mountain to their new home. They walked in relay with lots of vehicles giving them a break and plenty of water to drink. Now registered as a Society with an application made to become a charity and having obtained our first van thanks to the RSPCA in the UK we moved from strength to strength.
2001 we branched out to care for cats and the money was raised to build a Cattery.
At the end of 2003 the centre was home to 201 dogs and 44 cats. April 2004 saw KAR become a registered charity. It was also the year that we began our Neuter and Return programme at the end of which saw hundreds of dogs, neutered, given a numbered tag in their ear, health checked and returned to where they were collected.
Expansion continued over the years. Thousands of cats and dogs were neutered, found new homes and cared for at our Centre. Many children and students were taught to understand how to care for animals and to be safe around them by our Education team. A Pet Travel department was developed as a professional import / export service to move animals all over the world. We were very pleased to announce in 2015 that we had been accepted as a member of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and put TRNC on the map for pet movement.
Here we are now in our 20th year!!!. We have many people to thank over the years. In particular our mayor Mr Nidai who was our help from the start and without his help, we would not have the wonderful Rescue Centre as it is today. Also Dr Mehmet who was our mentor and help with the Veterinary health care of the animals and of course our lawyer Peyman Erginel who spent many hours on our application for Charity status as well as helping us with other legal matters. Following on were many Vets, wonderful volunteers and staff, sponsors, friends and supporters not only in the TRNC but from many parts of the world.
Today 20 years on, we have the largest purpose built Dog and Cat Rescue Centre in the TRNC of which we are all very proud.
To mark these 20 years we are holding a celebration Open Day on 16th May at our Rescue Centre where visitors can see our great achievement and meet some of the many dogs and cats in our care.
We would like also to announce other forthcoming events which will be part of our celebrations the first of which is our annual Dog Show and Spring Fayre to be held on 30th April at the Girne Wednesday Market area. Once again this will be ten fun classes but in addition we will have a special 20th year celebration class. We hope to have many stalls promoting pet products and a range of other KAR stalls selling goods to help raise funds to help the animals.
Following on from our Open Day we plan to hold a Dog Walk with picnic close to the centre so that those people without their own dogs can take a dog from those in our care who will be so excited about joining in a walk!!
In addition we have coffee mornings, lunches etc planned, the dates of which will be announced closer to the time.
Thank you for allowing us to share our exciting news with you. After 20 years we have not stopped and we are determined to create lasting changes for animals in our society and to continue helping the animals for years to come – so watch this space!!!!
Looking back at my first holiday in Northern Cyprus I have so many memories but it is amazing how the plight of the street animals touched me and has remained with me throughout the years and I am looking forward to going to the KAR Dog Show on Sunday the 30th April to help them Celebrate 20 Years of fantastic work caring for the street animals.
By Chris Elliott…….
We were sad that due to a prior appointment today 29th March we were unable to be with Kyrenia Animal Rescue (KAR) to help them celebrate their 20th year helping to look after dogs and cats and have therefore shown below the news that they sent to their Staff and Volunteers.
“Dear Staff and Volunteers
Today we have spoken to members of the media etc to announce the exciting news of the future events to celebrate the 20th year of KAR.
We want to thank you very much for all your help over the years, without you we would not have been able to make it to 20 years. Please join us in the following celebrations .
The first of these events will be our Dog Show & Spring Fayre to be held on Sunday 30th April at the Wednesday Market area, Girne. We plan to make this show extra special with an additional Anniversary class to the 10 fun classes, Certificates, special Rosettes and prizes.
On May 16th we are inviting VIPs and members of the public to an Open Day event to show off our wonderful Rescue Centre to show our great achievement and meet some of the many dogs and cats in our care .
Then on Sunday May 21st also at the centre we are holding a Dog Walk and picnic. You can bring your own dogs or walk one of the many in our care who are always excited about joining in a walk.
In addition we have coffee mornings, lunches etc planned and the dates of which will be announced closer to the time.
We would like you to continue as an important part of our 20th year and beyond .
Please tell your family and friends the news of our events so they can join the party!!!!”
We love to hear about KAR Rescue Dogs who have gone to “forever” homes ….Livvy has recently sent an update from the UK which has been sent to us by Kyrenia Animal Rescue (KAR).
By Kim Betts …….
Kyrenia Animal Rescue ……
Olivia – what a difference a Home makes
Olivia came to KAR after being found in a car park in Kyrenia in a sorry state.
She stayed with KAR until she was adopted by a new family who then asked KAR Pet Travel to organise her travel to the UK. Olivia left the TRNC in April 2015 and we have had updates about her new life in the UK. Recently Anne (her owner) sent us another update which we would like to share.
“Hi everyone at KAR. I thought you might like to see how well Livvy is doing after her rescue two years ago – thanks to KAR coming to the rescue of a little dog shivering, pregnant and starving in a car park in Kyrenia.
She has seen her new UK Dad and Mum through some major crises of health and family issues – sitting beside them on the couch, taking them for long walks where she diverted their attention by tearing around the park like a speedo and helping Dad cut the grass!
Now a few words from Livvy herself……….
“Hi
Just thought I would say hello. As you can see I have put on a couple of pounds over the winter. Will soon run it off. Have you noticed Dad’s grass? I like digging holes….keeps him busy filling them in. Love you, Livvy”
