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Cyprus Local Reference INFOrmation
INFOrmation

Essential Animal Contacts

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

Veterinarians

The 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.

  • Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare
    At: 12 Dedalos Building, 8049 Kato Paphos (head office)
    Tel: 26 946 461
    Fax: 26 222 236
    Clinic: 26 953496 (open 07:00-19:00)
    Animal Rescue - Tel: 26 935018
    Emergencies - Tel: (genuine emergencies only) 99 655 581
    e-mail 
    Website
Pet Travel

The 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 & Registration

Microchipping

Dogs 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). Efforts are underway to make the microchip identification system standardised across the EU by 2010, which will simplify animal registration and lost and found systems.

Registration and Licencing

Once 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. 

  • Famagusta District Veterinary Station
    Tel
    : 24 721571
    Fax: 24 722811
  • Larnaca District Veterinary Office
    Tel
    : 24 304275/6
    Fax: 24 304270
    e-mail
  • Lefkosia District Veterinary Office
    Tel
    : 22 805240/1
    e-mail
  • Limassol District Veterinary Office
    Tel
    : 25 819512
    Fax: 25 306544
    e-mail
  • Nicosia District Veterinary Office
    Tel: 22 805152/5/253
    e-mail
  • Paphos District Veterinary Office
    Tel
    : 26 306269
    Fax: 26 306198
    e-mail

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:

  • Registration certificate, issued by the District Veterinary Service
  • Health book, issued by the vet
  • Payment of the licence fee (as of December 2008, €20.52)

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 options

EuropePetNet 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. 

  • For more information, see the EuropePetNet website: Click here
Animal Protection Organisations & Sanctuaries

The Cyprus Association for the Protection and Care of Animals is a charity associated with the RSPCA and WSPA. It manages the PAWS Dog Shelter.

  • Cyprus Association for the Protection and Care of Animals (CAPCA)
    Tel: 99 683775
    e-mail
    Website

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). 

  • British Forces Animal Welfare Society Trust (BFAWS Trust)
    At: Waterloo Road, Dhekelia Garrison, Larnaca
    Tel: 24 744432
    e-mail
    Website

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. 

  • BARC (British Forces Animal Rehoming Centre)
    At: Building 720, Norfolk Hill, Episkopi 
    Open: Monday to Saturday. 08:00-12:00 
    Tel: 2596 3733
    e-mail
    Website
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.
  • Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare
    At: 12 Dedalos Building, 8049 Kato Paphos (head office)
    Tel: 26 946461
    Fax: 26 222236
    Clinic: 26 953496 (open 07:00-19:00)
    Animal Rescue - Tel: 26 935018
    Emergencies - Tel: (genuine emergencies only) 99 655 581
    e-mail 
    Website
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.
  • Malcolm Cat Protection Society (MCPS)
    At: Near Asomatos and Akrotiri, 10Km west of Limassol, PO Box 53759, 3314 Limassol
    Tel: 25 952622
    Website

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. 

  • Animal Responsibility Cyprus (ARC/Kivotos) 
    At: PO Box 56986, 3311 Limassol
    e-mail
    Website
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.
  • Cyprus Donkey Sanctuary
    At
    : 4772 Vouni Village, Limassol District
    Tel: 25 944151 (Administration) 
    Tel: 25 945488 (Visitor Centre) 
    Fax:  25 942582
    e-mail
    Website
The Argos Animal Rescue & Protection Association is animal sanctuary in the village of Ormidhia. It aims to rescue stray and unwanted animals, offer medical care to ailing strays, assist low-income families in getting their pets sterilised, investigate animal abuse, re-home abused animals and spay/neuter feral cats. Funds are raised from two charity shops in Paralimni and Agia Napa and through various charity events throughout the year. Argos can also take donations of Carrefour and Orphanides points. To find out how, click here.
  • Argos Animal Rescue & Protection Association
    Tel: 99 326 045 / 99 421 102
    Fax: 23 721 580 / 24 722 045
    e mail
    Website 
Lost & Found

If 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 Threats

The 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 Breeds

The following breeds of dog are not allowed in Cyprus:

  • American Pit Bull/Pit Bull Terrier
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Argentinian Mastiff/Dogo Argentino
  • Brazilian Mastiff/Fila Brasileiro
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