Nicosia, Cyprus: 400 Protest at Kitten Killing
Intro: recently a kitten was killed in full view of restaurant clientele in Nicosia, the Greek part of Cyprus. The kitten was first bludgeoned with a stick and then kicked into the road. This is the story (opens new window). It has provoked outrage by many local people and the internet community of people who like cats and humane treatment of cats.
Protest at killing of kitten in Cyprus restaurant
From Harvey (regular PoCer) in an email:
Here is a little update on that kitten killing in S. Cyprus. There was a protest by around 400 people yesterday outside the tavern. They later marched to the police station and handed in a written protest.
During the protest insults were hurled at the police. At least that bastard is not getting away with it so lightly, and so far he has he lost 2 days business.
The following is a translation from Cypriot online news service
Date: 04.08.2013 | time: 17:00 — Why kill the kitten? Protest demonstration for the heinous act outside the tavern in Aglandjia. Protest demonstration held yesterday afternoon, outside the tavern “hangout Constantin”, after the sad incident of last week, where allegedly an employee of that firm is said to have attacked and killed a small kitten, arousing a storm of reactions from ordinary citizens and organized groups. Around 400 people, holding banners and shouting slogans such as, “police demanding lives,” and the implementation of legislation, protesting against the appalling and condemnable act that, while there were also found mikroepeisodia [note: this is a mistranslation by Google] as protesters verbally attacked the police forces in the area (around 15 people).Earlier a symbolic protest march was held in the square in Aglandjia which houses the tavern [where the kitten was killed], which today remained closed today because all shop owners fearing attacks and public outcry decided not to open.Then, the crowd headed to police headquarters, where the duty officer was handed a resolution, which was read earlier in the protest outside the tavern “hangout Constantin”.
This is the original Greek (for Cypriots who want to read it):
Γιατί σκοτώσατε το γατάκι; Εκδήλωση διαμαρτυρίας για την αποτρόπαια πράξη έξω από την ταβέρνα στην ΑγλαντζιάΕκδήλωση διαμαρτυρίας πραγματοποιήθηκε χθες το απόγευμα, έξω από την ταβέρνα «το στέκι του Κωστή», μετά το θλιβερό περιστατικό της περασμένης βδομάδας, όπου φέρεται υπάλληλος της εν λόγω επιχείρησης να επιτέθηκε και να σκότωσε ένα μικρό γατάκι, ξεσηκώνοντας θύελλα αντιδράσεων από απλούς πολίτες αλλά και οργανωμένα σύνολα.Γύρω στα 400 άτομα, κρατώντας πανό και φωνάζοντας συνθήματα όπως, «απαιτούμε αστυνομία ζωών», καθώς και την εφαρμογή της νομοθεσίας, διαδήλωσαν, κατά της αποτρόπαιας και καταδικαστέας αυτής πράξης, ενώ δεν έλειψαν και τα μικροεπεισόδια, καθώς οι διαμαρτυρόμενοι, επιτέθηκαν φραστικά προς την αστυνομική δύναμη που βρίσκεται στο χώρο ( γύρω στα 15 άτομα)Νωρίτερα πραγματοποιήθηκε συμβολική πορεία διαμαρτυρίας προς την πλατεία ηρώων στην Αγλαντζιά όπου στεγάζεται η ταβέρνα, η οποία να σημειώσουμε ότι σήμερα παρέμεινε κλειστή, αφού όπως όλα δείχνουν οι ιδιοκτήτες φοβούμενοι επεισόδια και την λαϊκή κατακραυγή ,αποφάσισαν να μην ανοίξουν την επιχείρησηΣτη συνεχεία το πλήθος, κατευθύνθηκε προς το αρχηγείο της αστυνομίας, όπου και παραδόθηκε στον αξιωματικό υπηρεσίας, ψήφισμα , το όποιο είχε διαβαστεί νωρίτερα στη συγκέντρωση έξω από την ταβέρνα «το στέκι του Κωστή
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As a Cypriot and as a animal lover I feel shame when somebody from my country abuse animals !!! But Mr Harvey Harrison why you mension my country as “South Cyprus” and Nicosia the capital of Cyprus as “Greek part of Cyprus” ? Why this political propaganda . You cant divice my country and make with cheap propaganda to make the people to thing that they are 2 Cyprus countries ( South and North ) ! Cyprus is one country with official name ” Repuplic of Cyprus “. Thank you
Thanks for visiting and commenting Leo. I hope Harvey responds.
The tourist trade should suffer greatly in these countries where animal abuse is rife because there is absolutely no reason on earth. I think its a shame because there are people living there who are against what happened.
I just don’t get how someone can think its acceptable to kill a tiny hungry defenceless creature with such brutality in full view if diners!!! Please don’t get me wrong this shouldn’t happen under any circumstances but the way this monster went about this I feel as if its an everyday occurrence!
I’m delighted he’s lost business I hope he is in fear of his life as well.
Ruth?
I can’t find his name, still trying …..
Is Hellenic Cyprus truly mistreating animals? Who is that bad man? Do you have a name to attach to that photo? I have called so many times, and can’t get the information that I need. Should I dig deeper? or spend my efforts on something more effective? ?
https://www.facebook.com/StrayFriendsCyprus
Ruth, thank you, I have not yet created a photomontage, but posted your link. And I’m still going to get this up and running, on a new site, inspired by you, Michael and Marc. You, Marc and everybody on Michael’s PoC are truly carimg. I won’t be eating any poisonous fungi tonight.
Don’t you ever eat any poisonous fungi Caroline, we don’t want to lose any of our PoC family 😉
It’s not about me, but really appreciate your caring about our family here! 🙂
It is about you, we all care about each other x
Hopefully his restaurant will be blacklisted or just remain infamous for what happened there.
I can’t stand thinking about what happened – it’s a true nightmare of epic proportions. I would be much disturbed had I seen that. I’d be in jail too.
Marc, we all would. We all would. I’m about to eat some poisinous fungil I am tired of this life. Thank Goodness, for what you have done! It gives me a raison d etre.
Don’t You ever, don’t You! of everybody that I hacw come to understand, don’t YOU ever, ever give up. Cat’s, especially, Red need you. !!!
It’s truly heartbreaking to think of a flailing paralysed and confused kitten being kicked into the road – and it’s poor mother. It’s stuck in my head. It’s awful.
I , we know. I don’t understand it, Marc. what can we do, but persevere, for each and every little one, who never asked for anything except love.
Yes we must persevere Caroline and we will!
Mine too Marc, along with other horrific images of animal abuse.
I think all the time how can animal abusers be called human beings like we are?
They are not human, they are monsters!
Humans are humane.
‘Humane’ is not such a good word is it. Infact it’s often a bad word if you consider what humans do. We need a new word for different kinds of humans – the word humane is not worth anything.
Humans for us, monsters for animal abusers, for want of a better word.
Definition of monster:
A creature that is typically large, ugly, and frightening.
Not quite right as it misses out cruel and heartless. Maybe we can think up a better word between us hmmm there may be an article in that?
Well good on those people who protested, it’s wonderful that so many of them cared enough to do that.
It won’t bring that poor little kitten back but it will have showed that bastard tavern owner and any others abusing cats and also the police, that decent people won’t put up with cruelty to animals.
We need animal welfare laws worldwide!
Do you have his name?
I’m so glad that local people have made a protest over the tragic loss of that kitten’s precious life, maybe losing trade will get through to that smug, well fed tavern owner better than any other form of protest, people like him think only of money and profit so I hope the pressure continues and he loses business through this for a long time to come.
Barbara, I have not been able to get his name, and I certainly have tried. Do you know?
Hi Caroline. Thanks for the compliments. Just think that the kitten which was killed may have looked like these two.
Balkar means honey and snow (the male on the left), Fenicia’s name is related to the Phoenix since she rose from being near to death. She is now in Holland and very much appreciated, and Balkar is still with me. The stove you see is the gas stove. The m/wave is fitted in a custom-made niche over the countertop so no working space is lost. Here is a photo of Fenicia after being rescued and after her first bath. You can still see the pain in her eyes.
This is a great comparison – actually it is horrible because it shows how tough it is for stray cats. It upsets me.
Yes, I see it, but she doesn’t any longer have that pain, thanks to your kindness. She’s in Holland? (I’m pleased that you were able to keep Balkar… They are both beautiful. They are both, beautiful. Thank you, Harvey, for sharing that with your friends, and esp. me.
Bless her the poor little soul, so glad you were able to rescue her and Balkar, they look very happy.
Thanks for the update Harvey. Your cats are beautiful and lucky you found them by the sounds of it. They are stunning.
I hope the protest will encourage people towards not being cruel to animals at least out of fear of repercussions from the general public. 400 people is a hell of alot of people if you think about it. I’m glad that guy probably regrets the whole thing now. Thats pure cruelty what he did. Truly fearsome and nasty – I’d be sick if I saw it happen in front of me.
Just to give you all an idea what lovely free-born cats and kittens can be found in Cyprus, these are Balkar (L) and Fenicia (R). Balkar was found near a restaurant and supermarket looking fairly well fed , and Fenicia was found on her last legs from starvation and thirst in Lapta village. She was about 2 months old and no mother or siblings in sight. As you can see both made an immediate transition from feral to spoiled affectionate house cats. The people here don’t know what treasures they have.
They are special cats, what I call “van-type” cats with the classic inverted “V” pattern on the forehead.
Nice picture, Harvey. Lovely cats. You don’t see this sort of cat very often in the UK. This is a Mediterranean looking cat.
Harvey, they are beautiful. Thank you for the updates and the photo of Balkar and Fennie Fenecia? [what does that mean?] Their two pair of eyes are amazing, aren’t they? And I love it that you give them free reign. (My cats were never allowed nxt to the microwave while it was on. I’d gently scoop Panda right off if she jumped up their while it was emitting.)
Thanks, Harvey! Lovely, rescues
U.S. standards are not as strict as European. Our mw units emit alot more than, well, almostanywhere else in the world. That said, and I know that i’m preachin to the choir, DO NOT 😉 let your felines nor chi’s nor hamtaro sit nxt to the microwave oven while running.
Thank you Harvey and Michael for the update.
My view is that stories like these (this, and the one re: Chester) are really helpful in calling attention to how cats are mistreated. imho people relate to “the particular” most of all- both this and the story about Chester gave details that conveyed the events vividly. I’m sure that many reading the stories connected personally with the events.
Connected personally, in a way that one might not when reading statistics as in x number of cats are abused in such and such a way, in such and such a place.
I’m not saying that summaries via statistics aren’t important- not at all- but these two recent stories made me realize the power of reporting on individual cat abuse. Not so difficult for me to imagine something like “I could have been at that cafe and seen this horrible deed”, for example. Conjures up vivid images.
Hope what I am trying to say makes sense- b/c it was a struggle to find the apt words.
That is a really good point VG. People prefer live events with real characters rather than an abstract discussion no matter how intelligent and useful. It is more interesting particularly to women. I mean that in a nice way.
Also real events do tell us a lot about the world of cats, perhaps more than an abstract impersonal discussion.