A community cat was put down after it was shot with an air gun in Limassol, the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation reported on Thursday.
It said that the shooting occurred near Sarantaporou Street in the Omonia district of Limassol, where the cat, known locally as Roz, was regularly cared for by residents.
Veterinary examination revealed that the air gun pellet severed the cat’s spinal cord, causing irreparable damage.
“We are once again confronted with a horrific crime against animals“, said Anthi Mouzouri, coordinator of the Animal Action Team at the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation.
She added: “Killing a defenseless creature in cold blood should alarm society, stakeholders, and the state”.
Mouzouri called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of the perpetrator under animal welfare laws.
The Movement of Ecologists raised concerns in a statement about weapon possession and use, noting the incident occurred in a densely populated area where humans could have been harmed.
The Limassol Animal Police is investigating the incident and conducting searches in the area. They have established a dedicated hotline for information from the public.
According to the Ecologists, attempts to reach the Animal Police had revealed the unit was assigned duties unrelated to animal protection, prompting activists to call for an independent body dedicated to investigating animal cruelty cases.
“We have repeatedly stressed that the Animal Police should deal exclusively with cases concerning animal protection. We will raise the issue once again with the responsible Minister and the Chief of Police, highlighting the need for an independent body equipped with all the necessary resources to investigate such incidents,” the arty said.
