Police have charged a couple with keeping three dogs identified as crossbreeds of banned pit bull and dogo argentino breeds after the animals attacked a 25-year-old carer and two children aged three and six on Sunday.
Veterinary services confirmed the dogs were crossbreeds of prohibited breeds following an examination to determine their classification and aggressive behaviour, police said on Tuesday.
Under Cyprus’s “Dogs Law”, the animals face mandatory euthanasia after veterinary officials determined they displayed aggressive tendencies. Article 11 of the legislation states that dogs from prohibited breeds showing aggression toward the public or other animals must be captured by competent authorities and subjected to euthanasia by a registered veterinarian.
A 36-year-old woman and 43-year-old man remain in custody for two days following the incident. Both suspects lacked proper documentation for legal ownership, marking or registration of the animals, police said.
The woman told investigators she had installed double iron mesh on the property’s gates after previous escapes, claiming the dogs had never shown aggressive behaviour. She said the animals broke through the fencing on Sunday morning and escaped while she searched unsuccessfully for them before police contacted her about the incident.
The male suspect said he was in Platres on Sunday morning and had owned the three dogs for one year without proper licences. He also claimed to have taken precautions against escape and denied previous aggressive behaviour.
The attack occurred when the domestic worker was walking the two young boys from her employer’s family. A worker at a nearby business discovered the bloodied woman with the children and, assisted by a café employee, provided first aid before calling an ambulance.
The 25-year-old suffered serious bite wounds to her right knee, thigh and arm but is in stable condition, police said.
The woman presented an incomplete dog passport missing owner and animal details, police added. Cyprus law prohibits four specific breeds and their crossbreeds, with mandatory capture and euthanasia for animals displaying aggressive behaviour.
Veterinary services have submitted their assessment to police as the investigation continues.
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