The Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation called on Tuesday for a full police investigation into a social media report that a group of boys kicked and abused a kitten at a school in Limassol.
According to the post, the kitten died of its injuries despite a girl’s efforts to save it by taking it to a vet. The party said that because the incident had come to light through a social media post, it expected the Limassol Animal Police to investigate it fully, establish the facts and assign responsibility if the allegations were confirmed.
“Violence against animals is not a game, a joke or a show of strength,” the Ecologists said, calling such behaviour unacceptable and something that should not be tolerated or met with indifference.
The party called for the incident to be investigated thoroughly by the relevant authorities, and for the school’s role to be examined and appropriate educational measures taken if the events were confirmed. Animal welfare education in schools should be substantially strengthened so children learn from an early age that abusing a defenceless creature is unacceptable, it said, adding that families and schools had a key role in fostering respect for all life and preventing violence.
The Ecologists praised the girl who, according to the post, stepped in to stop the abuse and tried to save the kitten. A child should not have to intervene alone to stop violence, the party said, adding that parents, teachers and society had a duty to create an environment where respect, empathy and protecting the vulnerable were taken for granted.
