Cyprus animal welfare groups suspend TNR programs citing safety concerns

The Cyprus Federation of Animal Welfare Organizations and associated groups have announced an indefinite suspension of all Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs for stray cats. The decision follows reports of verbal abuse, threats, and instances of physical violence directed at volunteers. Organizations state that instead of receiving protection, volunteers have faced police complaints and questioning while performing their duties. Many volunteers have been self-funding these sterilization efforts to manage the stray population. The groups argue that the current lack of official support and legal security makes the continuation of these programs impossible. They warn that the suspension will likely lead to an increase in the stray cat population, creating future challenges for local authorities. Resumption of the programs is conditioned upon the provision of formal written authorization and concrete security guarantees from the state. Failure to resolve these issues is expected to have negative impacts on both local communities and the animals themselves.