Question:
It is said that Cyprus has recently adopted a law on the responsibility of the hosts for their pets. Is
it true? The neighbor’s dog barks at any time, and we cannot sleep! Can neighbors somehow
affect the dog’s owner? Clarify the situation, please.
Response:
The best solution in this situation is to appeal to the municipality of your city, where you can file
your complaint. It will consider the responsible department, which will check whether a dog is
officially registered in the Department of Veterinary Service, where the owner of the animal
must be given a registration certificate, proof of legal possession of the dog. In this case, on the
issue of your complaint you can contact the police department of your city.
In accordance with the amendments to the law “About dogs”, as amended in 2014, any person
who regularly allows dog to move through the streets unsupervised, leaving behind excrement
and dirt, causing irritation to others, violates the provisions of Article 6 (1) (e) and is guilty of an
administrative offense and can be punished by law. For example, in the case of first conviction,
the owner of the dog can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to twelve months, or it may be
fined up to two thousand Euros (or both penalties). In the case of second and subsequent attends
in court the owner of the dog can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 24 months or to a fine
not exceeding three thousand Euros (or both penalties at the same time).
In accordance with the article about “Out of court settlement of offenses” (Article 19 (1)), taking
into consideration the provisions of regulations of the law, a court settlement can be replaced by a fine.
In accordance with the amendments to the law, it is prohibited to keep the dog on the roof, the
balcony and the house leased to multiple tenants to live together, as well as on the construction
site or in the administrative building. Permission is granted to keep the dog in the outdoor aviary,
provided that the height of the fence is proportional to the size of the animal and takes into
account the features of its breed (to prevent escape or the free movement of the dog outside the
fenced area of the enclosure).
Local authorities and police will investigate violations and impose fines on the owner of the dog.