We Have Run Aground, We Are Taking On Water, But We Haven’t Sunk Yet!

By Richard Beale…. Esentepe Rehoming Group

2024 was a New Year, New hope a new beginning that we could re-home the dogs at the shelter then maybe walk away and get our lives back

Now with the first month of the year barely gone, we have been swamped not only with the rains but with dogs.

Our project ran aground last Thursday evening when the Belediye brought 11 dogs up to the compound. These were 11 of 17 dogs that a lady who I believe lived in a car in Catalköy owned and the Police took them away from her as one dog was reported to have bit a child. There was no way we could accommodate 11 dogs not only we haven’t got the room we haven’t got the volunteers to care for the dogs.

As you can expect tempers were high, and angry words were exchanged. As it was dusk we agreed to try and resolve this in the morning. Overnight messaging to the Mayor the Vice Mayor pointing out our position at the shelter, we got more information. The Belediye did not want to put the dogs at the shelter, they knew the situation as it was unfinished, and it was a future project. but they had no choice in the matter the Police said they would shoot the dogs if no shelter could take them.

Wheels must have turned overnight, Girne Dog Shelter said they would take 6 dogs on the understanding that we took 5 dogs.

The next morning (Friday), the Belediye asked us how can we help? We said we wanted the inhabitable cages made habitable and an internal fence put in the compound so we could keep them separate from the existing dogs, in case of fighting or the new dogs bringing in disease that could affect the rest of the dogs.

In fairness to the Belediye in the pouring rain, they completed what we asked for, its not perfect but under the circumstances it was the best we could hope for.

They brought the 5 dogs up and I must admit they had been well cared for by the woman and are very friendly however it's still 5 dogs we didn’t want!

To cap a very bad few days when we arrived at the shelter on Monday to find a young, very emancipated pointer dumped there! What could we do, turn it away in this bad weather, it's so hard it tugs at your heartstrings.

So here you have it the Project is taking on water, we have to try and re-home 6 extra dogs now, and we still have a very small group of volunteers. 6 extra dogs means the shifts are now longer, mornings and evenings, 7 days a week in all winds and weathers. Look at the weather in the last 48 hours think of us struggling in these conditions.

It is easy to say ……..it, walk away, let the Belediye sort it out, it's their shelter after all but these dogs, get to you, they get inside your heart, you love them you want what’s best for them —- we will carry on trying to rehome these poor dogs.

PS; IS ANYONE WILLING TO GIVE UP YOUR PRECIOUS TIME ON A REGULAR BASIS? ITS NOT GLAMOROUS CLEANING UP AFTER DOGS BUT SOMEONE'S GOT TO DO IT, THE REWARD IS BEING WITH THE DOGS WHO SHOWER YOU WITH LOVE.

For more information go to the Esentepe Rehoming Group Facebook page
https://cyprusscene.com/2024/01/30/esentepe-rehoming-group-needs-your-urgent-help/