By Richard Beale….

We wish to thank ÇATALKÖY -ESENTEPE BELEDIYE for coming to the centre to complete work on the internal fence.

With the recent arrival of new dogs this has caused us a major headache trying to keep our "old “dogs and "new" ones separate as sometimes it’s been like World War 3 with dogs fighting -  pack mentality.

The centre is run by the Belediye but they understood the problem we had and this morning 9th February 2024 workman came and completed the fence. This means instead of the new dogs being kept in cages for most of the day, they have now a little more freedom.

Thank you to the Belediye.

A big thank you to a young couple YELİZ and CEM who saw our recent appeal for volunteers. This couple live in Girne but still made the effort to come and help us.

They couldn't have chosen a worse time for their first shift with us, the Belediye working to complete the inner fence, us trying to get rid of the "Processionary Caterpillars which were on the roofs and inside the cages.

With all this going on we had to keep the dogs inside but Yeliz and Cem were fantastic taking dogs out for walks, they did this 4 times - blimey one walk for me is enough!

The dogs took to them and they took to the dogs and more importantly, they said they will return next week.

If a couple living in Girne can come and help surely there must be someone else locally who can do the same?

It’s bad enough having to deal with the extra dogs with the same small number of helpers and volunteers.

Now and it’s earlier this year the dreaded PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLARS are on the March.

In the last couple of days we have been invaded by them dropping from the trees and getting into the cages. They are dangerous to dogs if they sniff or lick/eat them there is a possibility that they could lose part their tongues or noses.

Humans should be wary of them also.

It’s great having a centre built in amongst pine trees, cooler in the summer but when these caterpillars are around it’s a nightmare. Cleaning/ walking duties have to take second place as we have to deal with these creatures.

There apparently has been an Island shortage of the insecticide that kills them, that explains why we haven’t seen the spraying helicopter around.

Apparently, the Forestry Department has managed to get hold of some and them, and the Belediye will spray around the centre on Monday 12th February 2024.

Hopefully, that will happen and the danger to the dogs will decrease.

You may ask, "Where is the location of the shelter?"

It’s at the top of the village, near to the football ground. Follow signs for then when the road splits into two, you need to go straight on. The dogs are about 25 meters on the right-hand side. There is a green bin at the entrance.

To read more please visit our Facebook page
https://cyprusscene.com/2024/02/11/news-from-the-esentepe-rehoming-project/