**€5,000 Stalls Plan to Neuter 70 Prison Cats**
Plans to neuter approximately 70 cats residing at the central prisons in Cyprus have encountered delays due to a lack of funding, specifically the €5,000 required to carry out the procedure. This information was shared by the Animal Party on Sunday, highlighting the challenges faced in implementing the initiative.
The Animal Party stated that all necessary preparations for the neutering program had been completed in collaboration with relevant authorities. This included securing the necessary permissions from the acting director of the central prisons. Additionally, the party's president has reached out to various stakeholders, including relevant ministers, the environment commissioner, and veterinary services, to coordinate the program and establish a timeline for the neutering process.
Despite these efforts, the project remains stalled as the required funding has not been secured. The Animal Party criticized the situation as an example of excessive state bureaucracy, arguing that the relatively small amount of money needed is hindering a program that is otherwise ready to be implemented.
The party emphasized that neutering the cats is essential for controlling their population, preventing uncontrolled breeding, and improving overall animal welfare within the prison environment. They have urged the state to create a legal and transparent mechanism to provide the necessary funding, asserting that they are not seeking preferential treatment or shortcuts in established procedures.
Furthermore, the Animal Party has called on President Nikos Christodoulides to intervene and encourage relevant authorities to find a solution to the funding issue. They pointed out the contradiction in the state’s acknowledgment of the need to address the stray animal population while being unable to proceed with a specific neutering initiative due to a lack of financial resources.
As the situation stands, the future of the neutering program for the prison cats remains uncertain, pending the resolution of funding issues. The Animal Party continues to advocate for the welfare of these animals and seeks to move forward with the initiative as soon as possible.