Dialogos

Shelters for People Only – Not Intended for Pets

Published March 5, 2026, 17:01
Shelters for People Only – Not Intended for Pets

The Director of Civil Defence, Maria Papa, stated that shelters are not intended for pets, as the existing facilities are not designed to accommodate them. The service is considering creating special areas for pets in the future. Shelters are provided free of charge by citizens, who are responsible for cleaning them before use. Most have water and toilets, while mobile toilets are provided in other cases. Shelters cover approximately 45% of the population of Cyprus, and a message is expected to be sent to community leaders to identify new spaces. At the same time, a tender is underway for a new siren system and improvements to the SMS warning system, following a failed test send.