A legislative amendment passed by the Cyprus Parliamentary Committee on the Environment exempts owners of assistance dogs, low-income pensioners, and recipients of public assistance from the €20 annual fee for dogs.

AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros, speaking after the Committee's session, said that during the article-by-article discussion of the Dog Law, efforts were made to introduce recommendations that would not impose significant costs on the state or citizens. These recommendations aim to integrate a humane approach to animals, which, he noted, was lacking in the existing legislation.

Consequently, an exemption from the pet fee was introduced in Article 4 of the legislation, not only for people using assistance dogs but also for low-income pensioners and public assistance recipients. Kettiros mentioned that the annual fee, set at up to €20, would not significantly impact public finances and local authorities.

However, he added, this exemption aims to send a message that people who often need a companion animal can have one without the burden of the fee. He clarified that the fee exemption applies to one pet per household.

Kettiros also expressed the possibility that this exemption might encourage people to adopt pets from shelters, currently overwhelmed with animals.

He expressed disappointment that representatives from the Union of Municipalities and Communities, state services, and the Legal Service, who submitted reservations, disagreed with this change. He wondered how many years it would take for the government services to develop the level of sensitivity towards animals that they are trying to promote. He concluded by noting that the benefits of abolishing this fee would be manifold, extending beyond mere financial considerations.