NICOSIA – More groups are working to find and place abandoned dogs on Cyprus, including finding them homes in the United Kingdon and other countries in Europe, after the leader of one group said it started with her trying to find a pet that was stolen.

Constantina Constantinou from Saving Pound Dogs Cyprus (SPDC) told The Irish Times reporter Michael Jansen that, “I turned Cyprus upside down to find Spero,” when he was taken.

She said that made her realize that “We have abandoned dogs in Cyprus, not stray dogs. Owners who do not want them leave them in the middle of nowhere without water (or) food,” unwanted.

After finding, feeding and rehabilitating lost dogs, Saving Pound Dogs Cyprus (SPDC) has flown more than 1,000 abroad for adoption, leading other non-profit rescue groups to also form to help the effort.

The SPDC started 10 years ago at a country house with five dogs and soon had 87, said the report.

“People spread the word that we do not euthanize dogs, will do everything and anything to keep them alive, and find the right family for them,” Constantinou said of the work.

The UK adoption program began in 2013. “We were the first to send dogs abroad. We used to fly them with Cyprus Airways and they gave us a very good discount,” Constantinou said.