The Animal Party of Cyprus has said in an announcement that any form of commercial or other exploitation of animals should have no place in upcoming Easter celebrations.

Included among the practices the party calls “unnecessary and cruel” are events and games organised solely for entertainment of humans where animals risk abuse, such as, donkey racing, lotteries offering live animals as prizes, and illegal backyard slaughter of animals for consumption.

The party also reminded the public that offering chicks, bunnies, piglets, pigeons or other animals to children as Easter gifts to be discarded after the celebration is abusive as animals are not objects but conscious living beings.