Many, many years ago, the government of the day decided to shoot all the many strays that were wandering around the streets. There were even reports of shooting dogs on leashes and in people’s private gardens.

The government wanted to eliminate a terrible disease that was affecting dogs and also humans. My son, born in 1972, had never seen a dog until we left Cyprus in 1974.

Afterwards, it became fashionable to be cultured and bring a dog from Europe or the UK.

But the concept of actually walking a dog fell to the live-in cleaners. Of course ,now I see that there are people who actually do walk their dogs. They are to be applauded.

Now we have this problem again of strays.

It’s all in the power of our government to put some very basic rules in place to not have any more strays.

All dogs must be chipped (a way to make sure that owners have responsibilities for their dogs). Licences for all dogs must be paid. And ensure these rules are followed up.

All centres for strays should be paid for by our missing government. That should help with the strays when we, as a country, feel the pinch. But then, which ministry is now in charge of it all?

The brave people who actually run the centres for strays probably have even more ideas and could help this “missing” government with hints to govern – at least as far as this problem is concerned.

Sandra Tryfon, Nicosia