The death of a stray puppy thrown into a rubbish crusher by hotel workers in Cyprus has set off an international animal rights protest that has seen hundreds marching on the streets and even dragged in the country’s president.

British tourists and expats joined angry protests outside the Anastasia Beach Hotel in the resort of Protaras, calling for an international boycott, and thousands have signed a petition over the weekend calling for a change in the country’s laws.

The seven-month-old puppy, known as Billy, was found wandering around the hotel pool area some weeks ago. Two hotel workers ordered to remove the dog threw him into an electric cardboard crusher, where he was reportedly later found severely injured but still alive by British holidaymakers.

Billy was rushed to a local veterinary clinic, where locals, tourists and expats began visiting him daily for news of any improvement.

Protests broke out as the news spread. A “Billy’s Law” petition was launched calling for Cyprus to crack down on animal cruelty and bring abusers to justice.

Even Nicos Anastasiades, the president of Cyprus, was forced to comment, describing the incident as “a disgrace for society and our country”, and pledging to raise awareness of the issue at schools.

Billy survived for more than a week after the incident, but eventually vets were unable to save him and he succumbed to his injuries.

The two hotel workers, a Cypriot and a Bulgarian, have been suspended by the hotel and questioned by police.

Tsokkos Hotels, the owner of the hotel, released a statement saying the manager ordered the two workers to take Billy to a shelter for stray dogs, and that they ignored those instructions and threw him in the crusher instead.

But protesters have accused the hotel management of ordering him to be thrown in the crusher, and called for a boycott of the chain.