I am very grateful that Mario Spiteri (TMID, 16 March) has given us details about his remit and his work in favour of animals. Reading his letter, I was pleased to see that there were points with which I completely agree.
However, there are still many points I wish to raise. My aim is to help enhance a better recognition of what it entails to look after stray animals. In this spirit, Dr Spiteri should be grateful there are people who are interested in animal welfare, and should therefore not take dubious stands such as by crying “sensational” whenever those with animals at heart speak out. After all, officials paid by the public coffers should have just that little bit more respect when it comes to replying to questions from the public.
Let us put all cards on the table: one of the most important points raised is the distinction he makes between sanctuaries that are “officially recognised” and those that are not. The claim is that there are individuals who are “hoarding” animals in disgusting situations; and that there are individuals who are making use of animals in order to raise money from “gullible people”. Well, some questions arise here:
How difficult or easy are we making it for all sanctuaries to be officially recognised?
Isn’t it better to get all interested parties on board, as it were, rather than closing them down or sending them to prison?
Can Dr Spiteri give us a list of the officially recognised sanctuaries?
At the end of the day, all animals in all sanctuaries are deserving of food and looking after. Now, I am told that one of the problems keeping these unofficial sanctuaries from being officially recognised is related to financial administration. I agree that badly administered sanctuaries create doubt, and rightly so, too. But equally true is the fact that not everyone can afford to be organised, especially under-staffed and heavily-crowded sanctuaries.
So, can the government offer the services of one roving accountant to help these sanctuaries to pull up their socks as regards financial administration and hence, become “officially recognised”?
Individuals making use of animals to get money are also mentioned. But who is “gullible” today? I, for one, give a lot of help to homes for dogs, but always in the form of dog food! Get the drift? So, can’t we help these individuals of doubtful reputation – who, I agree, do exist! – by offering animal food rather than money?
I agree with Dr Spiteri that dogs in packs are very dangerous and they should be given top priority by his department – but the solution is not to kill them automatically. Killing animals must always be considered as the very last resort, in finding a solution to dangerous dogs.
Dr Spiteri claims that he now works with “a small team of dedicated staff”.
Can he tell us exactly the number of his team?
And from where his “staff” was seconded, the qualifications each one has, and why they were chosen to be in this “team”?
Dr Spiteri says: “Last year we embarked on a national neutering campaign and over e174,000 were spent to neuter some 1,500 stray and sanctuaries’ dogs and cats.” That amounts to e116 for each neutering operation. I often go to a vet with animals for neutering – and with my own money! And this amount of e116 does not tally with the price of a normal neutering operation.
He speaks about “people with a phobia of dogs”.
What educational campaigns are organised by his department to educate people in this matter, as with the many other matters that he speaks about in his letter and which are, by and large, justly pointed out?
Dr Spiteri expresses himself as against providing more space in sanctuaries. But the reality is that in the first place, there isn’t enough space in sanctuaries – the space provided up to now is run by individuals and heaven help us should such individuals not be around any more, or that something happens to them.
What will the country do, then? Has Dr Spiteri’s “department” any contingency plans in such situations? How will they be making up for the likely sudden disappearance of these key people? Create a piazza pulita, which is the easiest way out?
He speaks about the Animal After Care Centre in Ta’ Qali: I certainly don’t wish to rubbish this extremely important amenity in animal welfare, but I will believe it when I see it up and running. Do we know who is going to be responsible for this centre? Do we now how this centre is going to be run? Do we have any idea when this centre is going to start being used? (As opposed to being officially inaugurated!)
He claims that this centre “is one of its kind in Malta”. Of course it would be! But look for how long it has been promised!
“What remains is the urgent need for all NGOs working for the welfare of animals to form an effective coalition and pool in resources.” I cannot agree more, and such animal associations should be absolutely ashamed of themselves that they cannot, or will not, come under one umbrella, keeping their own “identity” yet continue to work separately from any government department.
It is not a Dog’s Act that we need but a new Animal Welfare Act which incorporates the introduction of a Commissioner for Animals, distinct from the government, and reporting directly to Parliament. And no act can be discussed without a proper discussion with all partners involved, especially true animal lovers.
In conclusion, I still believe, and I still maintain, indeed, that animal welfare in this country is not being dealt with seriously. Indeed, with all respect to everyone concerned, animal welfare is not in the hands of the right people. I am not personally referring to Dr Spiteri – I am referring to the fact that animal welfare must not be in the hands of any government department. People know me: people know I have no malice and have no axes to grind, and they know how much I love animals and am, on the other hand, practical. I do not use animal issues to hit at this person or that, whether political party or individuals; I am “crazy” about animals and I assure one and all that I will continue to bring the problems and the horrors of animal welfare in Malta and Gozo to the attention of the public.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Daphne Caruana Galizia ... or rather, Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmations).
Daphne's feelings for animals are now there for all to read. She reminds me of CRUELLA DE VIL in 101 Dalmations ...I am here reproducing some 'words of wisdom', along with those of some other poor souls who take part in her way of crushing each person and everything that picks her fancy.
Words of wisdom.
By Cruella de Vil et al.
CDV: I disapprove of shelters on principle and believe that dogs which cannot be homed should be put down, rather than being kept in concentration camps by well-meaning people who are projecting their own anthropomorphic sentiments onto them.
CDV: If he [Freddie Fenech] had no intention of caring for those kittens, he should have done the decent thing and whacked them over the head or drowned them in a bucket of water.
A.Attard: Any non-microchipped animal found roaming the streets is put down immediately.
A.Attard: The licence fee would be to finance the registry and the culling of strays.
A. Attard: I agree fully that strays should be put down. I would consider all non-microchipped animals as strays and put them down.
Amanda Mallia: Hopefully, … Freddie Fenech and his playpen (yes, children’s playpen) housing puppies will no longer be an eyesore near on the front near Fortizza / Ferro Bay on summer evenings.
Cruella de Vil on kittens:
It's much more humane to whack them over the head or drown them.
(About CDV’s solutions to terminating animal life): They're not my solutions and they're not barbaric. Humans kill animals, for food or for other reasons. You just have to find the quickest, cleanest way to do it, and with newborn kittens, it's a few seconds in a bucket of water or a one-second whack over the head.
I'm going to repeat what I said: yes, for newborn kittens it [drowning kittens after whacking them on the head] is by far the most efficient solution, which is why people do it all the time. If there weren't so many squeamish people around there would be fewer abandoned kittens: people don't want the hassle of taking a day off to queue at the vet and then paying to have six kittens 'put down', but they've been taught that a bucket of water is 'barbaric' and that putting them in a skip is somehow more acceptable.
CDV: About animal death: All death is cruel. You just have to find the least cruel way out. I'm not a vegetarian.
CDV: About killing animals leading to arrest: No because murder applies only to humans.
CDV: An injured stray should just be put down. There is no point in being sentimental. Pets are saved not because they have an intrinsic 'right to life' but because their owners love them and want them saved. Dogs have as much right to life as the cows you eat.
CDV: People in Malta are cruel to animals because our general civic and ethical awareness remains undeveloped. Our cruelty to animals is just part of a much wider and deeper problem: cruelty to children, to spouses, to colleagues, indifference to others, lack of consideration, overbearing selfishness, and grabbing and thieving. To sort out our attitude to animals, you must first sort out our attitude towards life. That is going to take some doing.
CDV: Animals do not need 'second chances'. They are animals, not humans.
CDV: I'm beginning to think that more harm is done to animals by people thinking of them in human terms than by people who treat them like animals. I reiterate my considered belief, based on 20 years of keeping dogs (FF: I pity those dogs of hers – sorry, couldn’t help that one!), that dogs are better off dead than kept packed into a compound. Dogs, as a rule, do not like other dogs. They prefer human company, though they will sometimes form a strong bond with just one other dog, not necessarily of the opposite sex but usually of the same sex.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
TMI letter today, 02 04 2009.
Stop animal cruelty
by Franco Farrugia
Words cannot express what many people felt after reading the news about the horrendous find at Tal-Ferha, Gharghur. It was reported that Freddie Fenech, accompanied by police officers, following an anonymous tip, found a situation which cannot be described in words: live, terrorised and starving puppies as well as skeletons and remains of other animals.
We must stop animal cruelty in Malta. We have to say enough to this black and sordid part of our ‘national identity’.
We need proper legislation and we need proper officials who are crazy about animals and who would feel it their duty to protect animals – especially those that are in a vulnerable situation, such as strays.
We need an Animal Welfare Commissioner who would work completely independent of any governmental department, and who would only be answerable to Parliament. As we have a Commissioner for Data Protection and for Children and for other things, we also need one for animals – for, after all, these need protection as much as children do.
If you prick a child with a needle, it is described as abuse, and rightly, too. But if you prick an animal with the same needle, those same people who previously screamed abuse will look away and say nothing.
It is not right to adopt policies that go against the very welfare of animals. We need policies in Malta that protect and defend these defenseless animals. We need policies that are there to fight the perpetrators – the irresponsible and often cruel human ‘owner’ – and not policies or laws that directly or indirectly go against the beings that we are out to protect and defend. Or, what’s worse, laws that go for those who, albeit rather in a dubious fashion, try to do their best to take strays off the streets and go to prison for it, as we have recently witnessed!
Officers in animal welfare must fall over themselves in their anxiety to protect animals – if they are not prepared to do this, they should move aside and allow others to take their place.
And what about the veterinarians in our country? Where are they? Are they ever heard speaking out against animal cruelty? Do we hear their voices as they defend their very clients?
We must do everything in our power to support animal sanctuaries and associations. Local councils also must help in this matter, and put their money where their mouth is, and financially aid, even if in a modest manner, these sanctuaries, which are generally manned by a handful of volunteers that often dig their hands into their pockets when there are no resources left in the sanctuary they work in.
We must also control breeding taking place in Malta. The authorities would do well to clamp down on this business-of-sorts. It is true that there are a few honest and conscientious breeders; however, people must be made aware that in ‘buying’ a pedigree animal, they are wasting their money as well as making it difficult for more strays to be adopted, homed and put in a sanctuary for their own safety.
And what about a cheap manner of identifying all animals in this country? What about a cheap manner of forcing all ‘owners’ to have their pets micro-chipped?
As for those who claim that our country is at the moment froth with problems such as illegal immigration, hidden poverty and social malaise, well, this is no excuse for us all, as a people, as a State, to relinquish our responsibilities towards defenseless and vulnerable beings.
Please, do not look away. We have been doing this for so long.
No more Tal-Ferha atrocities!!! Let us pull the same rope. Our animals deserve nothing less.
by Franco Farrugia
Words cannot express what many people felt after reading the news about the horrendous find at Tal-Ferha, Gharghur. It was reported that Freddie Fenech, accompanied by police officers, following an anonymous tip, found a situation which cannot be described in words: live, terrorised and starving puppies as well as skeletons and remains of other animals.
We must stop animal cruelty in Malta. We have to say enough to this black and sordid part of our ‘national identity’.
We need proper legislation and we need proper officials who are crazy about animals and who would feel it their duty to protect animals – especially those that are in a vulnerable situation, such as strays.
We need an Animal Welfare Commissioner who would work completely independent of any governmental department, and who would only be answerable to Parliament. As we have a Commissioner for Data Protection and for Children and for other things, we also need one for animals – for, after all, these need protection as much as children do.
If you prick a child with a needle, it is described as abuse, and rightly, too. But if you prick an animal with the same needle, those same people who previously screamed abuse will look away and say nothing.
It is not right to adopt policies that go against the very welfare of animals. We need policies in Malta that protect and defend these defenseless animals. We need policies that are there to fight the perpetrators – the irresponsible and often cruel human ‘owner’ – and not policies or laws that directly or indirectly go against the beings that we are out to protect and defend. Or, what’s worse, laws that go for those who, albeit rather in a dubious fashion, try to do their best to take strays off the streets and go to prison for it, as we have recently witnessed!
Officers in animal welfare must fall over themselves in their anxiety to protect animals – if they are not prepared to do this, they should move aside and allow others to take their place.
And what about the veterinarians in our country? Where are they? Are they ever heard speaking out against animal cruelty? Do we hear their voices as they defend their very clients?
We must do everything in our power to support animal sanctuaries and associations. Local councils also must help in this matter, and put their money where their mouth is, and financially aid, even if in a modest manner, these sanctuaries, which are generally manned by a handful of volunteers that often dig their hands into their pockets when there are no resources left in the sanctuary they work in.
We must also control breeding taking place in Malta. The authorities would do well to clamp down on this business-of-sorts. It is true that there are a few honest and conscientious breeders; however, people must be made aware that in ‘buying’ a pedigree animal, they are wasting their money as well as making it difficult for more strays to be adopted, homed and put in a sanctuary for their own safety.
And what about a cheap manner of identifying all animals in this country? What about a cheap manner of forcing all ‘owners’ to have their pets micro-chipped?
As for those who claim that our country is at the moment froth with problems such as illegal immigration, hidden poverty and social malaise, well, this is no excuse for us all, as a people, as a State, to relinquish our responsibilities towards defenseless and vulnerable beings.
Please, do not look away. We have been doing this for so long.
No more Tal-Ferha atrocities!!! Let us pull the same rope. Our animals deserve nothing less.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
My remarks about Animal Welfare in Malta.
Well, if you want to get to know what is really the topic, you have to start reading from below ... very far below!
What lessons do we learn from all this?
1. There is no no-kill policy for healthy animals in Malta. Dr Mario Spiteri himself admitted that there is this policy of killing animals - putting to sleep, THEY call it! - in Malta, which, to me at least, is nothing but a short cut to the problem of strays.
Obviously, responsibility for such a policy comes from the Malta Government, particularly the Minister in charge, George Pullicino.
2. We also know, now, that a few animal 'sanctuaries', such as Noah's Ark and Abandoned Animals Association have lost their 'raison d'etre' and are now playing fiddle with that other evil SPCA in agreeing with killing strays!
3. We also learn how polite and professional are some of our civil servants. Public servants such as Dr Mario Spiteri have a far way to go before being able to deal politely with Joe Citizen, who is after all a tax-payer and therefore their 'boss', in a way. But then, Malta is not known to have full democractic credentials!
So, there you have it.
For now!
What lessons do we learn from all this?
1. There is no no-kill policy for healthy animals in Malta. Dr Mario Spiteri himself admitted that there is this policy of killing animals - putting to sleep, THEY call it! - in Malta, which, to me at least, is nothing but a short cut to the problem of strays.
Obviously, responsibility for such a policy comes from the Malta Government, particularly the Minister in charge, George Pullicino.
2. We also know, now, that a few animal 'sanctuaries', such as Noah's Ark and Abandoned Animals Association have lost their 'raison d'etre' and are now playing fiddle with that other evil SPCA in agreeing with killing strays!
3. We also learn how polite and professional are some of our civil servants. Public servants such as Dr Mario Spiteri have a far way to go before being able to deal politely with Joe Citizen, who is after all a tax-payer and therefore their 'boss', in a way. But then, Malta is not known to have full democractic credentials!
So, there you have it.
For now!
TIMESOFMALTA.COM ...
... continued, for good measure!
I immediately contacted the editor, Mr Scicluna. But, obviously, nothing was done about the matter, for, as everyone knows, Times of Malta is prone to protect the establishment and the sacred cows within it.
So, read the following:
Franco Farrugia (1 day, 17 hours ago)
@ Mario Spiteri: It is indeed a pity, and equally disgusting, to make use of this blog in order to hit at someone who took you to task over your own words as reported by a newspaper, where it was reported that you claimed that dogs that are not adopted will be put to sleep. Once again, your words, not mine.
It is disgusting that you chose to make use of this blog for your own ends, rather than to join the chorus of those appealing for more animal-awareness.
Part of your remit should be that of encouraging ALL to join the same boat - that of fighting animal cruelty.
Dr. Mario Spiteri (1 day, 14 hours ago)
Mr. Franco Farrugia I simply replied to your disgusting inferences in this blog.
The Animal Welfare department which I run is not in business to annihilate stray dogs and cats. Quite the opposite, we promote the adoption of strays from Sanctuaries.
I invited you to join us on a typical day's work to learn at first hand experience (rather than from unreliable hearsay) what the real problems about strays are.
Without proper management stray dogs end up being poisoned, killed on the road, form packs and attack other dogs, turn cats into shreds and pulp. This is not to mention the grave public health and safety implications.
Putting dogs to sleep as unsavoury as it is, is the last resort left when Sanctuaries are full. (My bold!) Some might argue why not open more sanctuaries. In reality we could fill these and easily treble the current sanctuary population in six months time. Then it is back to square one!
That is why we run neutering programmes so in the long term there will be less strays around. In due time all dogs would have to be micro-chipped and so strays could be traced to their owners.
Franco Farrugia (1 day, 14 hours ago)
@ Dr Mario Spiteri - You did not first mention that you are the Director of the Animal-welfare Department within the Government.
You claim that you are answering my 'disgusting inferences' in this blog. Quote to me where you find such inferences.
As Animal-welfare officer, you are duty-bound to protect animals. When you adopt a no-kill policy, I will start believing it.
Go on: state whether you are in a position to adopt such a policy.
Dr. Mario Spiteri (1 day, 3 hours ago)
Still to be the odd one out you persist in your logic that in reality ALL stray dogs can be homed or put in sanctuaries! Really wish we could live in a perfect world! Well who wouldn't??
I have no time to waste with idealistic armchair critics living in fairy land... so please indulge and have the last word!
I immediately contacted the editor, Mr Scicluna. But, obviously, nothing was done about the matter, for, as everyone knows, Times of Malta is prone to protect the establishment and the sacred cows within it.
So, read the following:
Franco Farrugia (1 day, 17 hours ago)
@ Mario Spiteri: It is indeed a pity, and equally disgusting, to make use of this blog in order to hit at someone who took you to task over your own words as reported by a newspaper, where it was reported that you claimed that dogs that are not adopted will be put to sleep. Once again, your words, not mine.
It is disgusting that you chose to make use of this blog for your own ends, rather than to join the chorus of those appealing for more animal-awareness.
Part of your remit should be that of encouraging ALL to join the same boat - that of fighting animal cruelty.
Dr. Mario Spiteri (1 day, 14 hours ago)
Mr. Franco Farrugia I simply replied to your disgusting inferences in this blog.
The Animal Welfare department which I run is not in business to annihilate stray dogs and cats. Quite the opposite, we promote the adoption of strays from Sanctuaries.
I invited you to join us on a typical day's work to learn at first hand experience (rather than from unreliable hearsay) what the real problems about strays are.
Without proper management stray dogs end up being poisoned, killed on the road, form packs and attack other dogs, turn cats into shreds and pulp. This is not to mention the grave public health and safety implications.
Putting dogs to sleep as unsavoury as it is, is the last resort left when Sanctuaries are full. (My bold!) Some might argue why not open more sanctuaries. In reality we could fill these and easily treble the current sanctuary population in six months time. Then it is back to square one!
That is why we run neutering programmes so in the long term there will be less strays around. In due time all dogs would have to be micro-chipped and so strays could be traced to their owners.
Franco Farrugia (1 day, 14 hours ago)
@ Dr Mario Spiteri - You did not first mention that you are the Director of the Animal-welfare Department within the Government.
You claim that you are answering my 'disgusting inferences' in this blog. Quote to me where you find such inferences.
As Animal-welfare officer, you are duty-bound to protect animals. When you adopt a no-kill policy, I will start believing it.
Go on: state whether you are in a position to adopt such a policy.
Dr. Mario Spiteri (1 day, 3 hours ago)
Still to be the odd one out you persist in your logic that in reality ALL stray dogs can be homed or put in sanctuaries! Really wish we could live in a perfect world! Well who wouldn't??
I have no time to waste with idealistic armchair critics living in fairy land... so please indulge and have the last word!
TIMESOFMALTA.COM
MARIO SPITERI WAS NOT CONTENT WITH THIS.
HE WANTED TO TARNISH MY REPUTATION AND CALL ME NAMES.
A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, TREATING A CITIZEN IN THIS MANNER.
HE USED TIMESOFMALTA.COM FOR HIS PERSONAL VENDETTA, AS IT WERE.
BUT LET ME START FROM THE BEGINNING:
Starved, dead dogs found in derelict building
Three puppies were rescued from starvation after they were abandoned in a former lepers' hospital in Għargħur that had become a dog cemetery, littered with carcasses and rotting body parts.
Abandoned Animals Association president Freddie Fenech said he received an anonymous tip-off on Tuesday evening, alerting him about the place. He called the police who accompanied him on site. When they arrived, they could barely take in the sight: carcasses and skeletons of dogs scattered here and there.
In certain parts the stench was unbearable. The 20-roomed barrack-like complex is derelict, with rubbish lying everywhere. Whoever was responsible for leaving the dogs there was not around during the raid.
There were the remains of at least five dogs but it cannot be said for certain because some of the body parts found scattered could have come from different animals.
There was even the bloated body of a dog which had died very recently.
Inside, they found three lonely pups, about three months old, hidden under a cupboard. They were scared and it took them a while until they ventured out from their hiding place, even after Mr Fenech offered some food in a plate he had brought with him. They would be vaccinated and flown to Germany, Mr Fenech said.
THIS NEWS ITEM BROUGHT ABOUT VARIOUS BLOG COMMENTS, INCLUDING, OF COURSE, MINE.
MY OWN COMMENTS WERE THE FOLLOWING:
Franco Farrugia (5 days ago)
'Flown to Germany'.
Why?
Is it because we, in Malta, do not have the heart to look after our own? Nobody says anything about this. We speak about our Independence; we speak about how the EU is presumably taking away our Independence, and then, when it comes to looking after three poor puppies, we LOOK THE OTHER WAY and let the foreigners do the DIRTY WORK FOR US.
We are only there to act as the machos, to victimise poor animals that have absolutely no fault! Animals that are vulnerable, animals that are simply the victims of man's stubbornness and egoism - man's savagery!
Shall we pat ourselves on the shoulders and continue looking the other way? Is it possible, in a country where everyone knows everything about everybody else, that nobody knows who the responsible people are? Or are they some kind of local untouchables?
And what, I ask, is the Government and the authorities doing about this? What does the Minister responsible for Animal Welfare thinking about this? And his representatives in the Animal Welfare department-of-sorts? Are they too, looking the other way?
Disgusting!
Franco Farrugia (4 days, 21 hours ago)
@ Mr R Azzopardi: "Germans are real animal lovers who do not buy a pet just because it has a pedigree."
I totally agree with you, sir. I have been gently advocating against buying animals, whether they are pedigree or not. To me - and I know that many will not agree with me - buying a pure breed animal is tantamount to not only wasting money but also to indirect cruelty to animals.
You buy an animal from the breeder and you are encouraging said breeder to push his 'pet' to breed more puppies or kittens!!! Not only that, but it is not the first time that breeders killed imperfect pups or kittens because they were unsaleable!!! Obviously, this is not always the case.
And furthermore, when you are buying a pure breed, you are also not buying a non-pure breed which you could easily get for nothing from our full sanctuaries, thereby making it possible for another stray to be admitted into the sanctuary.
In my opinion, breeders are businessmen, not animal-lovers!
And as for 'owners' of pure-breeds, it all amounts to social status. Like owning an expensive car instead of an average one.
Bullet-proof vest on!
Franco Farrugia (4 days, 20 hours ago)
@ Ms S Zarb Adami. No, indeed I am not in the least impressed. Loving animals entails that we go out of our way and help and protect also those animals that are vulnerable, that is, those animals that have no roof over their heads, no human beings to call their 'masters' and that, in short, are strays. By limiting one's love to one's pet is not enough!
And by 'animals', I am here referring to all animals, birds included. For in my opinion, it is equally disgustingly cruel to confine birds to cages, or even put an end to their natural life simply because we claim, falsely, that it is our 'sport' or 'passatemp'.
But that is not, for the moment, the focus of my attention in this blog.
Franco Farrugia (4 days, 19 hours ago)
@ M. Hermsee, Indeed, that is just it. We, the Maltese, still feel that the foreigner is there to bail us out, in everything.
At the same time, we don't want said foreigners to interfere in our internal affairs. We want the cake and eat it, too. We want the status quo, we have our own sacred cows, we have our royal family or families, we even sanctify some people who we tend to turn into an untouchable establishment.
AND NOW, READ THIS:
Mario Spiteri (2 days ago)
DISGUSTING INDEED! Whoever left those poor puppies and all those who are trying to use this incident for their their own advantage/benefit are just as disgusting.
Some 'animal lovers' want the stray dog/cat poulation to serve the purpose of scavengers and live on cockroaches, mice and rats!!!! while others indulge in just words and more empty words when not tackling jealous 'teacher bashers' !!!(*)
Imagine what benefit the stray dog/cat population would derive if more genuine volunteers were involved in DEEDS and not words!
Pointing the accusing finger is easy and some with their own hidden private agenda just vent their spleen in such a way!!!
There is nothing glamorous in safeguarding animal rights but just hard and never ending work.
(*) This is a reference to another argument I have about teachers - since I am a teacher - letters of which appear in the same newspaper, TMI. Obviously, Mario Spiteri has no respect for people's privacy, as can be seen!
AND NOW FOR THAT SECOND LETTER...
... BROUGHT ON BY MARIO SPITERI'S FRIEND, FABIO FROM NOAH'S ARK. FABIO PREPARED THE LETTER AND CONTACTED THE MANAGERS OF THE OTHER SANCTUARIES TO JUST SIGN IT, RATHER THAN DISCUSS IT.
OF COURSE, THERE WERE SOME WHO AGREED WITH WHAT I WAS SAYING AND THEY REFUSED TO JUST 'SIGN'!
AND SO, THE LETTER BELOW WAS SIGNED BY:
NOAH'S ARK, OF COURSE
ABANDONED ANIMALS ASSOCIATION - NOT FREDDIE FENECH!
SPCA MALTA, OF COURSE! WHO DARES SEND STRAYS TO THEM ANYMORE? IT WAS IN THE NEWS TWO YEARS AGO: SO MANY CARCASSES ARRIVING FROM SPCA QUARTERS IN FLORIANA TO WASTESERV, USING SPCA VAN??? HMM .. HMMM!
SPCA GOZO - STRANGELY ENOUGH.
The following is the letter of these defenders of animals:
Working with animals
The appointment by the government of a Director of Animal Welfare Promotion and Services last year was a breath of fresh air. Particularly so for animal welfare NGOs, especially when a person with such a positive track record as Mario Spiteri was given the post.
We all know that enforcing animal welfare is a thankless job. Those who work “hands on” experience distressing situations every day. Ever since Dr Spiteri took office it was immediately evident that the tides were changing. We will not list the achievements in animal welfare during the past year, most of which have been implemented by the present Directorate of Animal Welfare. The ones that stand out are the massive neutering programme that was carried out in 2008 and the government financial assistance towards upgrading sanctuaries to acceptable standards.
Dr Spiteri’s comments on euthanasia of strays that do not find shelter (TMID, 11 March), be it in sanctuaries or private homes, may have raised eyebrows. His was an appeal to help eliminate this system. Culling by euthanasia of the canine population is a practice carried out all over Europe, where hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are abandoned each year. This is also done here by private individuals, either at their own hands (drowning, dumping, etc.) or with the assistance of vets. It is not the general practice of the undersigned to put healthy animals to sleep. Dogs are removed from the streets when they become a danger to themselves, the public or other dogs. Stray dogs that join together as “packs” are a known hazard to the public, as has been proved again only recently in Sicily.
The sole purpose of setting up sanctuaries or shelters is to save the lives of as many dogs and cats as possible. But it is clearly evident that no matter how much space is made available in our sanctuaries we are losing the battle to accommodate all the animals that are being thrown out. The remaining choice is to let them roam the streets at risk of starvation, injury from motor vehicles and disease.
Dr Spiteri is right to appeal for sanctuary dogs to be adopted. Too few are being adopted locally and we can only make additional space in our sanctuaries by sending dogs for adoption overseas. Our members have had opportunity to assist Dr Spiteri in responding to some of the numerous reports he receives of animals in distress, even in the middle of the night.
The undersigned animal sanctuaries applaud Dr Spiteri for his sincerity in facing this mammoth problem and we stand four square behind him in his realistic comments. The animal welfare NGOs who work unselfishly to shelter abandoned dogs are finally able to work hand in hand with the government authorities.
Your readers can be assured that a number of measures are in the pipeline to improve the fate of dogs in the near future; some of these measures will hopefully also facilitate law enforcement.
Abandoned Animals Association
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary
SPCA
Gozo SPCA
OF COURSE, THERE WERE SOME WHO AGREED WITH WHAT I WAS SAYING AND THEY REFUSED TO JUST 'SIGN'!
AND SO, THE LETTER BELOW WAS SIGNED BY:
NOAH'S ARK, OF COURSE
ABANDONED ANIMALS ASSOCIATION - NOT FREDDIE FENECH!
SPCA MALTA, OF COURSE! WHO DARES SEND STRAYS TO THEM ANYMORE? IT WAS IN THE NEWS TWO YEARS AGO: SO MANY CARCASSES ARRIVING FROM SPCA QUARTERS IN FLORIANA TO WASTESERV, USING SPCA VAN??? HMM .. HMMM!
SPCA GOZO - STRANGELY ENOUGH.
The following is the letter of these defenders of animals:
Working with animals
The appointment by the government of a Director of Animal Welfare Promotion and Services last year was a breath of fresh air. Particularly so for animal welfare NGOs, especially when a person with such a positive track record as Mario Spiteri was given the post.
We all know that enforcing animal welfare is a thankless job. Those who work “hands on” experience distressing situations every day. Ever since Dr Spiteri took office it was immediately evident that the tides were changing. We will not list the achievements in animal welfare during the past year, most of which have been implemented by the present Directorate of Animal Welfare. The ones that stand out are the massive neutering programme that was carried out in 2008 and the government financial assistance towards upgrading sanctuaries to acceptable standards.
Dr Spiteri’s comments on euthanasia of strays that do not find shelter (TMID, 11 March), be it in sanctuaries or private homes, may have raised eyebrows. His was an appeal to help eliminate this system. Culling by euthanasia of the canine population is a practice carried out all over Europe, where hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are abandoned each year. This is also done here by private individuals, either at their own hands (drowning, dumping, etc.) or with the assistance of vets. It is not the general practice of the undersigned to put healthy animals to sleep. Dogs are removed from the streets when they become a danger to themselves, the public or other dogs. Stray dogs that join together as “packs” are a known hazard to the public, as has been proved again only recently in Sicily.
The sole purpose of setting up sanctuaries or shelters is to save the lives of as many dogs and cats as possible. But it is clearly evident that no matter how much space is made available in our sanctuaries we are losing the battle to accommodate all the animals that are being thrown out. The remaining choice is to let them roam the streets at risk of starvation, injury from motor vehicles and disease.
Dr Spiteri is right to appeal for sanctuary dogs to be adopted. Too few are being adopted locally and we can only make additional space in our sanctuaries by sending dogs for adoption overseas. Our members have had opportunity to assist Dr Spiteri in responding to some of the numerous reports he receives of animals in distress, even in the middle of the night.
The undersigned animal sanctuaries applaud Dr Spiteri for his sincerity in facing this mammoth problem and we stand four square behind him in his realistic comments. The animal welfare NGOs who work unselfishly to shelter abandoned dogs are finally able to work hand in hand with the government authorities.
Your readers can be assured that a number of measures are in the pipeline to improve the fate of dogs in the near future; some of these measures will hopefully also facilitate law enforcement.
Abandoned Animals Association
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary
SPCA
Gozo SPCA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
