The Japanese will listen to reason and temporarily stop hunting the humpback whale ... but Maltese hunters will not give up their pastime!

A controversial Japanese mission to hunt humpback whales in the Antarctic has been temporarily abandoned, a top government official says.
Nobutaka Machimura said the humpback hunt would not go ahead - although the fleet will still hunt about 1,000 other whales in the area.

The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, says Japan is now unlikely to chase the humpbacks for at least a year.

The move comes after pressure from the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Japan is regularly condemned for its annual whaling missions.

But this year's Antarctic expedition was particularly controversial because, in addition to 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales, the fleet intended to kill up to 50 humpbacks.

It was the first time Japan had targeted the humpbacks since a moratorium was introduced in the mid-1960s - when the species had been hunted almost to extinction.


Australia criticism

Japan says whaling is necessary for scientific research, but other countries say the same goals could be achieved using non-lethal techniques.

"Japan has decided not to catch humpback whales for one year or two," Mr Machimura told reporters.

He said the decision had been reached after a meeting with the IWC.

Mr Machimura said the IWC had not been "functioning normally", claiming that the commission had been distorted by ideology.

He said Japan would suspend the humpback whale hunt while the IWC held talks on "normalising" its functions.

Australia had been particularly critical of the humpback hunt, and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith welcomed Japan's decision.

But he reiterated Canberra's view that there was no credible reason for Japan to hunt any species of whale, and pledged to keep up diplomatic efforts to prevent further missions.

Hunting, hunting, hunting everywhere.... birds are animals, too.

Protected bird shot down
by Chris Galea - cgal@di-ve.com
Local News -- 19 December 2007 -- 16:35CEST
A protected bird with severe visible gunshot wounds was delivered to BirdLife Malta’s office on Wednesday, the NGO reported. The black-headed gull had suffered severe injuries and the vet had no other option but to euthanize the bird.

“The young black-headed gull brought in today is the latest victim of poachers in Malta and is only one of the many shot protected birds BirdLife continues to receive,” Conservation Manager of BirdLife Malta, Dr André Raine explained.

“The bird was brought in by an ex-hunter who was disgusted with the current lack of respect shown by some hunters to the law.

“In any other country, no self-respecting hunter would be so cowardly as to shoot at a seagull, yet here in Malta now that the migration is over some hunters are shooting at anything that has the misfortune to fly past them,” Dr Raine went on.

The bird is the latest victim to be allegedly shot down by poachers, as BirdLife Malta claimed that it received more than 30 protected birds at its office this autumn.

Reaction to this Honourable speech against Birdlife and in favour of hunters.

The hunting lobby
Ralph Cassar, energy and environment spokesman, Alternattiva Denmokratika, Attard.

Labour MP Joe Abela got all hot under the collar last week about a BirdLife leaflet and a court case involving two of his constituents.

Is Mr Abela saying that the countryside is not taken over by hunters? Is he saying that BirdLife should not have published a leaflet about hunting? Does he expect that whoever breaks the law is given preferential treatment because they happen to be his constituents?

Maybe he should concentrate on helping his party draw up policies that protect the countryside from further degradation instead of wasting time on the hunting issue.

Spring hunting will soon be a thing of the past, whatever the Labour Party or, for that matter, government Ministers say, thanks to all those of us who voted yes for accession to the EU.

ROTTWEILERS FOR SALE: THE SUNDAY TIMES E-PAPER! IS THERE HOPE FOR THIS COUNTRY?

ROTTWEILER puppies guard, pets or show dogs. Imported sire from top UK kennel. Dan champion.

Dear Mr Editor,
In my writings and in my thoughts, I always WORSHIPPED your newspaper – and your sister-newspaper – for the courageous stance it takes in favour of animals.

However, after taking a look at the ‘PETS’ (sic) part of the Classifieds, in your online newspaper today, I was distraught and disgusted that the newspaper showed the following:

ROTTWEILER puppies guard, pets or show dogs. Imported sire from top UK kennel. Dan champion.
And

SNAKES, carpet Pythons, Burmese Pythons, red tail Boas, and Amazon tree Boas.


It is bad enough that we have people breeding dogs and cats for financial profit. It is bad enough that a newspaper deems it fit to publish these sales. However, I draw a line when it comes to rottweilers, which are CERTAINLY illegal to have, let alone breed, abroad at least ( I am not sure what the situation is, in Malta, but nevertheless….!) and exotic animals which should not even be in Malta – pythons.

In my opinion, Mr Editor, your newspaper is being guilty of hypocrisy, here. You find nothing wrong in getting money for advertisements of this sort, yet, then, you ‘champion’ the breeding and the selling of rottweilers, You jolly well know that animals are not meant to be guard dogs – technology has seen to that! You also jolly well know that a civilized newspapers such as yours should not stoop so low as to encourage the breeding and selling of rottweilers!

I would be most gracious (as I said before, I respect your newspapers a lot for the stand you all take in favour of animals) to receive your reaction to the above, before going further.

Sincerely.

FURTHER TO THIS CORRESPONDENCE, THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES ASKED ME TO SHOW PROOF THAT ROTTWEILERS ARE ILLEGAL IN MALTA - IN FACT, I HAD NONE TO OFFER. I FELT I DIDN'T NEED TO OFFER ANY PROOF REGARDING THE PERIL OF SUCH A BREED - A BREED THAT, NEEDLESS TO SAY, WAS MADE BY MAN IN ORDER TO 'PRODUCE', LITERALLY, A SUPERIOR SPECIES OF GUARD DOG.
THEN, WHEN A ROTTWEILER KILLS OR HARMS A BOY OR GIRL, WE SHOOT TO KILL IT! BUT THAT IS JUSTICE FOR YOU.

A dishonourable speech in Parliament ... is this Labour's voice on Hunting?

Labour MP Joe Abela has asked a judge to abstain from a court case against a hunter, saying comments which he had made could prejudice the case.
Speaking during the adjournment of the House of Representatives late yesterday, Mr Abela also made a strong attack against the government's treatment of hunters and criticised Birdlife Malta for using public funds for literature against the hunters.
Mr Abela said he was not a hunter himself and had ‘great sympathy' for birds', but the House needed to hear both the points of view of environmentalists and hunters.
He said he was concerned recently to have received a pamphlet, published by Birdlife Malta and funded by the EU, asking whether it was right that hunters had taken over the countryside, to the detriment of ordinary citizens. While it was not true that the hunters had taken over the countryside, or 80 percent of it as was claimed, was it right that EU funds, which were public funds, were used in this way to incite the people against the hunters? Was this healthy for society?
It was well known, Mr Abela said, that many hunters owned the fields where they went hunting. Did Birdlife expect private property to be open for all?
It was not fair, he said, that the rights of hunters continued to be trampled upon. And not just by Birdlife.
The current state of affairs was such that it was almost better to have a field of haxixa than to have a field where one could go hunting. It was unacceptable in this country that one could buy haxixa everywhere and at any time, but then the special forces were deployed to persecute hunters, stopping them as they walked in the countryside without any suspicion of wrongdoing. This was a violation of people's rights.
Nobody was stopping the people, including tourists, from taking their walks along countryside paths, but one could not expect to have a right to trespass over people's property, Mr Abela said.
He said another example of how rights were trampled was the case of Karl Bugeja, who is facing charges in court of shooting a protected bird. Even before witnesses were heard and the case was concluded, the judge had told him to either settle or he would suffer even more punishment, Mr Abela said.
This, he insisted, prejudiced the case. How could he not lose the case? Was it possible that the judiciary too was bowing its head to what the government, and ultimately Brussels, wanted? How could the rights of 16,000 hunters be ignored?
Malta was being purer than the virgins in the interpretation of EU law, and it had become the only country where hunters practically could not practice anywhere.
It was important that the courts enjoyed the people's respect, and he was therefore requesting Mr Justice Galea Debono to abstain from this case, once it had been prejudiced, Mr Abela said. Mr Bugeja, like any other citizen, expected the courts to be independent of what the government, Brussels, Birdlife or anybody else said. If the concept of independence was eroded, how could institutions such as the courts enjoy credibility?
Mr Abela said he was therefore appealing for independence by the courts and proper use of public funds, including EU funds.

I was disgusted – to say the least – to read about a very dis-honourable speech made in Parliament. An ode to hunters, from none other than Labour MP Joe Abela, who found it expedient to express himself in a way that interferes with the work of the judiciary in what appears to be an on-going case against a particular hunter. In the process, he also denigrates and brutally attacks one of the most important environmental NGOs in the country as well as being of scandal with regard to the content of his ‘speech’. With his words, he also takes the Government to task for its tough stance in its handling of the hunting issue – as if we’re not bad enough as it is!
He claims that he is not a hunter himself - but he certainly is no friend or ‘sympathiser’ of birds – whatever that means – because he sees nothing wrong with these birds being shot down at will, maimed or somehow hurt and left to die in the countryside by Maltese hunters.
He attacks Birdlife’s EU-sponsored pamphlet and questions the reason behind such a sponsorship. Little does this honourable gentleman realize what the European Union really stands for. If one had to take a look at the EUbarometer, one would find that from among the so many directives that the EU gives, as well as the stands that it takes on countless issues, one of the most important aspects that the majority of EU citizens really appreciate is the effect that the EU directives have in controlling the environment – and by that, we also mean the natural environment.
And birds, this honourable gentleman must be taught to realize, are an intrinsic part of the environment, along with all other animals that are not there to entertain the human species, even less so to be a natural target for some of us who have no life, literally, and have nothing better to do in their spare (and non-spare) time than to shoot at birds which, after all, are not their property but belong to us all.
Or does this honourable gentleman feel that owning a piece of land – how, I simply cannot fathom; perhaps one can tell us how these hunters acquired this land in the first place, when they acquired it, how much they paid or are paying for it, to whom, etc …! – means that you also own the birds that fly in the air above it?
Does it also mean that you have lead and pellets coming down over private property and community land such as roads, streets and lanes? Have we monitored in a scientific way the effect that such lead is having on our soil, and its effect on the quality of water on our water-table?
What are the ‘rights of hunters’ that this honourable gentleman is referring to? And if hunters have rights, don’t we, the rest of the people living on these islands, have our rights too? Abela denies the fact that people, including tourists, are stopped in their tracks, in the countryside. Perhaps Abela too, along with other MPs in the House, are living on cloud nine!
Who are the ‘environmentalists’ that Abela chooses to denigrate? Are they merely the administrators of environmental NGOs? If this is what he thinks, how wrong Abela is!
He claims that a certain judge should abstain from continuing to hear a case against a hunter. But, with his words, isn’t he, himself, showing prejudice in favour of this hunter? Who shall we believe? And with what moral and academic authority does this honourable gentleman come along, standing up in the House and pontificate about a subject which he should have been prudent enough to avoid? Or does being an MP mean that you have a God-given power and authority to speak about anything under the sun, even if you are the world’s least-paid clown?
He speaks about ‘the people’ and ‘their respect’ with regards to the judiciary. He would do well to leave the judiciary well alone – that is what the more intelligent people in this country want. Certainly, Abela does not speak on my behalf when he attacks this judge and asks him to abstain.
My conclusion: is this speech a reflection of Labour’s approach to the subject of hunting? We, the electorate, demand to hear Labour leaders telling us whether they distance themselves from Abela’s speech or whether, indeed, this is the way things will go if and when Labour wins the next general election. While waiting for such a declaration, the voters who are in favour of having a clean natural environment in our small country, will arrive at their conclusions and know who to vote for and who not to vote for.




BirdLife denies Labour MP's claims
BirdLife Malta has insisted that its publication "A spring guide to reclaiming your countryside" is not funded by the European Union but by its own members.
The society was reacting to comments in Parliament by Labour MP Joe Abela.
Tolga Temuge, Executive Director BirdLife Malta, said that it seemed that Mr Abela had not understood the content of this information booklet.
"According to MEPA only 22% of Maltese terrain consists of natural vegetation. And 80% of that limited countryside is open to hunting, leaving almost no room for the majority of people in this country to enjoy their countryside in peace," he said.
On Mr Abela's comments on the rights of hunters being trampled upon, Birdlife said Malta is the only country in the EU that still allows spring hunting, has the longest hunting period in Europe, has the highest density of hunters per square kilometre and has only a mere 22 police ALE officers to check illegal hunting.
"Mr. Abela is more than welcome to join BirdLife Malta volunteers during the peak migration period to witness firsthand the illegal killing of protected species and the occupation of our countryside," Temuge said.
BirdLife called on the Malta Labour Party to state whether Mr Abela's position reflected the official party line on the issue of hunting.

Yes, indeed. The circus is in town, or rather, in Malta.

I sincerely hope that all people who have a sense of fairness and justice towards animals will do their best and BOYCOTT the circus - any circus, any company or institution that offers animals as a means of attraction to human beings.

Whoever wishes to see animals has other venues and choices - such as scientific and serious documentaries. We no longer need to have animal circuses to stifle our curiosity about the animal kingdom.

The more so since we have become more aware of the stress and the hardship that entertainment animals go through.

It is no use saying that such and such animals were born in captivity. They should have never been bred in the first place! Their mothers should not have been in captivity either.

It is also no use saying that animals are not facing any torture or hardship whatsover? Says who, may I ask? And when are outsiders and media-people invited to monitor the goings-on of the circuses? When 'the coast is clear', so to speak.

I do not try to explain all this by quoting various sources just to show how learned and well-read I am. I don't need to read of what I am already convinced about. However, as usual, I speak from the heart and from my mind.

Animals are not there to entertain us. Animals are there to live their own natural lives in peace and quiet, as far as possible, without man's intervention.

Of course, there are those who would tell you that, well, there shouldn't be pets in homes, etc .... That is al stupid assertion and a daft way of reasoning. I, myself, have two cats here at home. The reason why they are here with me is to save them from the cruel streets. In return, I give them an excellent way of living, and they make my home all the more happier.

In conclusion, I urge those few who read this blog to please BOYCOTT THE CIRCUS. Spread the word - tell everyone about it. We don't need to go and visit circuses. Save your money for something more fruitful. Or else, use that money to buy dog and cat food to give to sanctuaries. They surely need it.

The Circus comes to town, yey! (sic{k})

Circus animals
Elaine Mizzi, Kalkara.
I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern that once again a circus, which exploits animals, will be coming to Malta. Through such shows, animals are forced to perform tricks that are contradictory to their innate instincts and behaviour, which results in substantial injuries. Besides, such performance and training most often entails learning through painful and punitive methods.
Animals in circuses have to sustain long distance travelling to get to the performance destination and during transportation they are often kept in unsuitable and precarious conditions.
The climate of the locality may furthermore be unsuitable for their natural temperament in such a way that they undergo undue suffering. These factors continue to exacerbate the already stressful conditions caused by confinement and transportation.
As a result of this, I am urging animal lovers to boycott this circus and its sponsors to show that animals should not be exploited for profit.

Animals for sale!

From SIMONE AQUILINA, writing in THE TIMES, 29/11/07:

I am writing to utter my complete disgust at what I saw the other day at the market in Marsaxlokk. Apart from this market being a disorganised chaos and looking more like a market out of a third world country, a man was selling birds and puppies, right next to a stall selling imqaret if I might add.
What was so horrible was that these poor birds were cooped up in small cages. Some could not even lift their heads, others were packed so tightly in a cage that they could hardly breathe. Puppies were stuffed four to a small cage and one could see that all these poor birds and animals were very distressed.
One enquires whether this man can actually sell these birds and puppies. Also do the relevant authorities or local council members visit the market to see with their own eyes what is happening?
One could notice quite a number of tourists who were as distressed as I was watching this horrible sight.
Hopefully, through this newspaper, the relevant authorities will take action so that such sights are not seen anymore.

I BET ANYTHING THAT IF IT HAD BEEN A QUESTION OF COUNTERFEIT CDS, DVDS AND WHATHAVEYOU, THE AUTHORITIES WOULD HAVE JUMPED ON THEM! AND RIGHTLY SO! BUT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMERCIAL CRIME AND ... THE NON-EXISTENT CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS!

An e-mail with a difference.

You know, it's one of those e-mails that frequently do the rounds ... but this one particularly caught my attention because of its 'verosimile' kind of thing ... the picture of a dog, lying down on cold tarmac on a busy road, with heavy transport for company ... not a very nice, dignified place for a seriously-injured creature ... and another dog, standing guard over him, at times prodding his injured friend with his front leg, trying to make him move away from persistent danger ... in vain, of course, because the injured creature is too heavy for the standing dog, which, helplessly, barks at cars rushing past, eager for help. Yet, none comes along. Only a few people taking snapshots at this 'interesting' sight.

A sight of which, I have seen, myself, and often, too. Here, in Malta, at least twice, I came across such a sorry scene - a cat, lying dead, with another cat watching over it, waiting for it to wake up and walk away. But there is no waking up for the dead cat. There is only the cold tarmac beneath it. And soon, thanks to the cars and the traffic, that dead cat, too, will become part of that tarmac, entrails and all.
We have seen it before. We see it every day, don't we? There are those of us, especially young drivers, who BOAST about it ... about the CRUNCH they felt as tyre met the animal's head!

There must be more to life.

Even for animals.

So, dear friends, especially those of you who have an animal-companion at home - and by 'home', I don't mean up on the rooftops or down in the small, smelly yard, but inside your living-rooms and up in your bedrooms - be happy that you have that non-pedigree cat or dog or other animal that you keep with you, for life! You saved him from the ravages of the cruel streets and roads that we have. 'It' is one less cat or dog living in the streets, under cars, wherever they can find shelter from the cruel elements.
And that, in itself, is a blessing for that poor animal. I, myself, am proud that I have two cat-companions who share the abode I live in - we are three, and I know that they have given me more, much more than I can give to them.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE UNEDITED AND UNSHORTENED LETTER AS SENT TO THE TIMES AND WHICH APPEARED TODAY, 24 NOVEMBER.

I was somewhat incensed by the contents of Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s article about animals - in which he praised his own Government for the great strides it is taking in favour of animal wellbeing. He also took to task all those who describe Maltese society as ‘animal-unfriendly’. He claims that nothing is further from the truth.
I beg to disagree with him. Totally.
He first speaks about petitions and signatures. The petition was a good exercise, admittedly. But don’t come telling me that a petition, on its own, is enough ‘evidence that Malta is far from being "animal-unfriendly"’. Animals need concrete action, not mere signatures. And concrete action means action NOW, not promises of action in the future.
And what ‘support being given by the Government’ to animal sanctuaries is the Honourable Member speaking about? As far as I know, speaking to various leaders of volunteers of animal sanctuaries, I often get the feeling that there is absolute frustration in these camps, in that the authorities hardly ever listened to these individuals who are doing sterling service to the animal-kingdom, in Malta and Gozo.
Perhaps, I am wrong. Then, I would be most happy for Dr Pullicino Orlando to furnish me with facts.
He speaks about the ‘sterling work’ by the Department of Education in this sphere. True enough. But not enough!
It is great news that once again, the Nationalist government remembered past promises with regard to an animal centre based in Ta’ Qali. However, real animal-lovers have grown used to promises being made by various governments and will not believe that this project will pick up unless, once again, they get facts! It’s useless to boast about projects for the future. Boast about projects that have been implemented, or which are about to be.
Dr Pullicino Orlando seems to prefer giving the amount of money voted for animals in euros than in Maltese lira – probably, €350,000 would look more generous a sum than LM 160,000! That having been said, one has to take into consideration how much money other entities get for the running of their enterprises. Animal welfare NEVER got any money from, say, Lotto and Super 5 earnings which went to other spheres such as sport and cultural events, etc ... When you consider what needs to be done to alleviate the cruelty of animals that are carried out in Malta and Gozo, and when you consider how much money animal-NGO volunteers use from their own pockets, well ... LM 160,00 is nothing.
He claims that this money is going to be used in ‘direct aid to associations involved in the care of abandoned animals and to fund a nation-wide neutering programme in this year's budget’. Is this official? I doubt it. From what I have gathered, much of the funds are being channeled in favour of the neutering program – which, while admittedly it is beneficial, will not solve the problem of animal-cruelty in this country. I agree with the writer: most of the money SHOULD be directed to the needs of sanctuaries. The question, however, is: will they?
Once again, Dr Pullicino Orlando needs to explain in detail – (as an aside, I am sure that The Times will give him ample space for this, probably because he is an MP; I have been trying to get an article on animals published for six or seven weeks, and it never appared!) – in what way/s is the present government backing the voluntary workers involved in this sector.
However, when I read words such as: ‘We're definitely a society which, as a whole, is far from being animal-unfriendly.’, I really realise why Dr Pullicino Orlando writes as he does, about animals in Malta. He definitely lives on cloud nine!
In conclusion, animals do not want the politicians’ attention merely during election-time, in order to try and garner more votes from animal-lovers. It’s not politicians visiting animal-sanctuaries during election-period that is needed, but a definite message to the population that cruelty to animals, in all its forms, will not be tolerated. Zero tolerance to such animal-cruelty is what is needed, and this has to come across in deeds, not in words, empty promises and photo-shoots!

Bringing perpetrators to justice! The big problem.

Jail animal torturers

Shane Johnson, Msida.

I am truly sickened at the number of cases involving animal cruelty in Malta, with dogs and cats being found strangled, others burnt with acid while yet others have their paws sawn off.
I am sure that it must take a particularly cruel individual to hurt these animals in this way and I am equally sure that if someone has so much hate inside him/her that he/she is capable of inflicting torture on an innocent animal, this person must surely be cruel enough to also hurt other humans.

The problem is that although we hear so many sickening stories, we rarely hear of the perpetrators being brought to justice. Possibly the police have enough on their hands without having to investigate crimes involving animals, but what is happening is that we are not sending the proper message to these monsters that animal cruelty, especially torture, is punishable by law and in other foreign countries criminals caught hurting animals have to serve time in jail.

It is high time that we too start sending people who have tortured animals to jail, which will surely act as a deterrent to these cowards who feel good by inflicting pain on another animal.
Recently we have also heard of animals being stolen from Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija and were also told that a deer was bludgeoned to death. Some suspects have been detained by the police and there is reportedly strong evidence that might link the crime to these suspects. I would strongly suggest that should the suspects be proven guilty, they should serve an effective jail sentence and let this be the message that there is no place for barbarism in our country.

HERE, TOO, WE HAVE A LAW-ABIDING CONTRIBUTOR SPEAKING HER HEART AND MIND OUT, SO TO SPEAK. SHE IS WRITING IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT THE ORDEAL THAT CATS AND DOGS GO THROUGH, HERE IN MALTA, BY PEOPLE WHO ARE, IN FACT, NOT PEOPLE AT ALL, BUT SOCIAL PROBLEMS ON TWO LEGS!

WE ARE ALL AWARE - WELL, 'WE', THAT IS, THOSE OF US WHO READ THESE PAGES AND WEBSITES DEDICATED TO ANIMAL WELLBEING - ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF ANIMALS. WHEN I SAY ANIMALS, I MEAN ALL ANIMALS, WHETHER THEY ARE DOMESTIC OR FARM ANIMALS.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR FEET FIRMLY ON THE GROUND. AND YES, BE REALISTIC. FOR WE CAN EXPECT ALL PEOPLE TO BE KIND TO ANIMALS AND NOT TO INFLICT ANY CRUELTY ON THEM. BUT CERTAINLY WE CANNOT EXPECT ALL PEOPLE TO FOLLOW US IN OUR VEGETARIAN LIFE. IT WOULD BE CRAZY TO EXPECT ALL AND SUNDRY TO ACCEPT TO FOLLOW SUCH A LIFE. MOREOVER, IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS THAT, TO CHANGE FROM ONE LIFESTYLE FULL OF EATING MEAT, TO ONE WHICH IS 100% MEAT-FREE. (I STILL HAVE TO 'MEAT' A PERSON WHO IS 100% VEGETARIAN! AND LIVING TO TELL THE TALE!) MOREOVER, THERE IS SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENT AGAINST MOVING FROM ONE LIFESTYLE TO THE OTHER OVERNIGHT!

I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT SAYING THAT THE HUMAN BEING SHOULD CONTINUE SLAUGHTERING THE ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED AT THE MOMENT, FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. FAR FROM IT - LET NOBODY WITH AN AXE TO GRIND AT ME MISINTERPRET ME IN THIS MANNER. HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE EQUALLY IRRATIONAL TO EXPECT - DEMAND! - THAT ALL PEOPLE QUIT EATING MEAT AS FROM DAY 1!

THE HUMAN BEING, AFTER ALL, IS PART OF THE NATURAL JUNGLE AND ANIMALS do EAT OTHER ANIMALS, SO ......

NOW IS THE TIME TO HELP ...

... THE ISLAND SANCTUARY.

THE ISLAND SANCTUARY HAS A NO-KILL POLICY. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE NUMBER OF DOGS AT THE HOME IS QUITE HIGH. IN CONTRAST, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS IS SMALL. THEREFORE, ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO THIS SANCTUARY IS SURE TO BE BLESSED FROM HEAVEN.

ONE SURE WAY OF HELPING THE SANCTUARY IS BY BUYING A CALENDAR - WHICH IS THE MAIN MEANS OF REVENUE THAT THE SANCTUARY HAS.

A black day for the animal kingdom, worldwide!

Japanese whalers hunt humpbacks

Environmentalists have clashed with the crew of Nisshin Maru before A Japanese whaling fleet has set sail aiming to harpoon humpback whales for the first time in decades.
The fleet is conducting its largest hunt in the South Pacific - it has instructions to kill up to 1,000 whales, including 50 humpbacks.
The humpback hunt is the first since a mid-1960s global ban and has drawn strong protests from environmentalists.
Commercial whaling was stopped in 1986 but Japan is permitted whaling in the name of scientific research.
Four whaling ships, including the lead craft Nisshin Maru, set off from the southern port of Shimonoseki on Sunday.
The 239-man mission plans to kill more than 900 minke whales as well as fin whales and humpbacks, in a South Pacific whale hunt that will run until mid-April.
The 8,000-metric ton Nisshin Maru was crippled by a fire on a whaling mission in the Antarctic in March. One crew member was killed.
A Greenpeace campaign ship will be following the Japanese fleet.
Sensitive mammals
Tokyo's plan to target the humpback - which was hunted to near extinction four decades ago - has drawn condemnation from environmentalists.

Crowds gathered to wave off the whaling boats
"Humpbacks are very sensitive and live in close-knit pods so even one death can be extremely damaging," Greenpeace spokesman Junichi Sato said.
Japanese fisheries officials insist both humpback and fin populations are back to sustainable levels.
"Humpback whales in our research area are rapidly recovering," said fisheries spokesman Hideki Moronuki.
"Taking 50 humpbacks from a population of tens of thousands will have no significant impact whatsoever."
Mr Moronuki said killing whales allowed marine biologists to study their internal organs.
Meat from Japan's scientific catch is sold commercially but Japanese officials deny that the mission plans to make a profit.
Tokyo argues that whaling is an ancient Japanese tradition, and has pushed unsuccessfully at the International Whaling Commission to reverse the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.
Environmentalists say Japan's research programme is a pretext for keeping the whaling industry alive.

INDEED, IT IS A BLACK DAY FOR ANIMALS IN GENERAL, WORLDWIDE. AN IMPORTANT AND PRECIOUS MORATORIUM HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR POLITICAL REASONS AND NOW, THESE PRECIOUS MAMMALS, THESE WHALES, WILL BE SLAUGHTERED IN THE NAME OF TRADITION. DOESN'T IT SMELL SOMETHING LIKE HUNTING AND TRAPPING IN MALTA? ... ADMITTEDLY, THOUGH, ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE.
IN ICELAND, THIS SLAUGHTERING GOES ON AS WELL. HOWEVER, ONLY ONE FACTORY IS KNOWN TO DEMAND WHALE MEAT FOR PROCESSING. ON THE OTHER HAND, MUCH MAY BE GAINED THROUGH TOURISM - PEOPLE FLOCK TO COUNTRIES WHERE THEY CAN GO OUT ON A BOAT IN ORDER TO WATCH WHALES IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT. WHALE-WATCHING IS A TOURISTIC NICHE WHICH CAN SO EASILY MAKE UP FOR THE MONEY THAT IS 'LOST' THROUGH GIVING UP FISHING FOR WHALES ALTOGETHER!

ON A PERSONAL NOTE ...

... I dedicate this blog to animals: to their wellbeing and to their awareness. Many of my teenage readers read parts of it because it has to do with animals and to learn about what is happening around them that has to do with animals. And I stop there! I have neither the time to enter into arguments with people who have nothing to do, nor do I have the will to shoot myself in the foot like other people and waste precious cyberspace showing people how learned I am about this and that.

Let Pullicino Orlando read this!

Great Dane saved... and poisoned
Mary Rose Schembri Wismayer, Msida.

My great Dane Jumbo, whom I saved from attempted poisoning at Buskett, was being hosted on a farm at Cirkewwa and was well integrated with the farm dogs, especially Polly, a small sheepdog, who seemed to take him under her wing. Jumbo and Polly were a team and ran around together, enjoying the freedom and playing together. I have been visiting Jumbo and Polly every other day for the past 18 months, to feed and take them for a ride in my car and for walks, besides leaving a tank with dry food for the farmer to feed them daily. A young man from the neighbouring sanctuary Noah's Ark saw to their daily feeding too.
On November 8, I searched for Jumbo and Polly for more than an hour, as they did not come running as usual when I honked my horn. Much later I found Jumbo dead in a field opposite the farm precinct, stretched out - poisoned with white powder still in his mouth. Handsome gentle Jumbo had been poisoned by a heartless individual who has no right to call himself human! Jumbo wore a red harness with his name and my mobile phone number on it, so that people would know that he was no stray and they could contact me if there was any problem. Yet, some person with no courage and no conscience poisoned a lovely, gentle, happy dog who gave glory to his creator with his beauty and happiness, by stretching out a hand with food to kill!
An action of giving with evil intent. Can such a person sleep at night? One day he has to reply to his creator for such callous, inhuman behaviour. We humans have the might but not the right to kill, especially animals who are so vulnerable and trust us.
Polly, the black and white sheep dog in the photo, has not been found since then. I appeal to Polly's killer: If you have not poisoned and buried her too, will you please return her to the farm. She is much loved and missed.

People who have nothing better to do! Shooting themselves in the foot, indeed!

Respect for animals
by Kenneth Cassar
I refer to Franco Farrugia’s letter (Taking care of animals TMID, 9 November). I shall only comment on one paragraph, which I see as particularly disturbing, despite Mr Farrugia’s good intentions.

WOW! AT LEAST THE WRITER ADMITTED THAT I HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS. HE CERTAINLY MADE MY DAY!

Mr Farrugia writes: “...First of all, Mr Farrugia fails to note another kind of people in the non-human animal issue – the animal rights advocate who holds that animals are not property, and that they should not be used for any human purpose. This has nothing to do with “animals” being a nuisance, and all to do with their fundamental right not to be treated as property. There is no love without respect.

OH COME ON, SPARE US THE EXACTTITUDES, PLEASE.

.... It’s just about the fact that human imposed breeding, selling and buying of any non-human animal is in itself abuse, since that single act treats non-human animals as human property.

AND ISN'T THAT EXACTLY WHAT I SAID IN MY LETTER????? COULD I HAVE BEEN CLEARER IN MY CONDEMNATION OF BREEDERS????

And property cannot have rights – .... I also find the claim made by many “animal lovers” that they prefer the company of “animals” to that of humans particularly worrying.

WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, TOUGH! THAT'S MY OPINION, ONE WHICH IS UPHELD BY MANY!

No wonder the general public thinks of us as weirdos who turn to non-human animals because we lack the ability to maintain good human relationships.

FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS NO 'US', ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS LETTER! I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PERSON BEHIND THIS LETTER. SECONDLY, I THINK THERE ARE MUCH WEIRDER WEIRDOS THAN ONE WHO CLAIMS THAT HE PREFERS THE COMPANY OF ANIMALS THAN THAT OF MAN, SUCH AS THOSE, FOR INSTANCE, WHO ARE 100% VEGAN!!!!!

...
Kenneth Cassar
Animal Rights MaltaMarsascala

DOES KENNETH CASSAR REALISE THAT HE IS SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT AND ATTACKING A FELLOW ANIMAL-LOVER? WHY DOESN'T KENNETH DO US ALL A FAVOUR AND CONTINUE KEEPING HIS GUNS TRAINED ON THOSE WHO HARM ANIMALS, AND NOT ON THE UNDERSIGNED!
ANYWAY, SORRY FOR USING THIS PRECIOUS CYPERSPACE WITH THIS CRAPPY STUFF! THAT'S WHY I EDITED IT TO REDUCE THIS WASTE AND SAVE IT FOR FAR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN MY LIFE: THE DEFENCE OF ANIMALS!

ONE OF THE BIGGEST LIES EVER!

READ THE BIGGEST LIE THAT WAS EVER TOLD, HERE IN MALTA, WITH REGARD TO ANIMAL WELLBEING. FURTHER COMMENTS WOULD BE SUPERFLUOUS!

Focus on animal welfare
Darrell Pace, communications coordinating officer, Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Valletta.
The letter entitled Animals Still Waiting by Anthony Mizzi (November 8) contains a few inaccuracies that need to be clarified.
The treatment the government reserved for animal welfare NGOs was far from the lip service that Mr Mizzi is implying. Animal welfare was and continues to be an area of high priority for the government. The budgeting of Lm150,000 to assist animal welfare NGOs in their mission confirms that this will remain so in the future.
This was the first time the government voted such a considerable sum to these NGOs.
This followed an earlier decision to allocate three state employees to assist as many NGOs in their daily operation. Furthermore, the announcement of the allocation of these funds was preceded by a number of consultation meetings between ministry officials and NGOs to plan ahead for the use of these funds.
The sum the government voted last year for animal welfare was Lm60,000. This was set aside entirely for the development of an Animal After-Care Centre in Ta' Qali.
Work on this centre proceeded throughout the past year with design and drawing up of the plans and subsequent submission of applications for the necessary permits with the relevant authorities. The development permits were issued a few weeks ago by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Work on the actual construction will be starting shortly.

More cruelty to cats!

If certain people, politicians included, need more proof about the animal-cruelty that is so prevalent on our islands, the following is just the tip of the iceberg. Wherever you look, the proof is there. Only the blind will fail to see it - and the worst of the blind are those who refuse to see.


Anger as pet kitten is shot dead
Ariadne Massa
Feline model... Krug felt he should be the star of the show. When Claude Camilleri was posing for a photo shoot to promote his restaurant, the black kitten sashayed in and demanded full attention.
On a blustery Tuesday morning Claude Camilleri swerved into his restaurant's car park and from the corner of his eye saw something black strewn by the side.
Assuming it was a bin liner blown in from the streets, he went inside to drop off his bag and returned some minutes later to pick it up - lying there in a piteous state was his 16-week-old kitten.
"Krug had an airgun pellet lodged in his ribs. He was not yet stone cold so he must have been shot a few hours before I arrived. He was minding his own business on private grounds," he said.
Mr Camilleri, who runs Palazzo Santa Rosa at Mistra Bay, was first engulfed by fury and then distress that something so barbaric could happen in a supposedly civilised society.
"Why would anyone want to murder an innocent, pretty pet? Surely these are not the actions of a civilised, mature, social, or decent human being," he said.
The locals told him the culprit could well be a hunter who caught nothing and wanted to vent his frustration on a moving target.
This theory was strengthened by accounts from farmers in the area who have witnessed similar incidents in the past.
One such farmer, who preferred not to be named, told The Sunday Times that over several years more than 200 cats have been shot by hunters or mauled to death by hunting dogs, usually Tal-Fenek (Pharaoh Hounds).
"The situation gets worse in June, when the rabbit season opens, and in October. The cats obviously distract hunters' prey, so they shoot them," he said.
The farmer adds that not all hunters indulge in this heinous act. On the contrary, there was a hunter who went out of his way to feed the cats in the area, "though it's probably also a way to keep the felines occupied while he hunts," he added.
"I always keep cats in my fields. Apart from being good company they also keep the area free of rats. They never bother anyone. The more I love them, the more these things happen. I just have one cat left now," he said.
The little black Krug had won the hearts of the restaurant staff and patrons who dined on the terrace.
"Even our toughest member of staff couldn't resist him," Mr Camilleri said.
Krug, and another kitten called Cristal, were adopted by Mr Camilleri as part of his programme to support feline organisations that rescue and neuter abandoned cats.
Both kittens were rescued by Lorna D'Anastasi, an animal lover who salvaged them from a farm, which was being converted into an apartment block.
"I spent a week rescuing cats and kittens that were lucky enough to have avoided being buried under the rubble," she said when contacted.
Krug had lost all his siblings and was badly dehydrated and sick. At Mistra, with a lot of love and patience, he was nursed back to health.
"We had really bonded with Krug, which made it harder to accept he had to face such an end," Mr Camilleri said.
Mr Camilleri, who spent years living abroad, returned to Malta because he felt he could contribute to the island's economy, but this incident has left him disillusioned, saddened and heartbroken.
"Not because we lost a loving pet, but because all our efforts to demonstrate a better lifestyle have suddenly been shattered. Suddenly I want to go back where I came from and turn my back on this god-awful place," he said.
"This is not a one-off incident. People burn down trees, damage the environment and regularly steal our organic produce.
"This is a sign of a nation devoid of any social responsibility, dignity, self-respect and manners. We may have joined the EU, but when it comes to the moral fibre of the nation we are still a third world country."
He believes there should be stiffer penalties for cruelty to animals and referred to a recent incident in the US where a man was sentenced to six months imprisonment for throwing a dog out of a balcony in a fit of anger.
"We simply cannot just sit back and accept the harm caused by these outcasts of society... I just hope these people see the error of their ways," he said.

Cat cruelty - amputation of cats' claws!!!!!!

The following letter reminds us all of the ugly spectre of certain people, calling themselves animal-lovers, who declaw their cats in order to protect god knows what - the furniture, most probably. Because it seems that for these self-proclaimed 'animal-lovers', furniture comes before the dignity and the health of cats!

Cat cruelty (1)
Kate Borg, Paola.
As an ardent cat and animal lover, I would like to express my utter disgust that a presenter on a pet awareness TV show on Education 22 stated on November 2 that she had de-clawed her cats, when the other person was attempting to speak against de-clawing.
This is an inhumane procedure which mutilates the cat for life as an amputation of the cat's paw occurs.
It is indeed a shame that a person who says that she is an animal lover carries out such a procedure on any of her pets. I was also disgusted at the advertising of cat breeders on the programme.
When referring to a cat on a poster the presenter mentioned a breeder's name and said he had these particular cats. It seems that this programme has degenerated into subtle advertising.
It seems that the TV watchdogs have really gone to the dogs!


The second letter brings up another spectre - how cats are killed on our roads, literally become part of our tarmac. Is there no end to cruelty of animals on our streets?

Cat cruelty (2)
Ron Johnston, Sliema.
Malta appears to have no middle road regarding the many stray cats and, to a lesser extent, dogs roaming the streets, alleys etc. They are either loved or detested. I have witnessed cars which instead of slowing to avoid them, accelerate to hit them. On the contrary, I have witnessed "saints" feeding and showing compassion towards them.
These animals are not rodents but are God-created to be man's best friend, and if loved and cared for, these respond accordingly.
When I was a boy we had two cats that lived to about 15 years of age and, I am convinced, developed an uncanny instinct about one's comings and goings and various moods. Anyone agree?

Oh, I DO.

Animal welfare: Who cares?

INTRODUCTION:

Oh, what a laugh this tiny island called Malta is! I have been trying to get The Times to publish an article I sent in about animals for at least 6 weeks - and it never made it to the pages! And here comes Dr Jeffrey, with all due respect, who, being a Nationalist Member of Parliament - but I really think that stress should be made on the Member of Parliament, who, probably having more organs in his body than I, a simple, ordinary citizen, with just one vote to my name - has all the necessary means at his disposal to send in all kinds of articles and these are published straight away. Talk about the singer, and not the song!!! That is democracy at its best, for you, dear Jeffrey.

But anyway. Let's get down to business and speak about what Dr Schembri Orlando had to say ... about animals!

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando
I have been involved in animal welfare issues for a number of years now. Last year I had the honour of presenting the largest petition ever collected on our islands, 40,000-plus signatures, which aimed at pushing specific animal welfare-related demands forward. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Environment, to whom the petition was presented, were very receptive and concrete measures are being taken to help all those dedicated individuals involved in the care of abandoned animals and to provide the necessary infrastructure and amenities.

Well, indeed, that is good news that the PM and the Minister for the Environment are showing interest in animals, these last few months. Indeed, one hopes that this interest will not wane, if and once they are re-elected to Government. However, when one speaks in earnest, and far away from the media's attention, one soon gets what people behind animal sanctuaries really think about the presente administeration's interest in animals and their welfare! And believe me, these are certainly no armchair critics as you say in your article!

It hurts me to read certain letters claiming that we live in an "animal-unfriendly society". It would be foolish of me to say that there aren't some sick individuals out there who vent their twisted desires on innocent animals. These are the same type of people who are cruel to "weaker" human beings they get the opportunity to interact with.

Oh, does it really hurt you?! Well, gosh! Tough on you, Jeff! Some people really hate listening to the truth. If you think that all is rosy in little Malta with regard to animal welfare, then, pardon me, you seem to be living in some rosy garden, away from the truth and from daily life!

It is vital that, when caught, the relevant authorities deal with them in the severest manner possible in order to send a strong and clear message to this minuscule percentage of perverts who are, unfortunately, to be found all over the world.

So, let's sit on our laurels, simply because, Jeffrey says that it's just a 'miniscule percentage of perverts' - well, at least he calls them that, that's something! - and that 'unfortunately', (these are) to be found all over the world'. Is that enough reason not to call a spade a spade? Hallina.

The above-mentioned petition, the dedication shown by a large number of individuals and associations involved in animal welfare and the support being given by the government is evidence that Malta is far from being "animal-unfriendly".

Again, I disagree, and strongly. It's not signatures that are needed - animals are not going to overcome their problems merely by signatures! It's action we want, and it's actions that's needed!

It is easy for armchair critics to send denigrating letters to the press. One wonders if these individuals do anything concrete to help alleviate the situation some animals find themselves in.

Oh, yes! Very easy for politicians to SCOFF at those who voice opinions that they, the politicians, would rather not hear! Call us armchair critics, then, Jeff. And continue wondering about what such critics are doing in favour of animals.

The Animal Welfare Division of the Department of Education is doing sterling work when it comes to fostering awareness among schoolchildren. I was involved in their work and can vouch for this.

True, but it's still not enough!

Work on the National Animal Welfare Centre at Ta' Qali is expected to start in the coming weeks now that all the relevant permits have been issued by Mepa. Funds for this centre were allocated a few days after the petition I mentioned was presented and it will include boarding kennels, a veterinary clinic and an emergency department. It will also serve as an educational centre. The design, layout and position will allow the necessary extensions to the project in the future. The government will provide two trained personnel to operate a 24-hour animal ambulance service. It is also subsidising the servicing and fuelling of the ambulance.

Beautiful plans - but the government has been so disgustingly helpless these past years with regard to animals, that we, real animal-lovers, will only believe what has been promised when the project becomes a reality! Jeffrey, no Government can possibly BOAST about projects which still have not started. You can only boast on what has been implemented!

We have put our money where our mouth is and allocated €350,000 in direct aid to associations involved in the care of abandoned animals and to fund a nation-wide neutering programme in this year's budget.

Well, Jeffrey decided to describe the monies allocated for animals in Euros - no doubt, to make them appear more high in number than they actually are: LM 160,000 looks less generous than €350,000 - does it not??? Besides, again, Jeffrey may well be wrong again: from what I heard, most of the money is being channeled to neutering, rather than in 'direct aid to associations', which would be better.

The dedication and energy of the voluntary workers involved in this sector, together with the backing they are being given by the government, ...

WHAT BACKING??????????????????

... will go a long way towards alleviating the situation faced by those of our furry friends who find themselves in distress. So much more needs to be done. We'll get there because we're definitely a society which, as a whole, is far from being animal-unfriendly. Quite the opposite! Let's stop putting ourselves down.

WELL! I REST MY CASE! GO BACK TO SLEEP!

Animals ... in Parliament!

These last few days have been of particular interest for animals and for all those who truly have at heart the well-being of animals in Malta and Gozo.

Rarely has there been any discussion about animals and their welfare, in Parliament. Equally rarely has there been any SERIOUS discussion about animals in Malta, come to think of it.

Well, in fact, no DISCUSSION has really taken place last week – just a few MPs, typically at odds with each other, each one trying to gain political mileage with regard to animals, each trying to show himself an expert in animal wellbeing and actually none of them showing to have any inkling as to how to proceed to reduce animal cruelty in Malta and how to help animals in general, as well as those many people who look after them. All this is linked to the Budget of next year, in which, wonder of wonders, a total sum of LM 150,000 have been voted for animals.

While the Opposition spokesman went on record, criticising the Government’s intention to increase dogs’ and cats’ spaying, the Minister for the Environment, whose remit also includes the wellbeing of animals, pronounced himself to be an animal-lover, albeit, he said, that one has to consider the priorities in the country – and by priorities, he referred to the health of the human species living on these islands, and jobs.

Actually, how these two priorities are in conflict with animal wellbeing is beyond me. There is simply no excuse in the world for turning your head the other way in the face of animal cruelty.
Well, I have my own ideas as to what constitutes an animal-friendly Minister, especially one whose remit ALSO includes animal-welfare. Such as:

Visiting animal sanctuaries constantly, away from media cameras and reporters, and thus showing real interest in seeing for himself what is happening in this sphere;

Speaking and discussing with as many volunteers within animal NGOs as possible, welcoming them with open arms at his offices and opening a healthy dialogue in preparation for a sensible Animal Welfare Act for our country;

Pushing, within the Cabinet, for the above-mentioned Animal Welfare Act, but not before having reached a consensus about what should be enforced, with the animal NGOs;

Ensuring that the country has at least one good, efficiently-run animal hospital, with ambulances and all, which would serve as an educational centre – the throbbing heart of animal care – in our country. A centre which is open 24/7 and receives with open arms the stray cats and dogs that are found hurt in our streets.

In the meantime, the Honourable Member of the Opposition who speaks on behalf of animals should explain what credentials he has that makes him speak about animal-welfare in Parliament. He should also explain in detail why he and his Party did not support the Government, with regard to hunting and trapping in Malta and Gozo; instead, his Party took a stance which goes so much against the wellbeing of sentient animals such as birds.

Also, the said Opposition spokesman should explain to the electorate what his Party has in mind, with regard to animal wellbeing – and how much space was dedicated to this in their latest Paper about the Environment, as well as whether they wrote anything of value, in black and white, in said Paper.


Now, a word about the funds that have been voted for animals by the Government in next year’s budget. Even here, I believe that there are ways of understanding the term ‘voting money for animals’.

You see, there are two kinds of people and so, two schools of thought, insofar as animals go. The first kind includes those who consider the presence of animals as a nuisance: as far as these are concerned, the money should be used in order to have less and less animals around for the human being to be cruel with. The second kind, and this includes the undersigned, includes those who are real animal-lovers and who would rather be in the company of animals than in that of fellow human-beings: for these people, money should be used in order to improve the situation of animal wellbeing in our country, and so, eradicate animal cruelty.

Seriously, I do believe that a neutering programme IS important for our local scenario but that alone is not going to solve the problem of stray animals in Malta.

I am totally against the already-decided balance of how the funds are to be allocated. In other words, to have most of the monies channeled towards the neutering programme does not show a serious commitment on the part of the Government to curb animal abuse and cruelty.

In my view, at least half of the monies should be dedicated to the upgrading of sanctuary facilities in our country, as well as helping out, even if in a humble manner, all those people who have a very high number of cats or dogs, or both, in their residences and who help keep such animals away from the cruel Maltese streets.

A portion of the monies should also be channeled towards a sound, meaningful, educational campaign in favour of animals.

But most importantly, animal awareness and its monitoring should no longer be part of any governmental department but the Office of a Commissioner for Animals should be created, together with an enhanced and improved Animal Act.

Only in this way would the Government be showing that it really means business with regard to curbing animal abuse and cruelty in Malta.

One last thought: animal breeders, such as breeders of ‘pedigree’ dogs and cats, should be controlled. These so-called animal-lovers, who are no animal lovers at all but just people who own offspring machines in the form of bitches and female cats – and who make sure that their animals are kept pregnant for most of their lives - should be made to pay taxes for the ‘business’ that they carry out. Obviously, my views are well-known in these pages. I would go even further and ban pedigree breeding altogether – for some years, at least. That way, real animal-lovers would come forth and choose from among the dogs and cats that are homed in the number of sanctuaries that we have in our country.

Thanks to the Budget and the approach of general elections .... An animal-friendly TIMES editorial.

Overdue promotion of animal welfare
It is a disheartening fact that the Maltese are, generally speaking, not an animal-loving nation. Cruelty to animals is widespread and the deliberate dumping of animals leads to an uncontrollable number of strays being left to fend for themselves.
Malta has to take a stand against the brutal treatment of animals and put a stop to the blatant contempt for animal welfare laws. The country's reputation has been besmirched again and again by shocking episodes, the latest being the killing of animals at the Razzett tal-Hbiberija, the case now being before the courts.
Despite this negative scenario, there are a number of NGOs manned by very dedicated people who do their utmost to promote the welfare of animals.
At long last, the government is living up to its commitment to recognise their worthy cause and has allocated Lm150,000 to support NGOs carrying out this largely thankless and demanding task. In addition, it is also devoting Lm60,000 to setting up an animal welfare centre in Ta' Qali that will provide shelter for stray dogs. Besides serving as an aftercare centre offering animals an inpatient service, it will also boast an educational centre which includes a library and an audiovisual facility.
This is most welcome news for animal lovers. Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino had a fruitful informal meeting with six animal welfare organisations, during which it was agreed that Lm75,000, half the money allocated, would be devoted to a national neutering programme.
Such a programme is long overdue as there is no other way to cope with the relentless increase of stray animals that have placed an unbearable strain on the NGOs working in this sphere. The minister has asked them to come forward with a feasible plan that can be implemented as early as possible. He also asked them to pool their resources and co-ordinate their activities.
Mr Pullicino's announcement that the new Voluntary Organisations Act will soon come into force must have boosted the NGOs' optimism even more. Such developments are a definite step in the right direction as all NGOs will have to formalise their position and be more accountable.
The proposal that a three-man body will scrutinise the spending of the government grant goes a long way to ensure that things will be carried out as professionally and effectively as possible.
There is no doubt that the committed volunteers will rise to the occasion and strive even harder to cope with the sad situation of unwanted and abandoned animals.
However, animal welfare demands much more than funds and a neutering programme. An example of this is explained so clearly by a representative of one of the animal NGOs: "The only way to discourage people from abandoning dogs is to enforce the law. It is against the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act to abandon an animal. However, unless registration and identification, preferably by microchip, of every last dog is introduced in Malta there is no possibility that the law can be enforced".
Despite laws and regulations, law enforcement leaves much to be desired and, too often, frightful cases of animal neglect and brutality go unpunished.
Trained law enforcement personnel, ideally including people with animal welfare at heart, would go a long way to stamp out this barbaric trait that scars Malta's image so badly. One hopes the government's allocation of much-needed funds for NGOs, along with its words of praise and support for them, will mark a definite and clear step towards promoting animal welfare in Malta.

One dog too many ... a life is always a life, created by God.

Abandoned injured dog

Ms Marlene Micallef, Mqabba.

Last Sunday at 1 p.m. I was driving from Gudja to Tal-Barrani Road when I saw a Springer Spaniel that had been badly hit by a car. A lady stopped her car to prevent other cars from hitting the dog as it was still alive.

Apart from myself and two others, Mario Galea, MP, and Mqabba councillor Noel Galea happened to be passing by and they stopped to give assistance.

Whoever hit the dog did not even stop. It is very hard to find somebody to help when it comes to animal emergencies, especially on a Sunday or public holiday. Although we stopped to help, we faced many difficulties. We did not know what number to call for immediate animal rescue.

Mr Galea happened to know a volunteer from the Island Sanc-tuary, who immediately came over. Luckily enough she knew a vet who could assist the dog. Dr Borg did her best to save the dog's life but it died from severe internal bleeding.

If only the driver who hit the dog took it to a vet immediately, maybe it would still be alive.

COMMENT: We shall never learn, it seems. Why should a single dog be without shelter, beats me, for starters. And there are areas, more than others, in Malta, where these stray dogs are to be found. Certainly, they will have been abandoned in that particular area and the poor dog remains there, going round in circles, hoping against hope that whoever used to take care of him or 'owned' him would come back for him. Or that dog may have been born there, and considers that his home. Whatever the reason, there are areas more prone than others where stray dogs abound.

Thankfully, the plight of this last dog, one of many in an endless lists, no doubt, brought on the attention of none other than the Nationalist MP and Parliamentary whip, Mario Galea. He did right, of course, to stand by the dog and offer his assistance.

But it should not stop there. The Nationalist Party must do MUCH MORE in order to foster an animal-friendly atmosphere here in Malta. It should include animal awareness in its electoral manifesto - as should also the MLP. Hon. Galea, do something to inspire your colleagues at the Dar Centrali to focus just a little bit on the plight of animals in our country. Amen.

Far away from our shores … in NEPAL, ….There, too, voices of dissent towards animal cruelty are rising … Inevitably, things will change. They make take time. But change, there will be. The same way that change took place in the way people thought about black slavery.

Even in Nepal, people are becoming conscious about the needless crueltly inflicted on animals before they are killed for the consumption of their meat.

A respected botanist, Dr Tirtha Shrestha says that in Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, pigs are skinned alive and their beating hearts offered to the temple, while in a nearby village people tear apart a live goat.
He asks what kind of people take pleasure in such cruelty, even suggesting that a society which treats animals so brutally will be brutal to human beings too.
"Decapitating a bleating buffalo or goat should not be the symbol of the Nepali civilisation," he says. "Why are we exhibiting such cruelty, and how does this reflect on our society?"
Dr Shrestha accepts that to eat meat, animals must be killed.
"But why do we have to inflict such pain before we do so? This is not just inhuman, it is also against the law in many countries. It is morally wrong to torture fellow creatures under any circumstances, but to do so in the name of religion is a sin."

Dr Shrestha should be told that in supposedly-western countries, animal cruelty also takes place in the process of animal slaughter for human consumption. I have seen videos of what happens at the Malta slaughter-house and I can vouch for the fact that animals, yes, are killed while their hearts are still beating. Certainly, in Malta, as in other countries, animals are slaughtered unceremoniously, without any dignity, with much cruelty.

About time ... that the Vets spoke out, and made themeselves heard in public!

From THE TIMES OF MALTA: Animal killing and theft

Roberto Andrea Balbo, secretary, Malta Veterinary Association, Birkirkara.

The Malta Veterinary Association would like to congratulate the police and any other people who were involved in the retrieval of the animals from Razzett tal-Hbiberija.
The MVA deplores this criminal act which brought unnecessary suffering to the animals and especially to the deer which was brutally killed. We hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice in the hope that similar incidents will be discouraged.

We also encourage the police to continue investigating the case of the dog which had its back legs sawed off in another horrific case of animal cruelty.

VERY GOOD NEWS FROM THE MALTESE COURTS!

Man fined for causing harm to animals by Valerie Fenech, di-ve news
VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news) -- October 17, 2007 -- 1810CEST --A 31 year-old man was fined Lm1,000 by a Court on Wednesday after being found guilty of causing harm to several animals. Paul Cauchi from Zejtun was found guilty by Magistrate Dr Miriam Hayman of harming and injuring several animals after he mixed a poisonous substance to cat food. He was also found guilty of causing the death of one or more of the animals.

COMMENT: IT APPEARS THAT OUR COURTS, OUR MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES MAY BE WAKING UP, AFTER ALL!

Reaction to Razzett tal-Hbiberija letter.

Where are our priorities?
Shirley Sammut, San Gwann.
Franco Farrugia (Where Are Those Animals, October 12) began his letter by rightly claiming that we live in an "animal-unfriendly" society, where animals are not given the care and respect they, as God-given creatures, deserve. However, he then goes on to imply that the authorities at Razzett Tal-Hbiberija do not care about the animals that were lost or killed, just because they only mentioned the loss the disabled children will suffer, in their comments.
I am a very keen animal lover and I was sickened to hear about the incident at the park but we should get our priorities right. I have worked with the people at Razzett and they are a dedicated and caring group of people whose main concern is the disabled children they work with. Their immediate thoughts will obviously go to how these children will be affected by this theft and to how much of their hard-earned funds will now have to go towards buying more animals and training them as soon as possible, as well as for setting up an effective security system for the park.
Having said that, they are also animal lovers and it was definitely not easy for them to find the deer in that state, besides the shock of the robbery. They certainly did not act "as if nothing has happened" and Mr Farrugia can rest assured that no investigations are necessary to ensure that they are responsible enough to have animals under their care.
And he can also put his mind at rest that the police are doing their job well too. It seems ironic that, in the same newspaper, there was in fact a report that the police already have three people in custody in relation to the robbery. (Three men were subsequently arraigned). Well done!
Many people and organisations have turned this ugly event around by donating generously to Razzett and I invite Mr Farrugia to put his money where his mouth is and make a donation too. If the animals are replaced soon, he can then go and visit the park and see more than one deer in real life, an experience which I'm sure he'll enjoy. Can you imagine how much more joy a young disabled child will get out of it? Keep up the good work Razzett!

COMMENT: (Letter sent in answer to THE TIMES): Ms Shirley Sammut takes me to task for expressing my belief that the Razzett tal-Hbiberija authorities did not adequately show enough care for the animals that they had at the Park and which were stolen some weeks ago.

Certainly, there is no need for her to tell me where and how to donate my money. I, too, like her, have my own priorities and prefer to help animals directly in the plight they constantly find themselves, here in Malta. And certainly, I will not give money for more animals to be made captive by careless entities.

With regard to the animals at Razzett tal-Hbiberija, I not only imply, but believe, that the Razzett should have shown much more care towards their animals. This can be seen by the fact that it is only now that action is being taken to upgrade the security within the Park, as Ms Sammut herself says in her letter.

Unlike Ms Sammut, I believe that God’s creatures are equal, great and small. If human lives are precious, so are animal lives. This is where I stand.

With this in mind, I am sorry but I simply cannot agree with her priorities.

I am sorry I cannot accept Ms Sammut’s assurances that no investigations are necessary. On the contrary, the problem in Malta is that with a pathetic Animal Welfare Act, rarely any action is taken to remedy shortcomings perpetrated against animals in Malta, be it by individual or by corporate entities.

I do not dispute the fact that the Razzett tal-Hbiberija is an entity which is giving sterling service to the community. And it does so with limited financial resources. It may therefore be forced into throwing its responsibilities towards its animals into bottom gear. That, Ms Sammut, is where we simply do not agree, however much you claim to be a ‘very keen animal lover’.

MALTA BUDGET 2008 ... FOR ANIMALS.

From the Budget Speech:

Ħarsien ta’ l-Annimali
Matul din is-sena kelli l-okkażjoni li niltaqa’ ma’ numru ta’
voluntiera li jaħdmu fil-qasam tal-ħarsien ta’ l-annimali. Irrid
nirringrazzjahom għax-xogħol volontarju li jagħmlu b’tant
dedikazzjoni u impenn. Hawnhekk, nixtieq inħabbar li
qegħdin nivvutaw is-somma ta’ 150,000 lira (€349,400) biex
ngħinu lill-għaqdiet volontarji f’pajjiżna fit-tmexxija ta’
faċilitajiet fejn jinżammu annimali abbandunati. Flimkien
ma’ l-NGOs se nkunu qed nimplimentaw ukoll inizjattiva li
tikkontrolla l-ammont ta’ annimali abbandunati fit-toroq
tagħna. Issa li ġie approvat il-permess, se jinbeda wkoll ixxogħol
fuq ċentru f’Ta’ Qali li se jkun qed jiġbor fih għadd ta’
faċilitajiet moderni għall-annimali, li jinkludu after-care clinic
u boarding kennels.

The Budget was presented in Parliament yesterday.
In the budget, there is LM 150,000 voted for NGOs working for animals. An improvement over last year, certainly.
Together with NGOs the government will be taking initiatives to control the number of abandoned animals.

Now, one hopes that the money which is being devoted for NGOs working for animals will be equitably distributed, and not to just one 'animal association' only, such as the ill-reputed SPCA.

Also, one has to see what the government means with regard to initiatives to control the number of abandoned animals. Education and spaying is one thing, to kill animals on sight, is quite another.

We have to wait and see.

Aħbarijiet minn barra: l-annimali għandhom ħafna x'jgħallmu lill-bniedem ...

... u jekk aħna naħsbu li, għax nimxu fuq żewġ saqajn, niddikjaraw u niġġieldu gwerer u nfottu wieħed lill-ieħor, aħna xi razza superjuri .... allura aqraw din l-istorja:

Il-kelba golden retriever ta' seba' snin li jisimha Honey adottat ferħ ta' qattus li tħalla abbandunat ġo tyre f'post ta' kostruzzjoni.
Jimmy Martin, il-persuna li sab il-qattus, ħadu miegħu d-dar u flimkien ma' martu Kathy prova jisqi lil qattus ftit ħalib permezz ta' flixkun tat-trabi. Madanakollu l-qattus ma riedx jixrob u l-koppja beżgħu li kien ser imut, daqs li kieku tħalla abbandunat.
Kienet hawnhekk li daħlet il-kelba tal-koppja Honey, li minnufih ħadet grazzja maċ-ċkejken qattus u bdiet tħobbu kif taf hi. Wara biss jumejn, il-kelba bdiet tipproduċi l-ħalib, allavolja kien ilha madwar sena u nofs ma twelled. Il-qattus imsemmi Precious ma rrifjutax din id-darba u t-tnejn ħadu grazzja ma xulxin. Honey titratta' lil Precious daqs li kieku kien ferħ minn tagħha u 'llum il-ġurnata l-qattus tgħallem igerrem fuq l-għadam kif jagħmlu l-klieb.

Hot from www.di-ve.com : some of the Razzett tal-Hbiberija's animals have been found. Good for the Police! Now, what about the other animals?

Five of a dozen of animals stolen from ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija in Marsascala have been found nine days after they were taken. The barn owls, golden pheasants, a parrot and monkey were among the animals during raids at a number of properties. Three barn owls, two golden pheasants, an Amazon parrot, a rabbit and a monkey were identified by the park personnel. The four mountain goats, a young mountain goat and a baby deer were not recovered. The animals were recovered as part of an operation by police forces following a tip-off from members of the public. Three people aged 20, 24 and 30 are expected to be arraigned in court shortly. Last week, the park had reported that unknown persons had broken into the complex, killed a deer and stole 13 animals. The intruders scaled the boundary walls at the back of the park. The General Manager of the park, Mark Sultana told www.di-ve.com that the animals were used in therapy session with children with disability. He added that all donations received will not be used to replace the animals but to improve the animal interaction facilities. He said that all animals stolen were either donated to them or as in the case of the missing baby deer breed in park.

COMMENT: NOW, LET'S HOPE THAT THEY ARE REALLY GIVEN A HIDING IN COURT! AND NOT JUST A SLAP ON THEIR HANDS LIKE A NAUGHTY THREE-YEAR OLD! COME ON, JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES, SHOW US YOUR METTLE!

Animal cruelty ... at sea as well! From today's INDEPENDENT.

Some divers who came across a rare sight some time ago – a marine turtle swimming towards Comino – were faced with a sad reality as they discovered what is suspected to be the same turtle’s head, just off Mgarr harbour on Tuesday, the owners of a Xlendi-based diving school told this newspaper.The turtle was first discovered by divers at Hondoq ir-Rummien, a popular diving spot opposite the Blue Lagoon in Comino. Being an extremely rare sight, the divers stopped to watch the turtle, which was lying on the grass and begin swimming to the surface, before it started swimming towards Comino.The diving instructor who spoke to The Malta Independent said he has been diving in the area for about 12 years and never came across a turtle. Turtle numbers have declined sharply in recent years; this is one of the reasons behind jellyfish infestations, since the turtle is one of its main predators.Marine turtles are very old reptiles and all eight remaining species are experiencing serious threats to their survival. Because of this, marine turtles are protected by a number of international conventions, including some regional ones. All marine turtles recorded in Maltese marine territory are protected by local legislation. Out of these eight different species, sightings of five of them have been recorded in Malta, the most common one being the loggerhead turtle.The divers discovered the turtle again in Mgarr harbour, but this time, only the head remained as testament to this majestic animal. The owners of the diving school said blood was still fresh around the turtle’s neck and its eyes were still greasy – all indicating a recent killing. Unfortunately, when the divers went to the Mgarr police station to file a report, they were told that nothing could be done about the situation. “Even after further protest they were unable to make any progress as all they had accomplished was to have the officer in charge ‘call his superiors’, which needless to say meant that nothing would be done about it,” complained the owner of the diving school, adding that it is about time something was done about this very sorry state of affairs.

In today's THE TIMES: Does anyone out there care??????

Where are those animals?

Perhaps it shouldn't come to me as a surprise that our country, as well as the various organisations and authorities within it, is so animal-unfriendly, in words as well as in deeds.
I am referring to the latest episode of animal cruelty that has taken place - this time, at the Razzett tal-Hbiberija, where a good number of animals, many of which were exotic, were reportedly stolen.
Barely has anyone spoken out to condemn this latest act, from the animals' point of view - various bodies which are supposedly the guardians of animal well-being in our country were very conspicuous by their silence.
Animal lovers surely need to know what action has been taken and is still being taken by the police regarding this serious matter.
Furthermore, one should also investigate whether the authorities at Razzett tal-Hbiberija were responsible enough with the animals that were under their care.
It is true that it is, indeed, a pity that the young children making use of the amenities of the Razzett are now bereft of the animals that are so important for all kinds of therapy. However, I am very disgusted that the Razzett tal-Hbiberija's short comments were simply directed at the loss that the young patrons have suffered with the theft. Not a single comment was made about their worry as to where these animals are now. Or about the deer that was savagely killed.
It remains to be said, and with emphasis, in my opinion, that animals are not simply a means to an end but they are an end in themselves - they are sentient beings as much as you and I are. Hence, it is simply not enough to see that these animals are replaced as if nothing has happened.
Before any animals are used by Ir-Razzett again, its authorities have to see that there is the necessary level of security around the premises in which the animals are kept. Preferably, there should be an overnight watchman to oversee the safety of the animals.
The competent authorities must not give up on their search to retrieve the animals and to bring the culprits to justice, particularly in view of the atrocious death of one of them, a deer, a gentle and beautiful animal which I, for one, have never seen in real life.
Is there anyone out there who wonders where these animals are? Surely, in a small country like Malta, it is not easy to harbour these exotic animals in one's yard or garden, without the neighbours getting to know about it. Unless, of course, these animals are being kept in some isolated farm or garage till the hue and cry dies down.
But then, again, what hue and cry?

Read this beautiful write-up taken from today's THE TIMES.

Dog helps identify injured woman
A dog's love for its owner played a crucial role in helping the police identify an elderly woman who was found lying on the ground seriously injured in a Birkirkara street on Wednesday afternoon.
After the mishap, the dog who was accompanying the 74-year-old woman, returned to her home and stood by the front door. When this was brought to the attention of the police, neighbours helped identify the injured woman as the dog's owner, sources close to the police said.
The police had some difficulty in identifying the woman at first, that is until her dog appeared in the scene.
The sources said the police have ruled out foul play. The woman, who was found in Triq il-Qasab, Birkirkara, was still in critical condition yesterday, the police said.
Investigations revealed that the woman went to Triq il-Qasab to feed some cats accompanied by her dog, when she suddenly fell ill and collapsed, seriously injuring herself.

COMMENT: I WILL NOT SPOIL THIS STORY WITH SUPERFLUOUS COMMENTS.

The extent that Maltese hunters and trappers can reach!

BirdLife ranger shot in the face
The ranger of the Foresta 2000 site in Mellieha, Ray Vella, was shot in the face by a hunter while tending to his own field in Wied il-Mizieb, BirdLife said yesterday.Vella, a long-time member of BirdLife, has been the ranger of the Foresta 2000 site in Mellieha for the last four years personally tending to the trees, near the Red Tower where 3,000 trees were damaged by vandals last May.On Monday afternoon at 5:52pm, Vella had just arrived at his field and was tending to his land when a hunter shot in his direction from a distance of around 35 metres.“I was hit in the face in several places and shouted out in pain, making it clear to the hunter that I was hit,” said Vella.“The hunter in turn aggressively shouted back at me, swearing at me and cursing BirdLife, clearly showing that he knew who I was. He then ran off, while taunting me over his shoulder to call the Police.”Vella immediately contacted the emergency services, Police and BirdLife Malta. However, while Dr Andre Raine, BirdLife’s conservation manager, reached the site at 6:27pm, the police only got there a full one hour and three minutes after the incident.An X-ray taken of Vella revealed one lead pellet embedded in his nose, which was subsequently extracted by doctors at St Luke’s Hospital.BirdLife yesterday said Vella was lucky to have sustained light, superficial injuries. “Had the shot been a centimetre to the right he would have been shot in the eye.”Vella later rendered a full statement to the police and expressed his intention to proceed with pressing charges.“This is outrageous, appalling and unacceptable. Words do not suffice to condemn what happened to Ray and to adequately express BirdLife’s incredulity with the way that our citizens cannot enjoy their country side in safety,” said Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta president.“Vandalism of nature protection projects, indiscriminate killing of protected species and xenophobic messages inciting violence have become the order of the day. Political parties cannot continue to allow these barbaric acts to continue to be inflicted on the people of Malta. What does this say to our children, what morals are we teaching them? We urge all political parties to take a common stand to put an end to these criminal acts,” Mangion said.Din l-Art Helwa also condemned the criminal act and urged the government to bring the criminal to justice. In a statement, the Environment Ministry expressed solidarity with Vella, saying the attack was linked to his affiliation with BirdLife.
COMMENT: FURTHER COMMENTS ARE SUPERFLUOUS. THEN, YOU HAVE PEOPLE CLAIMING THAT TO BE A HUNTER, IN MALTA, DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE A CRIMINAL! UTTER RUBBISH! WIELDING A GUN AT BIRDS IS THE SAME AS WIELDING A GUN AT A PERSON.

More about the Razzett tal-Hbiberija animals' tragedy.

From today's THE TIMES. Ms Schiro from San Gwann writes:

Reading the newspaper on October 3 filled me with disgust to say the least. First the cowardly act of the ranger being shot at, then the barbaric nightmare that occurred at Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija.
If nothing is done to curb these heartless criminals, from now on, all the Maltese will be guilty of such crimes.
The headlines should read:
We killed an innocent deer.
We shot so many birds.
We hurt so many horses.
We maltreated dogs and cats.
Shall I go on? It is truly sickening.
Most of all the angels at Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija are left with a void so difficult to explain. The chain in their vital routine has been broken.
So the time has come to take action and again I ask "Why kill the deer?"

So far, there hasn't been the howl of protest from the general public as there was when hundreds of trees were vandalised near the Torri l-Ahmar on top of Mellieha Bay. I wonder why. After all, with all due respect to trees - which I love very much! - animals are sentient beings as much as us, human beings! So, why isn't there so much fuss?

It is also a pity that the management at the Razzett only spoke about how the animals' loss is going to affect their children. After all, who cares about the animals?

This having been said, one wonders what actions is being taken by the Police, if at all. After all, this is Malta - a small island where everyone knows what everyone else is doing. So, how can one possibly hide the presence of such animals as monkeys and deer, unless they are being housed in some 'lonely' farm or garage? Police should take note!

Wilful brutality against animals ... again!

fROM today's www.di-ve.com:

Thirteen animals have been stolen while another was brutally killed in a theft from the Animal Park at the Razzett tal-Hbiberija. The theft took place during the night between Sunday and Monday and was clearly a planned one, a spokesperson for Razzett tal-Hbiberija said. Three barn owls, two golden pheasants, four mountain goats and a baby, one Amazon parrot, one baby deer, one rabbit and one monkey were stolen. In all, the animals were worth around Lm1,000 (€2,329). (COMMENT: WHAT THE HELL DO WE F********* CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY'RE WORTH????? THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!!!!!) The thieves also brutally killed a deer while committing the crime. The direct victims of the crime are the children who benefit from the therapy programmes making use of animal interaction, the spokesperson further said whilst highlighting the sadness of all the staff at Razzett tal-Hbiberija at such an act.

COMMENT: NO WAY: THE DIRECT VICTIMS OF THE CRIME ARE THE ANIMALS THEMSELVES!

ANYWAY: I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ORGANISATIONS SHOULD KEEP ANIMALS LOCKED UP UNATTENDED!

Impressive animal awareness abroad.

Helping animals in distress.

You know, one thing that ALWAYS fascinates me, even when I was a young boy, was the extent to which some foreign and local bodies go through, in order to save an animal's life. The classic story of firemen saving a kitten up a tree is the order of the day - but even that is impressive. Today's story takes us abroad, far, far away in California, where a mountain bear found itself in serious difficulties.

Follow the pictures, found in BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7020540.stm) :

The poor bear tried to jump off the bridge, frightened from traffic noises.

It was stranded for 24 hours.

Rescuers lower a nylon net while the bear looks on.

A tranquilliser shot and a pole are used to force the bear into the net.

The bear is carefully lowered to the ground....

... and then, free again!