Coming clean
by Lara Refalo
This letter is in response to Mr Franco Farrugia’s article, Answers expected from SPCA (TMID, 8 September). Please note that I am not writing on behalf of Mrs Cassar Torregiani but in my own name – a member of staff who works at the SPCA together with a team of dedicated people without whom the fate of animals in Malta would be a lot more tragic.I am not one to write in the newspaper, but in this case if “coming clean” requires me to reply to your questions, Mr Farrugia, so be it because we are as clean as animal welfare gets.
Let it be stated at the outset that I have the greatest respect for ALL animal care volunteers, WHEREVER they may choose to work - on their own, freelance like myself, or within animal associations and sanctuaries. As long as the animals' rights are respected, of course.
To begin with, our no-kill policy depends on the health and disposition of an animal. Surely you must know that the Animal Ambulance run by the government is not in operation and we do not have an animal hospital in Malta yet.
What is SPCA doing to ensure that this very important tool is up and running again? Is SPCA communicating with govt in order to ensure this?
Our medical resources are limited and unlike popular belief, we do not have a 24/7 in house vet. Therefore all medical procedures have to be performed at private vets including spaying and neutering.Although we cannot accommodate seriously injured animals, we have cared for three dogs with broken limbs in the past month and another one with dislocated shoulders.As already mentioned, 80 per cent of animals that are put to sleep at the SPCA are owners’ pets. I think owners have a right to decide whether or not their sick or old pet is suffering.
No. Owners have no RIGHT to decide whether or not their sick or old pet is suffering. Many owners are not knowledgeable in this area, or else, are too egocentric to bother caring for a sick or injured animal for a long time. SPCA would not choose to be party in this evil of killing a pet just because it is going through a bad patch.
Do you actually think that we simply accept owners’ pets to be put to sleep without verification or in some cases, a referral from a vet? Putting animals to sleep in such cases is animal welfare rather than abandoning them onto the street either sick, blind or in various stages of decrepitude.
I don't know what happens inside SPCA. That is exactly how this correspondence has started: by realising that far too many sacks filled with animal carcasses were leaving SPCA to be dumped very unceremoniously!
The SPCA has come a long way from putting dogs to sleep after seven days point blank. We have dogs with us who have been here for five years.Bambi being one of them, will be flying to her new home in Cheshire this Christmas.For the record, aggressive and seriously sick/injured animals make up 20 per cent of animals put to sleep by a vet at the SPCA.
Ah! At last - a light upon that remaining 20 % of animals being put to sleep!
Aggressive dogs are our responsibility when it comes to members of staff or potential owners.I do not like watching people bringing their pets to be put to sleep. It is often a very emotional experience. Supporting people who have no choice but to put their beloved pet to sleep is one of the most difficult jobs we have and we hope we are of service to them.It is the worst part of my job which is otherwise a very fulfilling one.If you have any doubts about SPCA, come and visit our premises. Despite their woeful state, we carry on because without us, animal lovers would have much more to worry about.
And I have no doubt about it! We are so few of us, caring for animals, in Malta, that every single pair of voluntary hands is important! Heaven forbid that SPCA should close down its doors - of any other animal sanctuary, for that matter! That is not the aim of this correspondence. The aim is to ensure that the mother of all animal sanctuaries in Malta - SPCA - should be careful and transparent with regard to its KILLING POLICY. There should be official and well-documented statistics to prove that the killing of an animal, at Floriana, only takes place under the absolute of constraints. Is this too much to ask from SPCA?
Ms Refalo, please continue with your sterling work in favour of animals, at SPCA. In the meantime, more clarity is required.
Lara Refalo
SPCA Malta
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