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.