IT'S OFFICIAL: MALTA'S ANIMAL KILLING POLICY!

Right. So, it all started with a simple, concluding sentence of a MALTA INDEPENDENT news article, dtd 13 03 09:

Public property eviction: Dogs removed from Floriana
by Annaliza Borg


A number of dogs were yesterday removed from public property which squatters were using as an animal sanctuary close to the SPCA premises in Floriana.

It was not a one-off case because squatters often occupy public property to keep animals, Mario Spiteri, Director of Animal Welfare, told The Malta Independent.

Furthermore, at times owners remove their animals, often dogs, from illegally occupied premises after being served with an eviction notice, only to move them to another illegally occupied site.

The dogs removed yesterday morning were found to have wet paws because water had seeped into the place were they were being kept. While they were found to be healthy overall, as they were being fed, having wet paws often results in infections and disease, Dr Spiteri said.

These so called animal lovers often turn entrances to World War II shelters or openings in bastions into animal shelters by putting doors locked by padlocks, Dr Spiteri explained. These are often confined spaces with no lights and definitely not suitable for keeping animals. Dogs are often kept in large groups of around six or eight, he added.

A case in point was that of animals removed in the St Elmo eviction process, where horses, dogs, ducks, chickens and goats were among the animals found. At times a whole menagerie is discovered at these confined places, Dr Spiteri said.

Sometimes even game dogs kept for fighting were found at illegally occupied places. Since dog fighting is illegal, owners keep dogs in concealed places so that it is difficult for owners to be tracked down if the dogs are discovered, he pointed out.

Dr Spiteri called on those who truly love animals to be sure that they can keep a pet before actually taking one in.

“Dogs and all other pets should be kept with their masters,” he said.

Although animals at animal sanctuaries are cared for, this is not an ideal situation for them and they should only be kept there for a temporary period.

Meanwhile all animal sanctuaries are practically full at the moment and so dogs would have to be put down if they do not get adopted, he said.