TMI: Animal welfare

I am very grateful that Mario Spiteri (TMID, 16 March) has given us details about his remit and his work in favour of animals. Reading his letter, I was pleased to see that there were points with which I completely agree.

However, there are still many points I wish to raise. My aim is to help enhance a better recognition of what it entails to look after stray animals. In this spirit, Dr Spiteri should be grateful there are people who are interested in animal welfare, and should therefore not take dubious stands such as by crying “sensational” whenever those with animals at heart speak out. After all, officials paid by the public coffers should have just that little bit more respect when it comes to replying to questions from the public.

Let us put all cards on the table: one of the most important points raised is the distinction he makes between sanctuaries that are “officially recognised” and those that are not. The claim is that there are individuals who are “hoarding” animals in disgusting situations; and that there are individuals who are making use of animals in order to raise money from “gullible people”. Well, some questions arise here:

How difficult or easy are we making it for all sanctuaries to be officially recognised?

Isn’t it better to get all interested parties on board, as it were, rather than closing them down or sending them to prison?

Can Dr Spiteri give us a list of the officially recognised sanctuaries?

At the end of the day, all animals in all sanctuaries are deserving of food and looking after. Now, I am told that one of the problems keeping these unofficial sanctuaries from being officially recognised is related to financial administration. I agree that badly administered sanctuaries create doubt, and rightly so, too. But equally true is the fact that not everyone can afford to be organised, especially under-staffed and heavily-crowded sanctuaries.

So, can the government offer the services of one roving accountant to help these sanctuaries to pull up their socks as regards financial administration and hence, become “officially recognised”?

Individuals making use of animals to get money are also mentioned. But who is “gullible” today? I, for one, give a lot of help to homes for dogs, but always in the form of dog food! Get the drift? So, can’t we help these individuals of doubtful reputation – who, I agree, do exist! – by offering animal food rather than money?

I agree with Dr Spiteri that dogs in packs are very dangerous and they should be given top priority by his department – but the solution is not to kill them automatically. Killing animals must always be considered as the very last resort, in finding a solution to dangerous dogs.

Dr Spiteri claims that he now works with “a small team of dedicated staff”.

Can he tell us exactly the number of his team?

And from where his “staff” was seconded, the qualifications each one has, and why they were chosen to be in this “team”?

Dr Spiteri says: “Last year we embarked on a national neutering campaign and over e174,000 were spent to neuter some 1,500 stray and sanctuaries’ dogs and cats.” That amounts to e116 for each neutering operation. I often go to a vet with animals for neutering – and with my own money! And this amount of e116 does not tally with the price of a normal neutering operation.

He speaks about “people with a phobia of dogs”.

What educational campaigns are organised by his department to educate people in this matter, as with the many other matters that he speaks about in his letter and which are, by and large, justly pointed out?

Dr Spiteri expresses himself as against providing more space in sanctuaries. But the reality is that in the first place, there isn’t enough space in sanctuaries – the space provided up to now is run by individuals and heaven help us should such individuals not be around any more, or that something happens to them.

What will the country do, then? Has Dr Spiteri’s “department” any contingency plans in such situations? How will they be making up for the likely sudden disappearance of these key people? Create a piazza pulita, which is the easiest way out?

He speaks about the Animal After Care Centre in Ta’ Qali: I certainly don’t wish to rubbish this extremely important amenity in animal welfare, but I will believe it when I see it up and running. Do we know who is going to be responsible for this centre? Do we now how this centre is going to be run? Do we have any idea when this centre is going to start being used? (As opposed to being officially inaugurated!)

He claims that this centre “is one of its kind in Malta”. Of course it would be! But look for how long it has been promised!

“What remains is the urgent need for all NGOs working for the welfare of animals to form an effective coalition and pool in resources.” I cannot agree more, and such animal associations should be absolutely ashamed of themselves that they cannot, or will not, come under one umbrella, keeping their own “identity” yet continue to work separately from any government department.

It is not a Dog’s Act that we need but a new Animal Welfare Act which incorporates the introduction of a Commissioner for Animals, distinct from the government, and reporting directly to Parliament. And no act can be discussed without a proper discussion with all partners involved, especially true animal lovers.

In conclusion, I still believe, and I still maintain, indeed, that animal welfare in this country is not being dealt with seriously. Indeed, with all respect to everyone concerned, animal welfare is not in the hands of the right people. I am not personally referring to Dr Spiteri – I am referring to the fact that animal welfare must not be in the hands of any government department. People know me: people know I have no malice and have no axes to grind, and they know how much I love animals and am, on the other hand, practical. I do not use animal issues to hit at this person or that, whether political party or individuals; I am “crazy” about animals and I assure one and all that I will continue to bring the problems and the horrors of animal welfare in Malta and Gozo to the attention of the public.