AnimalAwareness@Malta

TMI: Animal welfare

2009-04-11T20:07:00.000+02:00

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.

Daphne Caruana Galizia ... or rather, Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmations).

2009-04-11T19:57:00.005+02:00

Daphne's feelings for animals are now there for all to read. She reminds me of CRUELLA DE VIL in 101 Dalmations ...I am here reproducing some 'words of wisdom', along with those of some other poor souls who take part in her way of crushing each person and everything that picks her fancy.

Words of wisdom.
By Cruella de Vil et al.

CDV: I disapprove of shelters on principle and believe that dogs which cannot be homed should be put down, rather than being kept in concentration camps by well-meaning people who are projecting their own anthropomorphic sentiments onto them.

CDV: If he [Freddie Fenech] had no intention of caring for those kittens, he should have done the decent thing and whacked them over the head or drowned them in a bucket of water.

A.Attard: Any non-microchipped animal found roaming the streets is put down immediately.

A.Attard: The licence fee would be to finance the registry and the culling of strays.

A. Attard: I agree fully that strays should be put down. I would consider all non-microchipped animals as strays and put them down.

Amanda Mallia: Hopefully, … Freddie Fenech and his playpen (yes, children’s playpen) housing puppies will no longer be an eyesore near on the front near Fortizza / Ferro Bay on summer evenings.

Cruella de Vil on kittens:
It's much more humane to whack them over the head or drown them.
(About CDV’s solutions to terminating animal life): They're not my solutions and they're not barbaric. Humans kill animals, for food or for other reasons. You just have to find the quickest, cleanest way to do it, and with newborn kittens, it's a few seconds in a bucket of water or a one-second whack over the head.

I'm going to repeat what I said: yes, for newborn kittens it [drowning kittens after whacking them on the head] is by far the most efficient solution, which is why people do it all the time. If there weren't so many squeamish people around there would be fewer abandoned kittens: people don't want the hassle of taking a day off to queue at the vet and then paying to have six kittens 'put down', but they've been taught that a bucket of water is 'barbaric' and that putting them in a skip is somehow more acceptable.

CDV: About animal death: All death is cruel. You just have to find the least cruel way out. I'm not a vegetarian.

CDV: About killing animals leading to arrest: No because murder applies only to humans.

CDV: An injured stray should just be put down. There is no point in being sentimental. Pets are saved not because they have an intrinsic 'right to life' but because their owners love them and want them saved. Dogs have as much right to life as the cows you eat.

CDV: People in Malta are cruel to animals because our general civic and ethical awareness remains undeveloped. Our cruelty to animals is just part of a much wider and deeper problem: cruelty to children, to spouses, to colleagues, indifference to others, lack of consideration, overbearing selfishness, and grabbing and thieving. To sort out our attitude to animals, you must first sort out our attitude towards life. That is going to take some doing.

CDV: Animals do not need 'second chances'. They are animals, not humans.

CDV: I'm beginning to think that more harm is done to animals by people thinking of them in human terms than by people who treat them like animals. I reiterate my considered belief, based on 20 years of keeping dogs (FF: I pity those dogs of hers – sorry, couldn’t help that one!), that dogs are better off dead than kept packed into a compound. Dogs, as a rule, do not like other dogs. They prefer human company, though they will sometimes form a strong bond with just one other dog, not necessarily of the opposite sex but usually of the same sex.

TMI letter today, 02 04 2009.

2009-04-02T17:03:00.000+02:00

Stop animal cruelty
by Franco Farrugia

Words cannot express what many people felt after reading the news about the horrendous find at Tal-Ferha, Gharghur. It was reported that Freddie Fenech, accompanied by police officers, following an anonymous tip, found a situation which cannot be described in words: live, terrorised and starving puppies as well as skeletons and remains of other animals.

We must stop animal cruelty in Malta. We have to say enough to this black and sordid part of our ‘national identity’.

We need proper legislation and we need proper officials who are crazy about animals and who would feel it their duty to protect animals – especially those that are in a vulnerable situation, such as strays.

We need an Animal Welfare Commissioner who would work completely independent of any governmental department, and who would only be answerable to Parliament. As we have a Commissioner for Data Protection and for Children and for other things, we also need one for animals – for, after all, these need protection as much as children do.

If you prick a child with a needle, it is described as abuse, and rightly, too. But if you prick an animal with the same needle, those same people who previously screamed abuse will look away and say nothing.

It is not right to adopt policies that go against the very welfare of animals. We need policies in Malta that protect and defend these defenseless animals. We need policies that are there to fight the perpetrators – the irresponsible and often cruel human ‘owner’ – and not policies or laws that directly or indirectly go against the beings that we are out to protect and defend. Or, what’s worse, laws that go for those who, albeit rather in a dubious fashion, try to do their best to take strays off the streets and go to prison for it, as we have recently witnessed!

Officers in animal welfare must fall over themselves in their anxiety to protect animals – if they are not prepared to do this, they should move aside and allow others to take their place.

And what about the veterinarians in our country? Where are they? Are they ever heard speaking out against animal cruelty? Do we hear their voices as they defend their very clients?

We must do everything in our power to support animal sanctuaries and associations. Local councils also must help in this matter, and put their money where their mouth is, and financially aid, even if in a modest manner, these sanctuaries, which are generally manned by a handful of volunteers that often dig their hands into their pockets when there are no resources left in the sanctuary they work in.

We must also control breeding taking place in Malta. The authorities would do well to clamp down on this business-of-sorts. It is true that there are a few honest and conscientious breeders; however, people must be made aware that in ‘buying’ a pedigree animal, they are wasting their money as well as making it difficult for more strays to be adopted, homed and put in a sanctuary for their own safety.

And what about a cheap manner of identifying all animals in this country? What about a cheap manner of forcing all ‘owners’ to have their pets micro-chipped?

As for those who claim that our country is at the moment froth with problems such as illegal immigration, hidden poverty and social malaise, well, this is no excuse for us all, as a people, as a State, to relinquish our responsibilities towards defenseless and vulnerable beings.

Please, do not look away. We have been doing this for so long.

No more Tal-Ferha atrocities!!! Let us pull the same rope. Our animals deserve nothing less.

My remarks about Animal Welfare in Malta.

2009-03-31T11:01:00.007+02:00

Well, if you want to get to know what is really the topic, you have to start reading from below ... very far below!

What lessons do we learn from all this?

1. There is no no-kill policy for healthy animals in Malta. Dr Mario Spiteri himself admitted that there is this policy of killing animals - putting to sleep, THEY call it! - in Malta, which, to me at least, is nothing but a short cut to the problem of strays.

Obviously, responsibility for such a policy comes from the Malta Government, particularly the Minister in charge, George Pullicino.

2. We also know, now, that a few animal 'sanctuaries', such as Noah's Ark and Abandoned Animals Association have lost their 'raison d'etre' and are now playing fiddle with that other evil SPCA in agreeing with killing strays!

3. We also learn how polite and professional are some of our civil servants. Public servants such as Dr Mario Spiteri have a far way to go before being able to deal politely with Joe Citizen, who is after all a tax-payer and therefore their 'boss', in a way. But then, Malta is not known to have full democractic credentials!

So, there you have it.

For now!

TIMESOFMALTA.COM ...

2009-03-31T10:48:00.003+02:00

... continued, for good measure!

I immediately contacted the editor, Mr Scicluna. But, obviously, nothing was done about the matter, for, as everyone knows, Times of Malta is prone to protect the establishment and the sacred cows within it.

So, read the following:

Franco Farrugia (1 day, 17 hours ago)
@ Mario Spiteri: It is indeed a pity, and equally disgusting, to make use of this blog in order to hit at someone who took you to task over your own words as reported by a newspaper, where it was reported that you claimed that dogs that are not adopted will be put to sleep. Once again, your words, not mine.
It is disgusting that you chose to make use of this blog for your own ends, rather than to join the chorus of those appealing for more animal-awareness.
Part of your remit should be that of encouraging ALL to join the same boat - that of fighting animal cruelty.

Dr. Mario Spiteri (1 day, 14 hours ago)
Mr. Franco Farrugia I simply replied to your disgusting inferences in this blog.

The Animal Welfare department which I run is not in business to annihilate stray dogs and cats. Quite the opposite, we promote the adoption of strays from Sanctuaries.

I invited you to join us on a typical day's work to learn at first hand experience (rather than from unreliable hearsay) what the real problems about strays are.

Without proper management stray dogs end up being poisoned, killed on the road, form packs and attack other dogs, turn cats into shreds and pulp. This is not to mention the grave public health and safety implications.

Putting dogs to sleep as unsavoury as it is, is the last resort left when Sanctuaries are full. (My bold!) Some might argue why not open more sanctuaries. In reality we could fill these and easily treble the current sanctuary population in six months time. Then it is back to square one!

That is why we run neutering programmes so in the long term there will be less strays around. In due time all dogs would have to be micro-chipped and so strays could be traced to their owners.

Franco Farrugia (1 day, 14 hours ago)
@ Dr Mario Spiteri - You did not first mention that you are the Director of the Animal-welfare Department within the Government.

You claim that you are answering my 'disgusting inferences' in this blog. Quote to me where you find such inferences.

As Animal-welfare officer, you are duty-bound to protect animals. When you adopt a no-kill policy, I will start believing it.

Go on: state whether you are in a position to adopt such a policy.

Dr. Mario Spiteri (1 day, 3 hours ago)

Still to be the odd one out you persist in your logic that in reality ALL stray dogs can be homed or put in sanctuaries! Really wish we could live in a perfect world! Well who wouldn't??

I have no time to waste with idealistic armchair critics living in fairy land... so please indulge and have the last word!

TIMESOFMALTA.COM

2009-03-31T10:36:00.003+02:00

MARIO SPITERI WAS NOT CONTENT WITH THIS.
HE WANTED TO TARNISH MY REPUTATION AND CALL ME NAMES.
A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, TREATING A CITIZEN IN THIS MANNER.

HE USED TIMESOFMALTA.COM FOR HIS PERSONAL VENDETTA, AS IT WERE.

BUT LET ME START FROM THE BEGINNING:

Starved, dead dogs found in derelict building

Three puppies were rescued from starvation after they were abandoned in a former lepers' hospital in Għargħur that had become a dog cemetery, littered with carcasses and rotting body parts.

Abandoned Animals Association president Freddie Fenech said he received an anonymous tip-off on Tuesday evening, alerting him about the place. He called the police who accompanied him on site. When they arrived, they could barely take in the sight: carcasses and skeletons of dogs scattered here and there.

In certain parts the stench was unbearable. The 20-roomed barrack-like complex is derelict, with rubbish lying everywhere. Whoever was responsible for leaving the dogs there was not around during the raid.

There were the remains of at least five dogs but it cannot be said for certain because some of the body parts found scattered could have come from different animals.

There was even the bloated body of a dog which had died very recently.

Inside, they found three lonely pups, about three months old, hidden under a cupboard. They were scared and it took them a while until they ventured out from their hiding place, even after Mr Fenech offered some food in a plate he had brought with him. They would be vaccinated and flown to Germany, Mr Fenech said.

THIS NEWS ITEM BROUGHT ABOUT VARIOUS BLOG COMMENTS, INCLUDING, OF COURSE, MINE.

MY OWN COMMENTS WERE THE FOLLOWING:

Franco Farrugia (5 days ago)
'Flown to Germany'.
Why?
Is it because we, in Malta, do not have the heart to look after our own? Nobody says anything about this. We speak about our Independence; we speak about how the EU is presumably taking away our Independence, and then, when it comes to looking after three poor puppies, we LOOK THE OTHER WAY and let the foreigners do the DIRTY WORK FOR US.

We are only there to act as the machos, to victimise poor animals that have absolutely no fault! Animals that are vulnerable, animals that are simply the victims of man's stubbornness and egoism - man's savagery!

Shall we pat ourselves on the shoulders and continue looking the other way? Is it possible, in a country where everyone knows everything about everybody else, that nobody knows who the responsible people are? Or are they some kind of local untouchables?

And what, I ask, is the Government and the authorities doing about this? What does the Minister responsible for Animal Welfare thinking about this? And his representatives in the Animal Welfare department-of-sorts? Are they too, looking the other way?
Disgusting!

Franco Farrugia (4 days, 21 hours ago)
@ Mr R Azzopardi: "Germans are real animal lovers who do not buy a pet just because it has a pedigree."

I totally agree with you, sir. I have been gently advocating against buying animals, whether they are pedigree or not. To me - and I know that many will not agree with me - buying a pure breed animal is tantamount to not only wasting money but also to indirect cruelty to animals.

You buy an animal from the breeder and you are encouraging said breeder to push his 'pet' to breed more puppies or kittens!!! Not only that, but it is not the first time that breeders killed imperfect pups or kittens because they were unsaleable!!! Obviously, this is not always the case.

And furthermore, when you are buying a pure breed, you are also not buying a non-pure breed which you could easily get for nothing from our full sanctuaries, thereby making it possible for another stray to be admitted into the sanctuary.

In my opinion, breeders are businessmen, not animal-lovers!

And as for 'owners' of pure-breeds, it all amounts to social status. Like owning an expensive car instead of an average one.

Bullet-proof vest on!

Franco Farrugia (4 days, 20 hours ago)
@ Ms S Zarb Adami. No, indeed I am not in the least impressed. Loving animals entails that we go out of our way and help and protect also those animals that are vulnerable, that is, those animals that have no roof over their heads, no human beings to call their 'masters' and that, in short, are strays. By limiting one's love to one's pet is not enough!

And by 'animals', I am here referring to all animals, birds included. For in my opinion, it is equally disgustingly cruel to confine birds to cages, or even put an end to their natural life simply because we claim, falsely, that it is our 'sport' or 'passatemp'.

But that is not, for the moment, the focus of my attention in this blog.

Franco Farrugia (4 days, 19 hours ago)
@ M. Hermsee, Indeed, that is just it. We, the Maltese, still feel that the foreigner is there to bail us out, in everything.
At the same time, we don't want said foreigners to interfere in our internal affairs. We want the cake and eat it, too. We want the status quo, we have our own sacred cows, we have our royal family or families, we even sanctify some people who we tend to turn into an untouchable establishment.

AND NOW, READ THIS:

Mario Spiteri (2 days ago)
DISGUSTING INDEED! Whoever left those poor puppies and all those who are trying to use this incident for their their own advantage/benefit are just as disgusting.

Some 'animal lovers' want the stray dog/cat poulation to serve the purpose of scavengers and live on cockroaches, mice and rats!!!! while others indulge in just words and more empty words when not tackling jealous 'teacher bashers' !!!(*)

Imagine what benefit the stray dog/cat population would derive if more genuine volunteers were involved in DEEDS and not words!

Pointing the accusing finger is easy and some with their own hidden private agenda just vent their spleen in such a way!!!

There is nothing glamorous in safeguarding animal rights but just hard and never ending work.

(*) This is a reference to another argument I have about teachers - since I am a teacher - letters of which appear in the same newspaper, TMI. Obviously, Mario Spiteri has no respect for people's privacy, as can be seen!

AND NOW FOR THAT SECOND LETTER...

2009-03-31T10:30:00.002+02:00

... BROUGHT ON BY MARIO SPITERI'S FRIEND, FABIO FROM NOAH'S ARK. FABIO PREPARED THE LETTER AND CONTACTED THE MANAGERS OF THE OTHER SANCTUARIES TO JUST SIGN IT, RATHER THAN DISCUSS IT.

OF COURSE, THERE WERE SOME WHO AGREED WITH WHAT I WAS SAYING AND THEY REFUSED TO JUST 'SIGN'!

AND SO, THE LETTER BELOW WAS SIGNED BY:

NOAH'S ARK, OF COURSE
ABANDONED ANIMALS ASSOCIATION - NOT FREDDIE FENECH!
SPCA MALTA, OF COURSE! WHO DARES SEND STRAYS TO THEM ANYMORE? IT WAS IN THE NEWS TWO YEARS AGO: SO MANY CARCASSES ARRIVING FROM SPCA QUARTERS IN FLORIANA TO WASTESERV, USING SPCA VAN??? HMM .. HMMM!
SPCA GOZO - STRANGELY ENOUGH.

The following is the letter of these defenders of animals:

Working with animals

The appointment by the government of a Director of Animal Welfare Promotion and Services last year was a breath of fresh air. Particularly so for animal welfare NGOs, especially when a person with such a positive track record as Mario Spiteri was given the post.

We all know that enforcing animal welfare is a thankless job. Those who work “hands on” experience distressing situations every day. Ever since Dr Spiteri took office it was immediately evident that the tides were changing. We will not list the achievements in animal welfare during the past year, most of which have been implemented by the present Directorate of Animal Welfare. The ones that stand out are the massive neutering programme that was carried out in 2008 and the government financial assistance towards upgrading sanctuaries to acceptable standards.

Dr Spiteri’s comments on euthanasia of strays that do not find shelter (TMID, 11 March), be it in sanctuaries or private homes, may have raised eyebrows. His was an appeal to help eliminate this system. Culling by euthanasia of the canine population is a practice carried out all over Europe, where hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are abandoned each year. This is also done here by private individuals, either at their own hands (drowning, dumping, etc.) or with the assistance of vets. It is not the general practice of the undersigned to put healthy animals to sleep. Dogs are removed from the streets when they become a danger to themselves, the public or other dogs. Stray dogs that join together as “packs” are a known hazard to the public, as has been proved again only recently in Sicily.

The sole purpose of setting up sanctuaries or shelters is to save the lives of as many dogs and cats as possible. But it is clearly evident that no matter how much space is made available in our sanctuaries we are losing the battle to accommodate all the animals that are being thrown out. The remaining choice is to let them roam the streets at risk of starvation, injury from motor vehicles and disease.

Dr Spiteri is right to appeal for sanctuary dogs to be adopted. Too few are being adopted locally and we can only make additional space in our sanctuaries by sending dogs for adoption overseas. Our members have had opportunity to assist Dr Spiteri in responding to some of the numerous reports he receives of animals in distress, even in the middle of the night.

The undersigned animal sanctuaries applaud Dr Spiteri for his sincerity in facing this mammoth problem and we stand four square behind him in his realistic comments. The animal welfare NGOs who work unselfishly to shelter abandoned dogs are finally able to work hand in hand with the government authorities.

Your readers can be assured that a number of measures are in the pipeline to improve the fate of dogs in the near future; some of these measures will hopefully also facilitate law enforcement.

Abandoned Animals Association

Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary

SPCA

Gozo SPCA

BRING IN THE THUGS!

2009-03-31T10:16:00.003+02:00

AND WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
MARIO SPITERI, THE MAN WHOSE REMIT IT IS TO PROTECT AND WATCH OVER ANIMALS IN MALTA AND GOZO, BRINGS IN REINFORCEMENTS!

AN INTERESTING THING APPEARS IN THE LETTERS SECTION OF THE MALTA INDEPENDENT. SATURDAY, 28TH MARCH: TWO LETTERS ABOUT ANIMAL-WELFARE, NO LESS! ONE, WRITTEN BY MARIO SPITERI AND ANOTHER ONE, BY THE REINFORCEMENTS.

LET'S START BY SPITERI'S LETTER:

Taking care of stray dogs
by Dr Mario Spiteri

The stray dogs issue has many facets. I will explain without sensationalising.

In Malta there are several dog sanctuaries full to their maximum capacity. These dogs are very well cared for by dedicated volunteers and when dogs are adopted locally or from abroad vacancies arise and other dogs abandoned on the street can be taken in. The current resident dog population in these centres is around 500.

Those officially registered NGOs that run these sanctuaries rely heavily on public and government donations to be able to feed and care for these dogs. There are also some individuals who care for dogs privately and at times end up becoming a nuisance to neighbours as a result of the continuous barking of dogs. The official stray dog population is very difficult to calculate accurately because of their mobility but from observation studies I have carried out in various localities such as Maghtab, Bahar ic-Caghaq, Pembroke, Swieqi, Naxxar, Birguma and Salina a conservative estimate would be around 300.

Dogs born in the wild in areas where food is available, such as farms, are very self reliant in order to survive. Packs are formed to facilitate hunting often led by a dominant alpha male or female and the wild wolf instinct takes over. Abandoned dogs may end up being killed or else subjudicated in these packs. Dogs that are irresponsibly allowed by their owners to roam freely at night or those that come and leave as they please from open “sanctuaries” also form packs and they literally tear to pieces all the cats and sometimes even weaker pet dogs. While stray cats’ colonies, if properly controlled by neutering and well managed in suitable areas, can be no problem the same cannot be said for dogs. Contrary to what C. Micallef asserted (TMID 20 March) surely as decent animal lovers we are not expected to condone stray dogs and cats to eat “cockroaches, mice and rats and scavenge our refuse as sharks”!

The Department for Animal Welfare Promotion and Services was first established in February 2008. I now have a small team of dedicated staff and we follow up all public reports and together with the ALE Police we investigate all sorts of complaints related to animal cruelty also involving farm animals.

Unfortunately the typical time wasting complaints about “dog left on the roof or dog barking all night” are often a thinly veiled excuse to force a neighbour to get rid of the dog as a result of some spiteful action or other as we often discover that the dog in question is well fed and provided with shelter. As the old adage goes “love me love my dog” the converse is equally true for some of these complainants!

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. Some workplaces such as those in industrial areas such as Corradino, Marsa and Bulebel have adopted dogs. These are well cared for and fed by the staff and many of these dogs were neutered in our campaign. Incidents unfortunately do happen and we regularly investigate reports about ferocious dogs biting cyclists or joggers.

People who have a phobia of dogs because of some experience are difficult to convince and a dog approaching them on a trot with tail wagging is still perceived as aggressive. This year the neutering service will once again be offered and in fact a tender was issued this month for the attention of interested parties, such as private veterinary practices.

However real attacks do happen and when a police report is filed with a medical certificate of the injury sustained by the person we are compelled to act quickly and with the use of a dart gun the responsible dog is caught. Numerous complaints about dogs butchering cats alive are investigated regularly and if we truly believe in animal welfare and not just pay lip service to the cause, the stray dog population has to be kept under strict control.

If we simply just provide more space in sanctuaries we would be simply fooling ourselves since the source of stray dogs would still be intact and I am sure that if we have three times as many sanctuaries as there are now we would soon be having the same problems within months. If the expense of feeding the current resident dog population is high how can we cope with three times the number of dogs and more? These dogs need exercise and sufficient space is essential otherwise they would maul each other to death. Ms Catania (TMID, 19 March) is shocked by the truth. I have seen dogs literally eating each other at a makeshift sanctuary or shall I say death house in Sliema where a whole pack of dogs was crammed in the house to be saved from being put down! The photographs taken of some of these “dog lovers” havens are available for all those who want to see the atrocious conditions where bits and pieces of decomposing body parts from cats and dogs are evident.

The way forward was shown last year when e175,000 were made available to NGOs for Animal Welfare initiatives, such as upgrading of current facilities in sanctuaries. Joint ventures between NGOs and government are currently being studied so that the problem of stray dogs is better tackled.

Regarding the Ta’ Qali Animal After Care Centre the construction works will be finished in a few months’ time. The aim of this building is to provide immediate veterinary assistance to stray cats and dogs. This building will be one of the first of its kind in Malta where the design is such as to blend in nicely with the environment. For public information the exact whereabouts of the centre for those who frequent Ta’ Qali is just across the road from where the Sunday market is held. The public will also benefit by having a more accessible 24-hour emergency veterinary service for their pets and pet owners who are not able to provide aftercare to their recuperating pets will be able to avail themselves of the services at the Ta’ Qali Centre.

What remains is the urgent need for all NGOs working for the welfare of animals to form an effective coalition and pool in resources. Currently the Dogs’ Act is being discussed by the Animal Welfare Council and when the new legislation comes into force a wider and more comprehensive control of dogs would be possible covering diverse areas such as breeders, sanctuaries, boarding kennels and most importantly of all compulsory micro-chipping of all dogs. This would help curtail the abandoning of dogs since their owners would be easily traced and prosecuted. With proper enforcement of this legislation dog hoarding, which at times is extremely cruel, would become illegal and those sick people involved who sometimes even require psychiatric help would be barred from keeping dogs.

Accusations that animal welfare is not being tackled seriously are grossly unfair to say the least. If coming from misinformed sources one can only hope that in the future information will be sought first before resorting to blatant accusations of negligence and broken promises. Malicious sources have their own way of spreading lies, especially in the current situation where all can become “dog lovers” overnight and collect funds from the gullible public that thinks that the dogs would truly benefit from their donations. On my books these rank equally with those who organise dog fighting. Both are equally despicable since both make money thanks to the misery and cruelty suffered by their dogs! The media should insist on full financial accountability before wholeheartedly and very naively championing the cause of some individual or other purporting to take care of the dogs. Rumours spread like wild fire on the grape vine and yet no investigative journalist dares to delve deep into this matter!

Dr Mario Spiteri

ONCE AGAIN, I, THE ARMCHAIR CRITIC, ...

2009-03-31T10:12:00.001+02:00

HAD TO ANSWER:

Dr Spiteri’s reply on animal welfare.

That Dr Mario Spiteri is ‘not at all appalled’ by what I wrote in my article (TMID, 13 March), speaks volumes about how he is running ‘his’ department. I would have been, had I been in his shoes.
It is really ironic that Mario Spiteri chooses to call me ‘an armchair critic’ (TMID, 16 March, 2009). A veterinarian surgeon based in B’Kara, as well as Mr Freddie Fenech, along with an infinite number of friends and acquaintances can vouch for my stance in favour of animal welfare in Malta and in Gozo. At least, I ‘work’ among animals not because it is my job or because I am paid to do it, but because I really love animals and if Mario Spiteri still thinks that I am not ‘genuine’ and ‘true’, then, he is really at a loss as to what constitutes a true animal-lover.
I have no intention of wasting newspaper space and enter into personal tit-for-tats with Dr Spiteri – but it is my duty to criticise his words that he reputedly said and which were absolutely not ‘warped unnecessarily’ as he would have us believe. He said that unless those dogs are adopted, they would be put down. I don’t think there is anything to warp about such plain language, is there? Enough warping as it is.
Dr Spiteri has to recognise the immense responsibility he has. What he says about animals counts much more than what I or indeed any other Tom, Dick and Harry has to say about the same, for the simple reason that he happens to be the Director of Animal Welfare. It is for this reason that around eight people, all hailing from four different animal sanctuaries, contacted me to inform me of what he said, how he said it, and to show me their disgust.
Nor is it the first time that said sanctuaries were threatened that, unless they accepted stray dogs, these would be put down.
‘Tackling the stray dog situation is no easy task.’ I agree. So, what has been done and is being done to try and reduce the problem? Killing the dogs in question is no answer, unless said dogs are absolutely dangerous or ill.
True, dogs can become dangerous, especially if they unite in packs. Only yesterday, on the Italian news, I heard about a ten-year old child who was mauled to death by a savage pack of dogs. However, two points arise from this: firstly, as Dr Spiteri rightly says, ‘the villain in this scenario is none other than that irresponsible owner …’. What is therefore being done to have a proper Animal Welfare Act which would bring out of their hides these criminals who think nothing about abandoning their cat or dog out in the streets? Secondly, is it the animal’s fault if its basic instinct takes over completely in such situations?
‘New animal welfare initiatives’ have been mentioned. Perhaps Dr Spiteri can mention a few.
I do not understand what Dr Spiteri means by ‘personifying animals’. If he refers to the fact that many of us, animal-lovers do not want to harm animals IN ANY WAY, and give them as much dignity as is shown to the human being, then, yes, Dr Spiteri is free to call me, for one, ‘insane’, even if I do not agree with him – it is his opinion.
I am sorry to have to note that even in his letter, Spiteri does not come down to me as a real animal-lover. He is the one who should be ‘insane’ for animals! His role as Director of Animal Welfare requires of him to stand up for animals, come what may. He is their lawyer, their protector, their defender, their protégé. If he does not wear such a hat, who will?
But to take on that role, you have to be a true animal-lover yourself.
Concluding, animal awareness is a very tricky business, and a very sensitive one. Animal Welfare should be completely separate from any Government department, if it is to be run properly.

Franco Farrugia

OF COURSE, HE ANSWERED ...

2009-03-31T10:10:00.001+02:00

... WHY NOT? AND PLEASE NOTE THE TONE OR ARROGANCE, WHICH EXISTS WITH MOST OF OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHEN HONEST, LAW-ABIDING, TAX-PAYING CITIZENS CALL THEM TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THEMSELVES!

Stray dogs
by Dr Mario Spiteri

I am not at all appalled by what armchair critics like Franco Farrugia have to say (TMID, 13 March) regarding the current stray dog situation in sanctuaries.

After more than a year of direct involvement with animal sanctuaries and dealing with animal welfare issues in my new role as Director for Animal Welfare Promotion I can state the facts from first hand information.

I am sure many genuine people have often felt disappointed when they turn up at the gates of some properly run dog sanctuary to hand in an abandoned dog only to be told that the sanctuary is full! My public appeal to seriously consider adopting animals from sanctuaries (TMID, 11 March) which was warped unnecessarily by Franco Farrugia (TMID 13 March), was made precisely to ease the heavy burden on sanctuaries.

The villain in this scenario is none other than that irresponsible dog/cat owner that dumps out his/her former pet very unceremoniously. For some people pets are like clothing and once the fashion goes out they are discarded away.

Tackling the stray dog situation is no easy task. My department, consisting of a team of very dedicated officers, is literally mobbed with requests from the public regarding the cats’ and other pets’ mutilations brought about by packs of stray and often uncared for and (irresponsibly) owned dogs that run amok in numerous localities in Malta.

Recently, in Swatar area there were instances where joggers or bikers were attacked.

An over-population of stray dogs and cats can also have serious adverse public health affects.

As a long term measure the department last year embarked on a national stray dog/cat neutering programme.

More than 1,500 animals were neutered at a cost of e174,000 paid in full by the department.

All sanctuaries that are registered as NGOs benefited directly from this scheme since they were paid for providing the aftercare services to the neutered animals.

Ten animal welfare organisations that are duly registered as NGOs and as such have a statute and keep audited accounts of all donations received and the expenditure incurred benefited from more than e175,000 as financial assistance.

This was given by the government specifically to improve further the operation or to launch new animal welfare initiatives.

Mr Farrugia in all his wisdom considers all this as ‘hogwash’!

However, I am willing to offer him the opportunity to join our department for a couple of days and so he can experience the true situation and then can compile a full unbiased report for your readers.

There are pseudo-animal lovers who use animals literally for their benefit or financial gain. These prey upon the unwary public who are blackmailed into giving donations to relieve the misery of abandoned animals. There are others who go to the very extreme and personify animals to the point that it becomes ridiculous if not outright insane.

I have met dog hoarders who truly and madly will rather starve themselves than see their dogs without food.

At times these keep some 50 or even more dogs in very restricted space to the detriment of neighbours and given the opportunity they keep on ‘packing’ animals like sardines even in derelict buildings or government property.

In these very dismal conditions we have often witnessed sick dogs kept in horrific conditions that putting them to sleep would be the only decent and humane option left and yet their still ‘carers’ think they are saving. In some extreme situations these dogs end up mauling each other to death.

Regarding the Animal Aftercare Centre at Ta’ Qali contrary to Mr Farrugia’s disbelief, the building is near completion and in time will function as intended for the benefit of all animals needing assistance and true animal lovers’ peace of mind.

Dr Mario Spiteri

Director

Animal Welfare Promotion

and Services

Civil Abattoir

Marsa

YOU NOTICED THAT LAST SENTENCE?

2009-03-31T10:06:00.002+02:00

Well, then, read on - I answered this chief animal-welfare officer in this manner, through an article published by the same newspaper, dtd 13 03 09:

THE WELFARE OF DOGS.

I was appalled (but not very surprised) by your report on Public Property Eviction: Dogs removed from Floriana. I was much more appalled at the last statement by none other than the Director of Animal Welfare, Dr Mario Spiteri.
First of all, let me join the chorus of all those who are in agreement that Public Property should be just that: public, and nothing else. However, this same chorus is also in favour of justice – which means that ALL public property should be made public, or taken away from illegal private ownership. Hence, to simply take back this property from a particular section of the citizens in this country while at the same time you allow other citizens, hailing from other sections of our social strata, to continue living on land which was never theirs, is a gimmick which deserves the worst possible condemnation. It is an injustice which is taking place on behalf of the State!
I am also all out in favour of the Valletta/Floriana shelters or rooms or what-have-you from being used to ‘store’ animals!
But what is really obnoxious is the fact that the Director of Animal WELFARE, Dr Mario Spiteri, says, according to your newspaper, that: ‘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.’
I repeat, this is none other than a veterinarian surgeon, and not only that, but the Director of Animal Welfare who is threatening to have these healthy dogs – his words, not mine! – killed! Killed! There is no other way to describe this – let us not use euphemisms within the animal kingdom! Killing is just that: there is no such thing as ‘putting animals to sleep’ or ‘putting down’. It just means one thing: killing animals!
And the Director of Animal WELFARE – my keyboard hasn’t got its Caps stuck! – is threatening just that, and why, may I ask? Because ‘all animal sanctuaries are practically full’.
Of course the animal sanctuaries are full!!! Of course animal sanctuaries refuse to take in more animals! Who is helping these sanctuaries to keep on working, with their doors wide open?
Don’t come giving me that hogwash about what the Government is giving to these sanctuaries! Listen to what their respective administrators are saying: they have been practically coerced into accepting a few euros in order to improve their facilities, which were anyway nearly dropping to bits. And in the process, some of them had to give in to certain conditions and go against what they believed!
Or the planned Animal facilities at Ta’ Qali? I, for one, will believe that not only when I see it but when I see how it is being managed and is running!
But I digress. The Director of Animal WELFARE has the sacred duty to protect and to defend animals in general, but especially those animals in plight, in danger. And in my opinion – and I AM A TRUE ANIMAL-LOVER! – stray dogs and cats should take immediate priority because they are the worst off. So, instead of trying to find a suitable, temporary area where such dogs can be kept, the Director of Animal WELFARE threatens to kill these dogs if nobody adopts them. That’s tantamount to saying that these dogs’ fate has already been decided, for how in the world are these dogs – the number has not been given – going to be adopted at such short notice? Where are they being kept at the moment? Who is caring for them?
It is unjust that due to humans’ faults, animals are made to pay the consequences. Animals are always innocent victims, that face the brunt of some wise guy out to try and remedy matters.
Of course, it is the easiest way out – a shortcut! - for the senior government official in charge of animal welfare to kill stray animals: that way, he will pride himself in the belief that he has managed to free our streets from the unsightly presence of stray dogs! That is the extent of this official’s imagination in striving to give animals a decent life, here in Malta.
It is the Director of Animal WELFARE’s duty, not only as a veterinarian that he is, but also as Director! - to see that animals are well-kept and their dignity respected.
It is his duty to see that animals are protected.
It is not in his remit to kill animals!
Not only that, but he has the duty to sustain and encourage those of us who go out of our way to help animals in distress.
For, if the Director’s attitude is such as this, then, what hope have we, real animal-lovers, to see that things improve in animal-welfare in this country?

I sincerely hope that some Honourable lady or gentleman from the House is reading these words and brings up this matter in Parliament. We must not allow another atrocity to take place with regard to strays, in our country.
In the meantime, all those who are planning to adopt a pet and who have animal welfare REALLY at heart, may I humbly suggest that you refrain from spending good money on pedigrees – and instead, visit one of the very crowded sanctuaries we have: you will certainly find the dog of your dreams! And that dog will adore you forever for your kindness, while at the same time making space at the sanctuary for another stray! Please, do not look away!

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

2009-03-31T10:02:00.002+02:00

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.

Is-shana bdiet sew!

2008-06-24T05:49:00.003+02:00

Is-shana bdiet sew! Tista' thoss ix-xemx tahraq fuq il-qurriegha ta' rasek, tixwik wara ftit sekondi. Zgur li hadd ma jkun irid joqghod barra fuq it-tarmak jahraq nar, taht xi karozza,f'xis-saghtejn ta' wara nofsinhar.

Lanqas l-annimali. Il-klieb u l-qtates li m'huma ta' hadd, isibuha tassew difficli biex jghixu taht ix-xemx li kull ma jmur dejjem iktar qedha zzid fil-qawwa taghha.

Importanti, ghalhekk, li almenu noffru lil dawn l-imsejkna mezz kif ikunu jistghu jixorbu ilma frisk li jghinhom biex iberrdu lilhom infushom.

Kienet drawwa li mal-bieb ta' l-ghassa tal-pulizija tar-rahal, ikun hemm mejjilla tal-konkos jew tal-gebel mimlija bl-ilma, biex il-klieb ikunu jistghu jixorbu minna.

Tajjeb li forsi nistghu inhallu xi kontenitur barra, anke tal-plastik, mimli bl-ilma frisk kuljum. ... inkunu qedin nghinu hafna hafna lil dawn l-annimali li m'ghandhom l-ebda wens.

Nispicca billi nfakkar li mhux bizzejjed li jkollna annimal id-dar u niehdu hsiebu biex nuru li nhobbu lill-annimali ... l-imhabba taghna trid tmur lil hinn mill-erba' hitan ta' darna u nghinu lil dawk l-imsejkna li bla ma hu tort taghhom, qedin f'sitwazzjoni li jiggerew barra ghax m'ghandhomx familja li jghidu li hi taghhom.

Grazzi mill-qalb.

PS Niskuza ruhi ma' dawk li jhobbu l-Malti: ma kellix cans indur dan it-test u nirranga l-Malti sew. FF

Pets are family-members, too!

2008-06-23T20:24:00.000+02:00

A couple and their daughter were lucky to escape serious injury this evening following a fierce blaze at their home in Sta Venera.

Informed sources said that even as the fire spread the three had continued to fight it in an attempt to rescue some pets.

They eventually made it outside and were given assistance by rescuers from the Civil Protection Department and paramedics.

The sources said it appeared the fire had spread quickly. An eyewitness said he could see tongues of fire in the washroom.

The pets, however, also survived.
Neighbours were evacuated as a precaution during the fire-fighting operation.

EU considering steps on seal hunt

2008-03-27T11:42:00.003+01:00

From the BBC Website:

The European Union is considering taking measures against Canada over its annual seal hunt.
Spokeswoman Barbara Helfferich said the EU's Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas "is looking into the matter of the inhumane killing of seals".

The hunt starts later this week, off Canada's Atlantic coast.

One option for the EU would be a ban on seal imports, although there was no sign that this was under immediate consideration.

Belgium and the Netherlands have already taken this step, and the United States has banned Canadian seal products since 1972.

New rules

The EU barred the import of white pelts taken from baby seals in 1983, but a wider ban would have serious consequences for hunters and their communities, which rely heavily on the seal hunt.

This year there are new rules in place - such as making sure the animals are dead before they are skinned, as recommended by the EU in December - which are designed to appease concerns in Europe.

The authorities have set a limit for the catch of 275,000 seals, a rise from 270,000 last year.

Animal rights campaigners are putting increasing pressure on the EU to take tougher measures against the hunt, which they describe as cruel.

A British member of the European Parliament, Neil Parish, said: "As the culling season gets underway, the time has come for the commission to take action."

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas is preparing the text, which is to be presented "in the next few months", according to his spokeswoman.

Politics, and all that.

2008-02-16T18:42:00.002+01:00

In MALTA at the moment, we are in the middle of a General Election campaign, and all those who are familiar with Maltese ways, will understand that things come to a standstill, people wait with baited breath to see the outcome of this five-year opportunity for the people to show WHO they want to govern them for the next five years - yes, a very important democratic stage, one which, in years gone by, was not so freely exercised as it is nowadays.

Of course, we, animal lovers and people of good will who are genuinely interested in the welfare of animals, consider it important to see what the electoral manifesto of the main political parties have to say with regard to animals and their welfare. And I mention the main political parties because in my view, the minor 'parties' have nothing to give this time with regard to how this country should be governed.
There is one 'political-party-of-sorts' which I won't even deign to mention by name in this blog - heaven forbid if any Maltese man or woman would even contemplate of voting, as otherwise, we are in a much worse mess than we were years and years ago! Then, there is Alternattiva Demokratika which I personally find as terribly wanting, this time round, probably due to its desperate bid to garner votes from a disgruntled section of the population - myself included. AD, this time, is not impressing me one iota! So, it's up to the two main political parties to impress me.
And I ... am not so easily impressed. Like an elephant, I have a long memory.

So, as you may understand from the gist of my words today, I don't have much to say with regard to what the Parties have to give to animals and their wellbeing. Animal welfare barely appears in the manifesto of the Malta Labour Party, and I have no doubt at all that when tomorrow the Nationalist Party officially launch their political programme, there will be nothing in it that will appease me as an animal lover - oh, how I love that term.

Oh, I KNOW that there are people out there who write in favour of animals and their welfare, and who are hoping for a change in the Government, with the cry that animal welfare will improve in this country. I have my serious doubts - I rather think it is a question of personal political allegiances taking the 'sopravento' and making one feel that once one's own party is in Government, things will be all right for animals in Malta and Gozo. How wrong one can be!

Anyway, that's it from me to you all. There isn't much to chew from the newspapers either, since all correspondence pages are being taken up by political affairs or by the hunting and non-hunting lobbies. I, personally, would rather stay away from that subject, especially since both political affiliations have made it clear, through words and deed, that they're out to keep the status quo over hunting, particularly the MLP that never supports the Natonalist Government in anything, let alone in this matter. Look at the way both parties are acting with regard to hunting and the EU.

On a personal note ...

2008-02-16T18:39:00.002+01:00

... I would like to apologise to all those who may have noticed that my blog has not been updated for a short while. The thing is that I have been busy working abroad as well as in Malta, and so, it's not easy to keep one's blog updated without having lots of time on one's hands. So, apologies.

A tribute to MR KURT CIAPPARA, Noah's Ark, Mellieha. From The Times.

2008-01-10T21:19:00.000+01:00

Anna Micallef Babola, Sliema.
I would like to thank Kurt Ciappara from Noah's Ark Sanctuary for his great help with my new dog Xarik.

I recently adopted the dog from the sanctuary in Mellieha. To my great surprise my little cocktail Chiwawa turned out to be a real tiger... I was no longer allowed on my sofa as she would be stretching there comfortably and would groan and aggressively warn me and my son off if we so much as approached the comfortable settee. She made it her territory and none of us was allowed to get close.

I ended up sitting on the carpet when we have two huge sofas...

On the contrary, I was more than welcome in the kitchen and she would wag her tail happily every time I opened the fridge. She would welcome me on my arrival from work and play cheerfully with the tennis ball when my son threw it to her.

Xarik is a very clever dog. She was found in Mellieha after being hit by a car and Mr Ciappara (age 20) from Noah's Ark rescued her. So here I was together with my son stuck on the carpet while my new arrival was stretched out comfortably on my settee... I decided to call Mr Ciappara to ask his advice. He asked me if I would like to return the dog to the sanctuary.

I refused and he immediately suggested that he should come by and assess the situation. It was January 1 so he must have been tired from the previous night's celebrations. Yet the dog's happiness was far more important for him than his own tiredness.

He arrived at 6 p.m. sharp and stayed at my place for four hours assessing what could be wrong with my mini-tiger. He got bitten when he decided to sit on the sofa; he got bitten when he decided to take Xarik's ball. His hands were bleeding yet he did not lose his temper.

Slowly he established who the real boss is. Xarik obediently left the sofa and went to her soft carpet. The youngster is fully trained to read a dog's body language and can easily help out in strange situations like the one I found myself in with my dog.

I know he is a real dog lover. Mr Ciappara - whatever your dreams are, with your dedication they will all come true! Dogs are so lucky to have you.

An honest testimonial of animals in circuses! - P John Darmanin, Cospicua, THE TIMES.

2008-01-08T15:46:00.001+01:00

With reference to Shane Johnson's letter in The Times (January 1), I too used to believe that there was nothing wrong with animals performing in circuses. But one late evening many years ago, I happened to stop by the tents of a circus in Gzira and tried to sneak a glimpse of the animals. I had not walked far before I saw something that I had not expected. Under one of the tents there were some elephants, chained by the foot to a peg in the ground and while some attendant emptied a sack-full of cabbages for them to eat, the nearest elephant tried to go for him in vociferous anger. The attendant then grabbed a hay fork threatening a blow at the animal's trunk. I returned to the car very perplexed. What I had seen was to change my view about circus animals.

I would believe that no coercion is used when, inside the cage with a pack of lions or tigers, I see the tamer without any sticks or whips. That will be the day, because no lion or tiger will fear any bare handed human and for that reason these kings of the jungle will have to be respected. It must be the fear of the stick and the whip, gained from unpleasant past experience that makes them obey a physically inferior animal.

While I believe that some domestic animals like dogs, cats, horses etc. can be trained without aggression to perform mild and cute circus acts, I will never believe it can be the same with the wild cats. Confinement of the big cats in small cages, and chaining of elephants are forms of suffering that are often overlooked. Born to be free, these animals suffer from delusion, frustration, fear, boredom, exclusion and everything that makes them what they really are - kings of the jungle. In the circus their nature is subdued to a caricature. There is no escaping the fact that caging wild cats and conditioning them to perform tricks for selfish human pleasure is just another cruelty.

How helplessly naïve it is to rally theological misconceptions to support an assertion for human rights over animals. Lions are obligate carnivores and have no other option but to hunt when desperately hungry; it is not a question of rights. Man is the world's greatest predator remorselessly killing billions of animals annually, not to survive but to satisfy his tastes, to feast, in celebration and in sport. If Mr Johnson's God gives him licence to kill animals for food then his is not my God. My God tolerates me eating meat if circumstances demand it, as He offered me kinder and healthier nutritional options. To refrain from eating meat is to acknowledge God as the only Lord of Creation.

Our place at the head of creation imposes on us obligations not rights. Our obligations are to care for all creation in His likeness not to exploit it. Asserting the right to kill innocent creatures, a person would reflect an image of a God the ruthless hunter-predator. There is more nobleness in humanity when it embraces all creatures within its circle of compassion because like us they are infused with the breath of life. Like us they have one special desire - a desire to simply live.

When we recognise the importance of animals around us!

2008-01-05T17:46:00.000+01:00

New from Japan:
A Japanese company is offering its employees a monthly "pet allowance" to help with the upkeep of their cats and dogs.
Kyoritsu Seiyaku, which makes animal medicines, said pets were a lifelong obligation for their owners.

Kyoritsu Seiyaku is offering its pet-owning employees about $9 (£4.70) per month, and hopes the system will spread to other Japanese firms.

The company does not, however, offer paid leave when employees' pets die.

"For now, we have introduced only the allowances, but we want to consider the condolence holiday system in future," a spokeswoman for Kyoritsu Seiyaku told Reuters news agency.

Employees may be keen to take advantage of this in the future.

The Japan Pet Food Manufacturers' Association estimates that the country's cat and dog population of nearly 18 million animals is ageing rapidly, after a boom in ownership in the early 1990s.

Analysts say that many Japanese families are deciding to put off having children, and buy pets instead.

Many older people are living alone and keep pets as companions.

"Everyone has the right to own a pet, but they also have the obligation to raise the pet for its whole life," Kyoritsu Seiyaku said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

MY COMMENTS: Well, I would not use the verb 'own' in this context. That verb would be better used to mean 'take care of', 'look after'. Speaking from my personal experience, of course. I think it is very healthy for people to have animals around them and to live together with animals. There is no harm in this. On the contrary, people certainly benefit from having animals in their households - something we call pet therapy. I think that local authorities, including companies and businesses everwhere, should consider encouraging their employees not only to take daily exercise but also to keep pets in their households. In that manner, employees go to work in a fresher frame of mind and be able to work and concentrate much more.
It is interesting to note that the Japanese company in question is also considering leave in case of pet bereavement. This is something which is lacking so much in our so-called civilised society of the West.
Then, let us go one step further and concentrate about Malta, where we don't even have decent means of disposing of the mortal remains of our pets, or other animals. Well, the Government would tell you, there is always the local BICCERIJA! Just go and dump the animal carcass in a corner of the BICCERIJA and the people working there would see to it at the end of the day! As if that is a decent enough ending/goodbye to that animal whom you loved and cherished for so many years within the comfort of your own home!!!!!!! At least, we should have a decent place, a proper field, organised enough to allow pet-'owners' to 'dispose' of their loved animals 'a quattro zampe' in a decent manner. Or, much better still, how about a decent (I keep repeating this word!), proper crematorium for animals?

2008 starts ... in a bad way. But night is always followed by day!

2008-01-01T10:39:00.000+01:00

THE TIMES: Tuesday, 1st January 2008

Abandoned dog
Christine Bonnici, San Gwann.

I am utterly disgusted at the person who decided to tie a black dog to a pole in San Gwann and leave him stranded in the wet weather last Saturday.

I happened to be driving past, and I must say I was totally shocked.

The dog was shaking, soaked and scared. I stopped and bought him some food straight away.

I would like to thank the policewoman on duty at the St Julians police station who helped by making calls to the SPCA but unfortunately there was no reply.

I already own a dog and I cannot take in more due to space restrictions, but that is no excuse to leave a dog in the street especially in this weather.

A kind couple stopped and told me that they had already seen this dog tied up in the rain, and they weren't sure if someone owned it or if it had been brutally abandoned.

After I explained the situation they decided to offer a home to this beautiful dog. I would like to thank them again for their kindness.

As for the person or persons who abandoned the dog and left him homeless in this cold and wet weather, I wonder if he/she can have peace within themselves?

I wish the dog and his new owners a happy New Year in a loving home.

HAPPY 2008, ALL ANIMALS OUT THERE! MAY YOUR CREATOR AND ST FRANCIS WATCH OVER YOU ALL!

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

2007-12-21T19:00:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-12-20T05:17:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-12-17T17:54:00.000+01:00

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?

2007-12-16T10:55:00.000+01:00

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?

2007-12-13T18:42:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-12-08T16:08:00.001+01:00

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})

2007-12-08T10:31:00.000+01:00

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!

2007-12-01T15:47:00.001+01:00

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!

2007-12-01T12:24:00.000+01:00

An e-mail with a difference.

2007-11-24T21:28:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-11-24T18:24:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-11-20T17:45:00.000+01:00

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 ...

2007-11-19T16:51:00.000+01:00

... 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!

2007-11-18T19:33:00.000+01:00

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 ...

2007-11-18T09:26:00.001+01:00

... 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!

2007-11-17T14:25:00.000+01:00

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!

2007-11-13T20:21:00.000+01:00

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!

2007-11-13T17:37:00.000+01:00

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!

2007-11-11T09:56:00.000+01:00

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!!!!!!

2007-11-10T23:38:00.000+01:00

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?

2007-11-09T14:08:00.000+01:00

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!

2007-11-01T17:59:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-10-26T16:57:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-10-21T17:12:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-10-20T19:11:00.000+02:00

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!

2007-10-18T18:51:00.000+02:00

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!

2007-10-17T19:33:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-10-17T19:31:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-10-16T06:29:00.000+02:00

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 ...

2007-10-13T15:59:00.000+02:00

... 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?

2007-10-12T18:53:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-10-12T14:54:00.000+02:00

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??????

2007-10-12T14:47:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-10-12T14:36:00.000+02:00

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!

2007-10-09T20:53:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-10-08T15:19:00.000+02:00

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!

2007-10-02T13:45:00.000+02:00

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.

2007-09-30T16:57:00.000+02:00

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!

Negative criticism from abroad.

2007-09-27T21:14:00.000+02:00

A LETTER IN THIS WEEK'S MALTA TODAY:

Animal abuse? No thank you
I am the chairperson of a ladies’ group having 120 members. We save our money and annually take an out-of-States vacation. We were considering your beautiful country until I read about the abuse suffered by your animals: dogs, cats, birds, etc. We voted and agreed this was not acceptable to us. We have also started a campaign to teach others of these abuses. We will continue teaching others about these abuses until we are satisfied that you have changed your policies.
Jamey MendenhallUnited States

COMMENT: My initial reaction to such a letter is: how true, how right, serves us right! Well done! In Malta, we have such a poor standard of animal awareness and animal rights. Such a situation is over-powering on such a small island as ours: NINTNU BL-INTIENA TA' NUQQAS TA' ĦARSIEN TA' L-ANNIMALI!!!!!

Point made, I hope.

BUT.................

BUT .....

To state that you will boycott our country because there is poor animal respect is not only being STUPID AND IDIOTIC, but also NONSENSICAL AND DISGUSTINGLY UNJUST.

As if animal abuse is rife only in our country! As if animal abuse is not carried out, WITH the blessings of the national administrations, in other countries!!!!

So, with the same logic, don't go to SPAIN, where there is sooooooo much animal respect when it comes to bullfights, bull runs, .... need I mention more?

So, don't go to the UNITED KINGDOM, where there is soooooooooo much animal respect with it comes to fox hunts, rearing animals in captivity for their coats, etc ....

So, don't go anywhere in CANADA, where there is, indeeeeeeed, sooooooooooo much animal respect when it comes to the cruel, atrocious way of murdering seals, and seal puppies, again for their coats.

So, don't go anywhere AT ALL, in the world, because animal cruelty is rampant everywhere around the globe, Malta included ... but ALSO Malta, yes, because Malta is inhabited by human beings and yes, wherever there are human beings, generally, you also find cruelty of all sorts - to animals and to honest, law-abiding and innocent human beings alike.

As a conclusion, I wonder if this Jamie Mendenhall actually wears anything that ever came from animal pelt! That would really give us an idea about how really animal-respecting she and her cronies are!

2007-09-26T17:37:00.000+02:00

THANK GOD FOR HIS CREATION.

OPEN DAY AT ISLAND SANCTUARY, TAS-SILG, LIMITS OF MARSAXLOKK.

SUNDAY, 7TH OCTOBER, FROM 9.00 AM.

THE ACTIVITY ENDS WITH MASS AT 4.30 PM.

EVERONE ATTENDING THE MASS IS INVITED TO BRING THEIR PETS.

A PERSONALISED TOKEN WILL BE GIVEN TO EACH PET.

ALL ANIMALS PRESENT WILL BE BLESSED.

Send us your pet's name by sms on 5061 1810 (each sms costs 2c) or email Glory@mashpromotions.com by not later than 5th October.

Animal awareness......... birds are also animals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-24T19:20:00.000+02:00

Maybe those few who have started reading my humble blog, may have wondered why I have refrained from hitting out at hunters and defending the plight that birds go through, while being on our islands.

Well, the reason was that I was trying to steer clear from the subject of hunting and trapping - an environmental plague for Malta and Gozo. I tried to concentrate on OTHER issues, you see.

But, how can you, when you see and read about the horrible things that are taking place around us?

A couple of days ago - it was Saturday evening - I was watching an Inspector Barnaby episode on LA 7, an Italian channel. And in this episode, a group of young hooligans were passing their time, at night, going around the wood with their four-wheel drive, shooting at anything that moved. And this man, known as The Green man - a stramb, we call him in Maltese, for he didn't have a roof over his head, he didn't live in a house like we do, instead, he preferred living surrounded by nature, in the wood. And this Green man turned up from the middle of nowhere and stopped these youngsters, telling them that it was evil to shoot simply for the love of killing creatures. He laid emphasis, using just a couple of sentences, to show the difference between killing for the fun of it and killing in order to get food to eat.

I remembered this when I read the following news item, this morning:

Ministry, MTA condemn 'senseless act' by Chris Galea, di-ve news
VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news) -- September 24, 2007 -- 1430CEST -- The Ministry for Tourism and Culture and the Malta Tourism Authority have strongly condemned the 'senseless act committed by irresponsible persons' at Nadur Tower in Dwejra over the weekend, when dead birds of prey were placed in an observation post used by birdwatchers. Whilst expressing their support to BirdLife's efforts to attract birdwatchers to Malta, the Ministry and the MTA noted that these efforts were yielding results as witnessed by the sell-out bird-watching camp held over the past days and the keen interest shown by tour operators specialising in bird-watching holidays to include Malta in their next brochures. "The placing of dead birds of prey in areas frequented by these bird watchers goes against our tourism offering, based on hospitality, heritage and diversity. This act will damage our prospects of developing this tourism niche and will generate unwanted negative publicity for Malta in our main source markets," the Ministry and the MTA said in a statement. "Tourism benefits us all and we must all support it through our actions. These few individuals with their wanton acts are doing the opposite," the statement went on. Whilst auguring that the Police find the co-operation from all quarters in their efforts to identify the culprits, the Ministry and the MTA concluded by reiterating that it is in the interest of all -- not least of the majority of hunters who observe our laws and regulations -- that the few who persist in breaking the law are brought to justice.

You see, my friends, ... these hunters - I wouldn't call them 'few', but then, I am not preparing myself to be elected yet again! - do not merely kill in order to stuff their big, fat mouths with the fowl that they shoot, as if that creature was predestined by God Himself to be eaten by that particular hunter; but now, they're taking pleasure in shooting beautiful birds and putting them in a place for all to see, to spite, as it were, the representatives of foreign interference that this country is being subjected to (sic!)!

Now if that isn't sick, what is? I ask you!

As that Green man said to the youths - by shooting for the sheer pleasure of it, as MOST OF the Maltese hunters are doing (unlike our Maltese politicians, I have guts and I have the courage to say things as I see them!!!), we are attacking NATURE itself, and one day, sooner or later if not already, NATURE will be having its own back. And the reaction will kill us all, not just those damn shotgun-wielding bastards!

But what can we expect from such 'people'?

But, most of all, one should criticise their leader, FKNK Secretary Lino Farrugia, who some days ago gave a press conference in which he used words such as 'foreign interference', 'persona non grata', etc....

What does this man expect? Does he expect that Malta should close its doors to foreigners? Especially now that we are, thankfully, members of the EU?

Or, does he expect people not to take a stand against those hunters who think that they own the whole of Malta, and forbid people from walking along the countryside as they please?

Let's turn to politics. Heaven forbid is any one of the bigger Parties should succumb and promise hunters the earth, in order to garner more votes. Heaven forbid. We are already in a bad way, with the stand this present Administration has taken. To turn the clock back would mean to deny us, the real 'innocent citizens' of these islands, from enjoying what is, by right, ours.

It is a mystery to me how it is that there is so much land that belongs to private individuals. I do not own such land. How come did this land fall into fellow citizens' hands? When was such land bought? How was it bought? What documentation do these people have to show, to prove that that land is theirs? Just by wielding a gun towards me will not stop me from walking along common pathways in our limited countryside.

How can the present administration speak about 'self-regulation' with such 'people'? They hardly know what the word means. All they know is how to spend time shooting away at anything that moves, rather than being busy earning their livelihood. Malta is a small country - and we hear of various works grinding to a halt because the workers unilaterally take time off to go hunting ... or trapping, for that matter.

This 'man' believes that the country should be enjoyed by locals. Hmm..... by 'locals', does he mean 'hunters and trappers' or all the peace-loving Maltese people? Don't bother to answer: the truth is there for all to see.

Well, things have to change, in Malta and Gozo. We simply cannot continue taking from Nature that which is not ours! Migratory or other kinds of birds are mine as much as they are Lino Farrugia and his ilk. And if I say that I want those birds to remain alive, I have as much right, being an 'innocent citizen', as my hunter who lives next door!

A Post Scriptum: The Director of BirdLife Malta should be replaced by a Maltese citizen. In that manner, Mr Tolga Temuge, the present Director, will be thanked for his interest and hard work and will no longer be the aim of representatives of our local stupidity, ignorance and closemindedness.

CD DEDICATED TO ANIMAL RIGHTS.

2007-09-23T10:19:00.000+02:00

From a Correspondent in THE SUNDAY TIMES:

Rock for a purpose
Mr Robert Callus, Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh - Green Youth, Mosta.

Alternattiva Demokratika Zghazagh would like to congratulate the punk rock band Subculture on their first CD which they dedicated to animal rights.
Resist the Abuse was launched on August 31, dealing with different animal rights issues and human greed, in collaboration with Kenneth Cassar (www.animalrightsmalta.com), a long-time activist in this field.
Better still, all profits are to be used to produce a cartoons DVD which aim to educate children aged between four and ten on animal rights. Information could be found at www.animalrightsmalta.com.
Subculture have already released two other CDs in which the lyrics deal with contemporary social and political issues like war, human rights, racism, globalisation and animal rights.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY - there for all to see!

2007-09-23T10:11:00.000+02:00

A Sunday Times correspondent, writes:

Caged animals on market stall
Ms Debbie Calamatta, Mriehel.
We recently visited the Sunday market and came across a stall with animals in cages. It was real cruelty to animals in the scorching heat. There were all types of birds in cages (chickens, ducks, etc.) and kittens and puppies. I managed to take a couple of photos with my mobile phone.
One of them is of an exaggerated amount of birds in one cage stacked next to each other and the other is of three puppies in a small cage and another two cages with kittens in it.
This is unacceptable.

COMMENT: AND I REPEAT: INDEED, YES, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. Through this blog, I have already condemned the selling of animals for financial profit - animals are free spirits and we should not, must not, use them for financial profit. More about this later, folks.

TOMASINA CAT SANCTUARY, THIS TIME - The Sunday Times.

2007-09-23T10:08:00.000+02:00

Tomasina Cat Sanctuary
Ms Stella Chetcuti, Marsa.
Thanks to Tomasina Cat Sanctuary and its dedicated volunteers, two 'stray' cats which were probably thrown out into the streets at Marsa, (as one young male was found to be already neutered and a female ginger tabby was first seen on our street wearing a blue flea collar and very pregnant), have been adopted.
They were noticed by a volunteer, Mrs Frida of Fgura, when she came to collect some magazines for the sanctuary's fund-raising. She made it a point to call us back and tell us that she was coming to take these poor cats to get them neutered and maybe adopted.
She kept her word. Not only did she take them to a vet to be examined and neutered but she also called us back to tell us that both cats have been adopted by caring owners. One is going all the way to Germany!

COMMENT: I am very glad to have the opportunity to 'introduce' to my readers YET ANOTHER animal sanctuary. This is Sunday morning ... more about this later. Watch this space! FF

Animal shows are not among the list of animal-friendly activities!!!

2007-09-22T14:56:00.000+02:00

Cat shows, dog shows, the lot. They are not animal-friendly activities, in my opinion. I would nevr take my cats to a show - it would prove too stressful for them. Imagine them, locked up in decorated, stupid cages, next to other, equally-imprisoned stressed-out cats that they have never met before! Imagine being suddenly introduced to all those strange smells, strange noises, strange people, poking their ugly heads almost inside the cages!
Do we really know what we are doing when we organise such shows?
Yes ... go on! Go visit these shows and enjoy yourselves. That really SHOWS how much we care for our pets. Pete-lovers indeed! We don't even know what that word means!!!! FF

The show will consist of three categories. Category A shall consist of Pure Breed Kittens over three months. Category B consists of Pure Breed Adults over 11 months and all the Domestics over three months shall contest in Category C. Trophies will be awarded to the best three places in both Categories A and B. The Domestics in Category C will be awarded with two trophies. There is also a special trophy for the public's choice of best decorated cage and last but not least the trophy that all the exhibitors await, the Best Overall. This is won by the public’s most voted cat at the show be it a Pure Breed or Domestic cat. All the visitors to the show have the chance to win one of many hourly prizes.The main sponsor of the Cat Show is Gourmet Pearl. The Malta Feline Guardians Club would like to take this opportunity to thank Gourmet Pearl for showing their trust in the club by once again sponsoring one of our Cat Shows. Television presenter and cat enthusiast Moira Delia (NOW THAT'S STRANGE!) shall be representing the main sponsor Gourmet Pearl and shall also be awarding a trophy to her most admired feline.The MFGC although a relatively new club, is rapidly gaining popularity with cat lovers (FF: pooooh!!!!) . All the cats shown are carefully maintained and are very well taken care of both in grooming and more so in health. (FF: But how can you say that and remain neutral-faced! These cats go through hours and hours of stress!!!! And we talk about health! Double -poooooh!)

Moira to present programme on animals

2007-09-22T14:23:00.000+02:00

Moira Delia (FF: well known for her love for animals and for her abhorration for all forms of animal cruelty - she makes no secret of this!) is currently producing and presenting the first ever programme shown on national television to go into detail on everything that has to do with animals' welfare. The programme 's main aim is to trigger more respect and appreciation towards all creatures.This half an hour programme will be full of information about pet animals, strays, and animals in the wild. It will be full of exclusive footage explaining particular cases where animals were involved, which we will investigate. Another popular feature will be experiences w(h)ere animals assist humans. All this will besides more interesting information and many, many more stories. The programme will also feature short 5-minute documentaries about the wild, showing the marvels of every animal's kingdom. Simple guides to homing a pet such as medications, training needed, facts and myths will be shown and in detail explained. Local and international NGO's, such as Greenpeace, Nature trust, Island Sanctuary and CAT Society will also feature in the programme. Thus television viewers will know more about these groups, their work and their achievements. We will definitely promote more fund raising activities which help stray animals and sanctuaries. All programmes will conclude with a short news bulletin related to the subject tackled. The programme will be aired on TVM every Tuesday at 5.30pm. If you would like to be part of our programme phone on mob. 9942-2829 or 7940-7051 or send an e-mail on mamamoira@hotmail.com or claire@zoo.com.mt for more information.

COMMENT: This looks like a very promising programme, particularly since Ms Delia is in charge of it. I suggest that you all tune in to this programme every Tuesday at 5.30 pm - not a very good time, for some. Probably, PBS are too busy ruining the viewing schedule of all those interested in local tv viewing to bother realising that this could be such a wonderful programme. Well, what can I say? I will certainly have it video-recorded and will watch it all!

Smuggling of exotic animals ... using his false leg!

2007-09-22T11:00:00.000+02:00

Man 'steals iguanas in fake leg'. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7007942.stm)

This iguana, and the other three found, will now be re-housedA Californian man has been charged with using his false leg to smuggle three endangered iguanas from a nature reserve in Fiji to the United States.
Prosecutors say Jereme James stole the banded iguanas while on a visit to the South Pacific island in 2002.
He is alleged to have constructed a special compartment inside his prosthetic limb to move the reptiles.
Officials began investigating Mr James after receiving a tip off that he was in possession of several of the beasts.
The Fiji Island Banded Iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus), noted for its bright green skin, is threatened with extinction and protected under an international treaty regulating trade in endangered species.
Mr James could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

COMMENT: NOW THAT'S WHAT I REALLY CALL A SOUND COURT SENTENCE: UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED. ALLOW ME TO SAY: WOW! COULD YOU IMAGINE IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAD TO HAPPEN IN MALTA? COULD YOU IMAGINE THE 'TMELLISA FUQ IL-PALA TA' L-ID' BY OUR COURTS, ALSO BECAUSE OF OUR FEEBLE LEGISLATION IN WHAT CONCERNS ANIMALS? FF

ISLAND SANCTUARY letter in The Times, 21 September, 2007.

2007-09-21T09:56:00.000+02:00

Island Sanctuary
Sylvia Zammit, The Island Sanctuary Association, Marsaxlokk.

I refer to the article 160 Dogs "May Be Put To Sleep" (September 18).
In actual fact, this was not sent by any of our officials, though it was partly based on the press release we issued on August 29. The full text of the press release was as follows:
"The Island Sanctuary Association has been in operation for the last 20 years taking in its care stray and abandoned dogs. We have been complaining of a lack of volunteers for the past three years, but our appeals have fallen on deaf ears. We have now reached a point where we can no longer operate in this manner.
There are not enough volunteers to cover the whole week. Unless the situation is remedied, we have no choice but to close down the sanctuary."
Putting our dogs to sleep was never an option for us, even if no volunteers had come forward. As it is, though, we have been encouraged by the support of many animal lovers who contacted us.
We have just launched the Island Sanctuary Calendar for 2008 to help us raise the funds we need.
The Island Sanctuary can be contacted on 2165 9895 or 7901 8901 or on email info@islandsanctuary.com.mt.

MY COMMENT: ISLAND SANCTUARY is another animal shelter which is going through hard times, basically due to lack of volunteers. You see, Island Sanctuary has one 'problem': it does not kill the animals that it takes under its wings. It keeps them there for years, and years, and only puts a dog to sleep when it is found that that dog simply cannot continue living a decent, painless life.

Dear readers, that is the basic difference between PUTTING TO SLEEP and KILLING. All those who work with sanctuaries and shelters, SPCA Floriana included, would do well to learn it.

So, when a shelter such as I.S. does not put animals to sleep, the place tends to get crowded. This, in itself, brings various problems, such as lack of hygiene, lack of resources as well as food - it has been known that volunteers themselves, sometimes, bring or buy food for the dogs, in order not to see them go hungry! - and lack of space. How does one bring a balance to this? I don't know. But certainly, KILLING the animals for lack of space is not the answer.

Since I.S. REALLY practises a no-kill policy, it is facing harship regarding volunteers. So, one should be mindful of this urgent plea of I.S. and perhaps use that phone ... and call!

My sincere best wishes to Island Sanctuary in their quest to attract and inspire more volunteers. FF

Funny Animals

2007-09-20T21:44:00.001+02:00

Keep up the humour!!!! Enjoy these clips!

YAY! Funny Animal Videos!

2007-09-20T21:35:00.001+02:00

2007-09-20T20:23:00.000+02:00

Watch this stuff, but be careful: some of the clips are really funny, ONLY because they are natural behaviourisms of our domestic animals and even those which are not domestic (the penguin!!!). Other clips are not so funny, simply because I am sure that there's man's hand in it - the cat on the ceiling fan, for one, and the smoking chimp. Anyway, enjoy most of them. :-)

Crazy Animals

2007-09-20T20:21:00.001+02:00

From correspondence in THE TIMES, 20th Septembmer 2007:

2007-09-20T14:49:00.000+02:00

Save the dogs

Mandy Micallef, Marsascala.

As a volunteer and the organiser of the recent Association for Abandoned Animals' charity event, I am extremely disappointed with members of the public who knew about the event but didn't bother to turn up. First, to support the singers and mainly to support those poor dogs who have been abandoned by the people on this island!
All the sanctuaries, run by volunteers, are in desperate need of good caring people to adopt a dog or a cat. We make time to go and help in any way we can. I hear time and time again, "I'm too busy, I don't have time". Well to me that's just an excuse as people make time to do the things they really want to do. However those who do want to help can donate just 50c towards a dog in desperate need of a good, loving home. One may text on 5061 6050 for a 50c donation or 5061 7350 for a Lm1 donation. (FF'S BOLD!)
We don't see homeless children on our streets so why do we see animals all alone, hungry, scared and in need of some tender loving care and shelter? We do nothing and just drive or walk on by...
Do something good today and help the animals that we live with. Alone, we can do little but together we can do a lot.

FURTHER COMMENTS ARE SUPERFLUOUS: I HAVE THE GREATEST ADMIRATION FOR MR FREDDIE FENECH, WHO HAS DEDICATED MUCH OF HIS LIFE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE DESTINY AND THE FATE OF MANY STRAY DOGS ROAMING OUR STREETS. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO LACK OF TIME AND VOLUNTEERS, FREDDIE LACKS THE ORGANISATION SKILLS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE MAKE 'HIS' DOG SHELTER ONE OF THE BEST IN THE ISLANDS.

BELIEVE ME, THE 50 CENT THAT YOU COULD CHANNEL TO THE DOG SHELTER THAT HE MANAGES, IS 50 CENTS WELL SPENT.

WHY NOT START TODAY? OR BETTER STILL, GO TO YOUR FAVOURITE SUPERMARKET, BUY SOME LIRI'S WORTH OF CANNED DOG FOOD AND TAKE IT OVER TO HIM AT LUQA.

I HOPE THIS MESSAGE REACHES THE RIGHT EARS. THESE ANIMALS NEED OUR HELP. FREDDIE CANNOT GO IT ALONE! FF

MILES APART appeared in THE MALTA INDEPENDENT today.

2007-09-20T14:26:00.000+02:00

The following letter appeared in today's edition of the newspaper:

Miles apart
by Franco Farrugia
I am pleased that at least, there has been a sort of response to my letter regarding openness of SPCA’s policies – or non-policies, for that matter. However, I did expect the president of SPCA Malta, Mrs Cassar Torreggiani, to write in and clarify SPCA Floriana’s policy to us, the rest of the misguided, “naïve” mortals who spend our time working with animals in an apparently useless manner.Mr Antoine Vella in his letter How the SPCA works (TMID, 13 September) is wrong to try to bring politics into the fray. I have previously stated that this has nothing to do with politics – it has to do with animal awareness and animal well being. If, like Mr Vella, one cannot make out the difference between a partisan political party club and an animal shelter, then I am afraid that one’s place is not among animal lovers and volunteers. If anyone working in these arenas is tempted to bring in the colours blue and red into the arguments that crop up, then those people who brag that they are helping animals will be doing them the worst disservice. Animal awareness and animal well being need the cooperation of all, irrespective of what their colour is.Back to Mr Vella’s equally “pompous” letter. SPCA has suffered damage and will certainly continue suffering damage unless: • it comes out clean about its so-called no-kill policy; and • it assures the country that it is following an honest, proven, no-kill policy.Perhaps Mr Vella, in his wisdom and loyalty to SPCA – by the way, my loyalty is to the animals, and not to any organisation or body! – would be condescending enough to refer us to the documents regarding the policies of SPCA Floriana. To my knowledge as an outsider of SPCA, previous annual general meetings were overshadowed by petty, ridiculous power manipulations within SPCA to throw out this and that person from the committee. Finally, Mr Vella, and indeed Mrs Cassar Torreggiani in previous letters, appear to ignore the fact that there is much, much work being done in favour of animals outside the precincts of SPCA Floriana. And, may I add, it is fortunate for the animals that things are this way.An SPCA Malta should act as a “mother” of all other animal sanctuaries: it should lead by example, collaborate with all animal lovers and all those working out there in the streets, avenues, fields, even traffic islands, to keep cats and dogs alive and well. It would be a point of reference to us all, who work with animals, and teach us how to do more for them. It would have excellent relations with all the other animal sanctuaries on our islands, and be a meeting point for all the volunteers working in them. It should be a voice crying out in the wilderness that is Malta, with regard to animal welfare!Unlike what Mr Vella thinks, SPCA Floriana has no right to run “its own affairs”. On the contrary, it has the duty to come out clean and explain to the Maltese people about its killing policy. Such as: how many animals are being killed every day? How are animals chosen to be killed? Who – name and surname, please – decides which animal lives and which animal dies? And many, many other questions that need to be asked. Of course, I may be wrong! I hope that I am wrong. I sincerely hope that there is no such policy taking place at SPCA Floriana. I also hope that the utmost care and responsibility is taken when it comes to killing a dog! For these reasons and for others, I will not be party to this animal slaying that goes on at Floriana, and I will not “contribute anything to the association”. I therefore decline Mr Vella’s offer to work side by side with him at SPCA. We are miles apart.

COMMENT: My friends, let's brace ourselves for an onslaught. Malta is a very small place, and it has been reported to me that my name is MUD at SPCA Floriana. SPCA is also in contact with government agencies and ministries to enter into the debate and lambast me. Obviously, attacking SPCA means attacking the establishment. The time has come, perhaps, for SPCA to update itself in its way that it works as well as the methods it uses in PR. Gone are the days when an established shelter such as SPCA Floriana only 'needs' the people for fund-raising activities. FF

Il-kummerċ ta' l-annimali - speċjalment f'pajjiżna.

2007-09-18T20:26:00.000+02:00

Non-Maltese readers of this humble blog will forgive me for expressing myself in my Maltese language, but I feel I simply MUST use my mother-language in a blog which 'belongs' to a Maltese citizen as well as a blog which centres around the experiences of animal awareness IN MALTA and GOZO. So, please do forgive me.

Illejla, nixtieq naqsam miegħek, għażiż ħabib tiegħi li qed taqra din il-kitba, ftit ħsibijiet - u se nkun qasir biex ma ndejjaqx nies - dwar il-kummerċ ta' l-annimali, speċjalment f'pajjiżna.

Sejjaħli li trid, għid li jien ESTREMIST - forsi minnu li jien hekk! - imma f'ġieħ dawk kollha li huma fil-bżonn, wieħed hekk irid ikun. F'Malta, sa' fejn naf jien, m'hawn l-ebda awtorita' li tieħu fil-kunsiderazzjoni tagħha l-mod kif ċerti annimali jaslu Malta minn barra. Mhux hekk biss, imma qas hemm awtorita' li tindaħal fuq xi prezzijiet jintalbu għal dawn l-annimali; u l-anqas hemm awtorita' li tindaħal dwar il-MOD kif dawn l-annimali jkunu STORJATI - ħa nuża din il-kelma - sakemm jiġu biex jinbiegħu.

Ha nibda fuq it-traġitti. Jiġifieri, il-vjaġġ - ġeneralment bil-baħar - għal Malta. U diġa' qedin ninjuraw il-vjaġġi fuq l-art sakemm dawn il-povri annimali jkunu waslu fil-port, għat-triq tagħhom lejn Malta!!! It-traġitt fuq il-baħar huwa wieħed ta' sagrifiċċju kbir għall-annimal. Il-Bambin biss jaf, per eżempju, l-għasafar kemm ikunu magħfusin flimkien, iffullati f'gaġeġ żgħar, sakemm jaslu Malta! Nafu wkoll il-mod krudil kif għasafar kbar ikunu poġġuti ġo kaxex ta' l-injam mid-destinazzjoni tagħhom sakemm jaslu fil-ħanut fejn se jkunu esposti għall-bejgħ. Il-pappagall, per eżempju, jinfetħulu ġwenħajħ u jintrass, pappagall ma' ieħor, fil-kaxxa. Alla biss jaf kemm imutu annimali bħal dawn, f'dawn il-vjaġġi, sakemm jaslu fid-destinazzjoni. U mhux ta' b'xejn li l-prezz tal-ħajjin, jitla' m'għola s-smewwiet!

Xi ngħidu ghall-kummerċ ta' annimali hekk imsejħa eżotiċi. Dawn l-aħħar snin, saret moda li fid-dar ikollna 'għamara ħajja, għamara li tiċċaqlaq u li tieħu n-nifs'! Jiġifieri, dawk li huma għonja w ma jafux kif jaqbdu jonfqu flushom fuq id-dar, jaraw kif jagħmlu w jixtru dawn l-annimali eżotiċi biex jimlew id-dar bihom. Naraw kull tip ta' sriep, kull tip ta' għasfur, klieb ta' kull għamla w daqs, eċċ.... Saħansitra jkollna bżonn ta' annimali oħra biex nagħtuhom bħala ikel lill-pets eżotiċi tagħna. Mela, jekk għandna serp id-dar, ħa jkollna bżonn ..... ġrieden żgħar ħajjin, mhux hekk? U nieħdu gost, nagħmluha ta' missirijiet 'macho' quddiem uliedna, ġeneralment subien, inħarsu lejhom u nidhku!

Infakkrekx fil-ktieb ELEPHANT MAN li wara kien sar film kolossali?!

Mhux hekk biss: imma saħansitra niftaħru li għandna dan jew dak it-tip ta' kelp, u nuruħ fl-istudjo tat-tv, fuq il-Malti. U nifirħu. U niggustawh. U nimitawħ! Mela, mhux hekk!

Ftit, imma, nirrejaliżżaw li aħna bħala bnedmint m'għandna l-ebda dritt li nżommu dawn l-annimali 'l-bogħod mill-klima u mill-abitat naturali tagħhom.

B'liema dritt għandu l-bniedem jistagħna minn fuq povru annimal?

B'liema dritt għandu l-bniedem igawdi w jiddeverti minn fuq it-tbatija ta' annimal?

Punt ieħor huwa dwar kif dawn l-annimali jintrefgħu u jkunu storjati fil-ħwienet. Hawn xi ħadd li għandu kuxjenza li jinkwieta w jistaqsi kif il-ħwienet iżommu lil dawn l-annimali?

Jekk dawn l-annimali jitpoġġewx fix-xemx Maltija għa siegħat sħaħ mingħajr ilma?
Jekk dawn l-annimali jkollhomx ikel u xorb biżżejjed, kif ukoll - importanti din! - spazju biżżejjed huma w jistennew id-destin tagħhom fil-ħwienet, u dan speċjalment fil-jiem ta' għeluq tal-hanut, fi tmiem il-ġimgħa, jew fil-festi?
Jekk dawn l-annimali jkunux WISQ VIĊIN ta' annimali oħra li ma jinġiebux magħhom? Ngħidu aħna, qattus viċin xi serp?

Għandna din il-kuxjenza? Jew inħallu kollox għaddej mar-riħ? Jew, tagħmlu bħalma nagħmel jien, inħares naħa ohra - ! - għax ma nafx x'naqbad nagħmel!

Se nieqaf hawn għax ktibt iktar milli xtaqt.

Darb'ohra, nixtieq nitkellem dwar għaliex m'għandniex NIXTRU annimali pedigree: opinjoni tiegħi, mhux bilfors taqbel.

Jekk ma taqbilx, ... ikteb.

Pictures say it all (2)

2007-09-17T15:13:00.000+02:00

Another picture with an animal awareness message taken from the BBC News Website.

This time, the pictures is taken from an activity where an animal rights group Peta protest in front of the Australian embassy in Jakarta against Australia's alleged live export of sheep and cattle to the Middle East and South Asia.

This picture, too, has a message for us, the Maltese people.

Have we ever stopped to wonder how animals and living things are IMPORTED into the country? Have we ever stopped to wonder how birds are imported? In what state they arrive in Malta?

Are the authorities doing their utmost to ensure that animals are not hurt or in some way put in uncomfortable conditions when it comes to importation?

And what about the importation of exotic animals? WHY, first of all, should Malta import exotic animals? WHY should there be dogs which, we know, are alien to our hot climate? And yet, we DO see such dogs around us. Not only that, but we often see them on local television, to boot!

More about these atrocities, later.

Pictures say it all (1)

2007-09-17T15:07:00.000+02:00

This is a picture, taken from the BBC News website.
It's a pink poodle 'gracing' a model fashion show in Madrid last week.
I call it abuse of animals and nothing else.
First of all, speciesism is bad! We should keep animals for the love of companionship, NOT in order to let other people know how well off we are in order to buy and keep such a pedigree animals.
In the streets around us, there are stray cats and dogs dying, literally, to find a loving home. Why not adopt one of them, or go to some animal sanctuary / shelter, and adopt one from there?
Particularly in Malta, the authorities should consider heavily taxing breeders of pedigrees.
That way, we will also be heavily discouraging world activity in trying to experiment with new breeds, etc.... Look at the result that man has made out of 'inventing' new breeds: the rottweiller, for example. Then, when 'nature' turns against us, we put the fault on the product of our ill-conceived - even evil! - ideas.

From abroad: an example of a woman's love for her pet dog.

2007-09-17T14:47:00.000+02:00

This is an extract, taken from the BBC World News website ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6997235.stm ) and which narrates the story of a woman's dedication and courage in saving her pet dog from the grips of death, literally.

A Hong Kong woman kicked and punched a 4.5 metre (15 foot) Burmese python to wrest free her pet dog after the snake wrapped itself around it.
Catherine Leonard grappled with the python after it attacked Poppy during a walk in the Sai Kung country park.
Ms Leonard, 41, said she heard "a yelping that was like a scream".
She said she acted because she remembered a husky dog was crushed by a python last year in the same area despite the owner's attempt to save it.

Reactions to SPCA Letter - The Malta Independent, 17 Sept 2007.

2007-09-17T12:17:00.000+02:00

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

Letter published in THE MALTA INDEPENDENT.

2007-09-16T22:30:00.001+02:00

Answers expected from SPCA.

Through your newspaper, on 27 August last (Fallen animals and humane euthanasia), I asked SPCA to come out clean about its policy regarding the killing of stray animals. Among other things, I wrote:

‘SPCA will be discrediting itself if it were to refrain from pronouncing itself with regard to its ‘kill’ or ‘no-kill’ policy. I feel that the Maltese people have a right to know where this association stands in this matter.’

To date, Mrs Cassar Torreggiani, of SPCA Malta, has refrained from answering my question and clarifying as to what policy she and her staff practice at SPCA. This, in itself, is strange, seeing that, in her own words, ‘SPCA has nothing to hide’ (Come and See for yourself, TMI, 23rd August).

One will recall that Mrs Cassar Torreggiani dedicated a letter which was supposedly in answer to factual reports that dogs’ ‘carcasses’ were being dumped at WasteServ, by going into hyper defence-mode and claim that such journalism was ‘biased in editorship’, ‘slanted in its content’, and ‘incorrect in its conclusion’ (same letter)

It is not right for SPCA or for any other animal society, to KILL – there’s no other way of putting it – animals ‘because more than 80 per cent of the time, the home puts animals to sleep at the request of the owner’ (Mrs Cassar Torreggiani’s own words). Nor is it right to hide the truth from animal-lovers and animal-carers such as myself as to what circumstances lead to the killing of the remaining 20 per cent.

The very fact that I decided to put pen to paper and follow-up this issue, where other people gave up, shows that unlike them, I have no political agenda. I have one aim, that being the well-being of animals and the respect of animal rights in our country. Especially by people who should know better.

I will let a few more days pass, awaiting an explanation from SPCA in this regard – failing which, I think that I will be pardoned for changing tone of letter!

Introduction.

2007-09-16T20:29:00.000+02:00

So, here I am, starting my own space in blogworld.

For the sake of animals in Malta, of course. God knows that we need people to stimulate animal awareness in Malta. We, animal lovers and carers, have much to worry about. We need people to work in favour of our four-legged friends and to see that the environment around us is animal-friendly.

Why, you may well ask.

Well, for starters, this isn't just our planet, you know. We SHARE this planet with other non-human species.

Well, more will be said on the subject, I am sure. For now, I will stop here.