An e-mail with a difference.

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.

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.

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 ...

... 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!

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 ...

... 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!

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.