Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green Party yesterday lent a voice to animal rights and environmental non-governmental organisations for the drafting of the animal rights chapter of its electoral manifesto - an integral part of its ideology.
AD chairman Harry Vassallo proposed a collaboration between the various NGOs on a formal plan for animal welfare values, offering airtime on Capital Radio for a combined discussion programme.
The discussion on the draft policy paper at the Green Party headquarters in Valletta formed part of a public consultation process for the various chapters of the manifesto.
AD`s proposals, which reflected the public`s growing sensibility in favour of animal rights, were shared by the NGOs present at the discussion: Nature Trust, SOS Animals, International Animal Rescue, Moviment Graffiti, Azzjoni Pozittiva, GLUE the Vegetarian Society and World Animal Conscience.
The proposals included the encouragement of free-range farming, the improvement of enforcement and more severe penalties to protect animals from cruel practices such as dog-fighting.
Describing itself at the only political party that was "not held hostage" to the hunting lobby, AD maintained that hunting - another "cruel practice" - should not be regarded as a traditional hobby, or a sport.
AD was also the only political party that supported the abolition of hunting in spring in line with the Berne Convention and the EU Birds and Habitats Directive. It said laws protecting animals from cruelty should also apply to birds.
The Green Party opposed the trade, importation and breeding of exotic animals, which are protected by the CITES convention, and NGOs suggested the creation of adequate premises for these animals until court sentences were handed down.
AD promoted the protection of the rights of animals used for entertainment and experiments, as well as a national campaign for neutering.
It said domestic animals should be registered by means of a microchip, enabling the owners of lost, or abandoned animals to be traced. It also favoured the introduction of a passport system for animals and promoted the opening of a 24-hour veterinary clinic.
Animal welfare organisations should receive government funding and education should focus strongly on animals rights, it said.
SOS Animals pointed out that owners had the legal right to put down their animals even if other homes were found for them. It maintained that no more hunting licences should be issued for the time being.
World Animal Conscience promoted the formal involvement of animal welfare NGOs in drafting legislation, as well as independent inspections by animal `welfarists` to see whether the laws were being abided by. WAC was also opposed to animal cruelty that hid behind the guise of religion.
International Animal Rescue maintained that the enforcement of environment and animal cruelty laws was not just the prerogative of the 20-strong Administrative Law Enforcement unit, but of the entire police corps. District police have been known to pass on reports to the ALE in Malta even if an incident occurred in Gozo.
The proposals of the NGOs would be incorporated in the final version of the policy document.