Animal awareness

"Never again. I can't call animal emergency from mobile nor card phone. Had to go back home. Was charged Lm2 for a call. Went all the way to Zurrieq clinic, was charged Lm8 for a two-minute jab and garbage bag and had to dispose of carcass myself!"

The above is an sms sent to me by a friend on a Saturday afternoon, who came across a cat that had just been hit by a car, left to die a cruel, slow, painful and lonely death, still fully conscious in pouring rain. It is quite an ordeal for anyone, even animal lovers, to rescue a cat, hit by a car, left alone to die. No wonder people just close an eye and walk away.

Animals have strong emotions, and go through extreme trauma especially when abandoned. Together, animal welfare societies do such a good and charitable job. Together, we can stop these pointless attacks for the sake of the animals.

The stray cat situation has highly escalated. Cats need to be neutered, whether they are stray, or our pets. We all spend quite a bit on entertainment, drinks, cigarettes... all it takes to neuter a stray cat is a fiver (the cost of a movie/snack), thanks to the sponsorship of the Cat Care Society and dedication of the likes of Mignon D'Agata.

Ms D'Agata, please don't give up on "us". Your frustration is well understood, but you do a brilliant job and "we" cannot do it without you. There are many animal lovers on the island, in every town and village. Talk is just not enough! If we all do our bit, perhaps one day the stray community will be controlled.

To the government: It is about time that some of this heavy burden - financial, physical and emotional - is lifted off citizens. Malta needs a mass neutering campaign. Elections are approaching, it is time for the candidates to speak up louder for our voiceless friends... you'll get our vote, that's for sure!