Neuter and release

It was most gratifying to see animal protection laws feature in The Times editorial (June 2). I was disappointed, however, in what I believe to be inaccurate statements.

Referring to a protest march, which happened quite some time ago, it is stated that Michael Pearson made a statement on behalf of the SPCA. Mr Pearson was making a statement on behalf of the Malta Rights for Animals Coalition, not the SPCA. If I remember correctly the SPCA was expelled from this coalition.

The leader gives the impression that the SPCA and the Island Sanctuary are "quarrelling over methods..."

This is not correct. In fact, except for the SPCA, all animal sanctuaries approve of the neuter and release option as opposed to killing stray cats and dogs. It would be interesting to know which society is supposed to be "painting themselves green with envy" - envy for what? I would wish to assure readers that the neuter and release policy is hard, practical sense and not just a nebulous ideal. Personally, I have carried out this idea in cat colonies with a 100 per cent success. Neuter and release is a good cause and it is indeed not a good sight to see good people arguing over a good cause.

The SPCA describes itself as being the only home for dogs and cats which is "officially recognised by the Maltese government as the national animal welfare organisation". Presumably this is because the SPCA is the only animal welfare society which has accepted to collect stray dogs and cats and, in return, receives a grant from the government (some Lm11,000). The SPCA is therefore not in a position to turn away strays that are dumped on their doorstep and in this instance the neuter and release policy is not an option.

To be fair, the SPCA is not in a position to actually run a neuter and release programme, but support from the SPCA would ensure that all animal welfare societies would once again be working together and would once again cooperate with each other in an effort to reduce the number of strays in our streets and, in turn, reduce the numbers of strays that have to be killed for a crime committed by so-called human beings.