Ailing animal organisations operating on a shoestring budget could soon get the necessary financial injection through the opening of a new charity shop geared to "help people to help animals".
Aptly titled Happy Paws, the new charity shop opens its doors to the public today selling everything imaginable to raise money to help organisations and animal feeders in their mission to keep the animals happy.
Situated in San Gwann, the shop is the brainchild of Swede Tom Broome and Dutchwoman Maike Beekman, who have been living on the island for several years.
"There are so many animal organisations and individuals who are doing an amazing job but all are in dire need of funds. We felt that by setting up a charity shop we can in turn help these people to help animals," Mr Broome said.
The charity shop will be selling everything from books, clothes, shoes, bags and glasses to ornaments, bric-a-brac, games, soft toys and much more at extremely low prices.
Mr Broome said that every cent made from the items sold would be pumped back into helping animals. Donations of any items were also extremely welcome. Happy Paws, which was officially set up as a non-profit organisation six months ago, has already established a successful project encouraging shoppers buying tins of food for their pets to buy an extra tin and leave it with the supermarket cashier.
Over 15 supermarkets have signed up to this project and since August more than 1,600 tins have been collected and distributed to animal feeders and organisations. Mr Broome said that another mission of Happy Paws was to buy medicine and support the neutering of cats and dogs by providing vouchers, which can be handed out to individual vets.
It will also support, financially or otherwise, those people who feed cats and dogs or protect birds in various colonies around the islands.
In the long-term, Happy Paws will be working to bring a guide dog for the blind to Malta, since at the moment there is none to give blind people more independence. Another long-term goal is to work towards setting up an emergency animal ambulance and secure a 24-hour veterinary service.
Whoever wants to help the cause of Happy Paws can pop over to the charity shop at 9, Mensija Street, San Gwann today between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. On weekdays the shop is open between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 3.30 - 6 p.m.
If you wish to know more about Happy Paws call Mr Broome on 2143 7122 or Ms Beekman on 2138 9500.