Call for nominations for animal welfare awards

Considerable progress in animal welfare awareness appears to have been registered over the past few years but it is widely acknowledged that there is still room for improvement.

This is the motive behind the Animal Welfare Council's initiative to introduce the Animal Welfare Awards. The council was set up through the Animal Welfare Act of 2001 and the awards will be presented for the first time this year.

Joseph Vella, the council's secretary, said the awards, backed by the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry, are designed to reward individuals who have given a contribution to animal welfare over the past year and create more awareness of animal rights.

The council felt the need to introduce several categories as there were various areas where a contribution might be given.

He appealed for more nominations, particularly in the categories of Farmers Award and Children's Award.

The first is for full-time or part-time licensed livestock farmers registered with the Employment and Training Corporation and the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division who have made a significant contribution towards the well-being of farm animals.

The nominees for the Children's Award must be under 16 years of age and must have performed an exceptional act in favour of animals.

There is just over a week to go before nominations close on December 31.

The other three categories for which nominations are being requested are the Adult Award for persons over 16, the Media Award for a professional media person who has made an exceptional contribution in the media towards improving public awareness of the needs of animals, and the Education Award for a member of the teaching profession who has excelled in promoting animal awareness among students.

Any nomination must be seconded by another person. To be eligible, the intervention for which the nomination is made must have been carried out during 2005.

Mr Vella said that animal welfare covered practically all animals.

In the case of the Farmers Award the council felt that there were a number of farmers who qualified for the award although no nominations had yet been received.

He said this situation could be the result of the fact that the award-giving initiative was a novelty.

Farmers, he said, are considered to be the strongest activists of animal welfare since they are in contact with livestock for 24 hours a day.

Preferably nominations should be accompanied by tangible proof or evidence of the initiatives taken by the nominees.

The Farmers Award will be given to a licensed farmer whose contribution goes beyond the minimum standards required by law. It is important, he added, that contributions by nominees are not made for any financial or personal benefit. Mr Vella said animal welfare has gained momentum around the world in recent times. There is a growing movement, for example, against the use of animals for experiments.

The media, he added, also gave an important contribution by publicising acts in relation to animal welfare and exposing cruelty to animals.

Mr Vella said that the council believes that animal welfare, whether on farm, in transit, at the market or at a place of slaughter, should be considered in terms of five freedoms, which are:

The freedom from hunger or thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health;

The freedom from discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area;

The freedom from pain, injury or disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment;

The freedom to express normal behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind, and;

The freedom from fear and distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid suffering.

Nomination forms may be downloaded from the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment website, www.mrae.gov.mt, or obtained from the secretary of the Animal Welfare Council, c/c Food and Veterinary Regulation Division, Civil Abattoir, Albertown, Marsa.

In case of further enquiries contact the Animal Welfare Council on joseph-john.vella@gov.mt