Saving a gentle giant

A great dane that was starving to death managed to escape from the clutches of its cruel owner and is now recovering at the SPCA, thanks to the intervention of animal lovers.

The story of this black gentle giant unfolded last Saturday when Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano and his wife were driving to Valletta and the dog crossed their path in Msida.

"We see this huge beautiful dog. Beautiful because the way it walks is as if it's prancing. Suddenly my wife and I were shocked to realise that the dog was a walking skeleton," Mr Justice De Gaetano said.

Mr Justice De Gaetano, who together with his wife shares a love for animals, was recounting how the dog was rescued with the help of bystanders.

He immediately called Noah's Ark animal sanctuary and they mobilised an animal ambulance to the locality. However, in the meantime, the dog had to be restrained from crossing the road haphazardly and from wandering off - which was no mean feat.

The dog was foaming at the mouth, as a result of severe dehydration, and was roaming along Valley Road.

Fortunately, it spotted a couple of workmen who had stopped for their lunch break, and one man was kind enough to share his sandwich with the starving two-year-old.

Neighbours, who gathered to see what was happening, said that the dog, together with its mother, was kept in a balcony come rain or shine by its inconsiderate owners. The authorities are now investigating.

Coincidentally, another couple had noticed the huge dog and had popped in to the nearest pet shop to buy a few tins of food, before returning to look for him.

The couple were prepared to adopt the dog, but were advised to wait until it was examined by the vet before taking a decision.

Noah's Ark founder, Fabio Ciappara, said that the Great Dane, now named Ghost, had a series of tests on Thursday to establish its condition. So far, it seems that its only ailment is a severe case of starvation.

Meanwhile, the couple that was willing to take in the dog, have adopted the black Neapolitan Mastiff (owned by the late Albert Brian Rosso, who was allegedly murdered last October), which was rescued from its master's fishing boat in January.

"We are still looking for a home for the Great Dane. He's a very loving, gentle dog," Mr Ciappara said.

For more information call: 7973-0900. Or click on: www.noahsarkmalta.org for more information about Noah's Ark animal sanctuary.