Bid to find homes for Pembroke dogs

Attempts are being made to find homes for a number of abandoned dogs kept in a make-shift sanctuary in Pembroke, a spokesman for the Environment Ministry said.

Animal lover Rennie Scicluna has built a wire fence to enclose a structure at the old shooting ranges where he keeps homeless dogs.

However, his sanctuary has been met with complaints from residents of the area and will eventually be closed down. He has received an eviction notice from the Malta and Environment and Planning Authority.

Although he admits to being a squatter he has expressed concern over the plight of the 10 odd dogs he keeps at the shelter once he is forced to abandon it.

The ministry spokesman said there were no plans to put down the dogs. She said the Animal Welfare Unit, within the Food and Veterinary Services Division, did not have a policy of putting dogs to sleep.

The ministry does not have the authority to give Mr Scicluna an alternative site, either. However, once a site is identified for a new shelter attempts will be made to facilitate procedures needed to ensure that it is up to standard and that the animals are being kept in decent conditions, the spokesman said.

Contacted yesterday, Joanna Grima, one of three mothers who is helping Mr Scicluna take care of the dogs, said animal welfare needed to be given more importance. The issue went beyond the Pembroke shelter, she said. It was imperative to change people's mentality and make them more aware of the importance of not abandoning their pets.

"We need to put this issue on the national agenda," she said.