Animal Welfare Act

I don't think the Animal Welfare Act is worth the paper it is written on. Animal abuse comes in many forms from dog and cock fighting to the abandonment and neglect of household pets, farm animals that are kept in filthy, squalid conditions and, furthermore, there is the maltreatment of horses that are left in the scorching sun all day while others are pumped full of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs.

They can be disguised under tradition or sport but all fall under one word: cruelty. Unless the government implements this act by prosecuting offenders it is both useless and meaningless.

The Maltese authorities and environmental minister responsible can hang their heads in shame at a missed opportunity to enforce the 2002 Animal Welfare Act efficiently. Not only have they let down the animals the Act pledged to protect but also the overworked managers and volunteers of sanctuaries sickened by the never-ending stream of abused animals.

The government could also use the media more effectively by condemning cruelty and promoting the responsibility concerning animal welfare. I believe there now is an overwhelming desire for change - the government needs to listen and act accordingly. I hope it will not turn its back on an issue that has become a national problem as there is always the possibility that a nation dependent on tourism will be judged by the ways its animals are treated.