SPCA policy

I do not understand Mr Chris Galea's reference to a seven-day period (The Sunday Times, October 22) but I can assure him that SPCA policy is to put down strays if they are not homed within a short period. Small dogs and pure breeds are allowed a longer stay of execution.

Regretfully, the numbers of dogs being put down has increased considerably. Not enough effort is being put in to try to keep as many dogs alive as possible. Indeed once a dog has been declared "aggressive"‚ or "cannot settle in"‚ it is put down. Nobody ever checks on the statement. I can assure Mr Galea that the SPCA has never kept a dog for four years - I should know because I worked there. I was dismissed.

The official reason for my dismissal was that I had leaked a document sent to the committee. I denied the charges and eventually my dismissal was declared to be unjustified by the court but readers would be interested to know that the accusations made in court included the fact that I did not obey the orders of the SPCA president to put down old and so-called ugly dogs.

The tribunal was informed that during my term of office there was a certain reluctance when it came to putting down dogs. Trying to keep dogs alive was actually put forward to the court as a reason for my dismissal!

During the court proceedings the SPCA president complained that there were dogs which "have been there for two years".

Dr Joe Brincat (October 15) had more than enough reason to write as he did! While I was there I was constantly accused by members of staff that I was keeping too many dogs alive and I was reported to the committee for trying to turn the SPCA into a sanctuary.

To be fair, it must also be said that the SPCA is not in a position to keep all the dogs that reach its doors - one has to work hard - very, very hard - to put down as few dogs as possible and this is very difficult without the support of staff and the committee.

It is of course true that the SPCA has a hard enough time coping, but then it should be noted that the SPCA also carries a Lm34,000 salary bill. The animals at the SPCA are indeed clean, well-fed and watered but at a price which does not come cheap. The SPCA's policy is that it is not a sanctuary - and this is a fact.