Therapy park finds solidarity in wake of animals theft

Solidarity and donations poured into the Razzett Tal-Hbiberija, in Marsacala, following the ransacking of its animal park last Sunday, depleting it of 13 animals used in therapy for children with disability and leaving a deer bludgeoned to death.

The Malta Communications Authority's social club will be holding a fund-raising event in December, which should go some way in replacing the estimated Lm1,300 worth of animals stolen from the park. These included three barn owls, two golden pheasants, five mountain goats, a parrot, a rabbit and a monkey, which alone was worth Lm400.

But it was not so much the cost that were the Razzett's primary concern as the fact that the children, who benefited from the use of the park, were the direct victims of the perpetrators of the theft and were the ones to have been harmed, even if unintentionally, fund-raising manager Gordon Pace explained.

Apart from the MCA initiative, two individuals, who keep animals at their homes, have donated four mountain goats and two owls respectively.

While Mr Pace expressed appreciation - even for the many e-mails and telephone calls received from the public yesterday - the staff was disappointed because they experience first hand the children's interaction with the animals.

The park is open to all ages but the therapy focused mainly on children aged five to 13.

"They used to groom them and they were their pets," Mr Pace said. And although some may not notice that their particular "pet" is missing, the therapy programme has been dealt a blow.

While expressing his appreciation for the animal donations, Mr Pace appealed for funding, which would be of more use at this stage.

The animals at the park were trained from birth to be friendly with the children and, although it was never too late to train them, it was better to do this when they are still young.

Mr Pace said the park had more goats, as well as its own deer, which could be bred to replace the stolen ones.

"Even if we got them back, they would need to get used to the environment again and it would probably take some months.

"And those that were not stolen were traumatised by the intrusion and are not behaving normally," he said.

Fund-raising events could help the Razzett buy a much-needed security system, which was expensive, considering the vast area that had to be covered.

"We had already got a quote, but it is always a question of priorities.

With the thousands of liri required for the security system, we could employ more occupational therapists we sorely need, thus reducing the waiting list for the multi-sensory service on offer," Mr Pace said.

Police investigations into the intrusion has not unearthed anything yet and Mr Pace appealed to the public to contact him on 2163 6526/9942 3403 or e-mail at gordonp@razzett.org if they have any information.