German volunteers do stint with animal welfare group

Two German women have just spent a short period in Malta working as volunteers with Freddie Fenech's Abandoned Animals Association (AAA).

Nina Kiesendahl, 26, from Essen, arrived a week ago and joined co-national Janine Heinemann, 23, from Bremen who arrived on December 29.

Both came across the AAA on the internet. Their arrangements to visit were made with the help of Christine Peters, a volunteer with the AAA.

"I wanted to help animals," explained Ms Kiesendahl, "and I could see that the AAA needed a lot of help".

In fact, both volunteers have adopted a dog from the AAA and will be taking it back home with them, even though both own another dog. Ms Kiesendahl, who adopted another dog from Spain, has adopted a male mongrel while Ms Heinemann adopted a male Shih-Tzu. The mongrel had been handed over to Mr Fenech along with six other puppies. Their blind mother was left under the care of a resident living in Tal-Virtu, Rabat.

On the other hand, the Shih-Tzu was handed over to the AAA after its owner couldn't keep it in the house because his son suffered from asthma. Both volunteers, who got to know each other over the internet before meeting in person at the AAA, said the work was hard as there was a lot to be done.

In fact, when asked if they had made the most of the island and its nightlife both agreed that their time was spent working or taking care of the numerous dogs in their flat. "I spent New Year's Eve with the dog," said a smiling Ms Heinemann.

When asked to compare local animal sanctuaries to German ones, both insisted that the foreign ones are cleaner and each hold contains less dogs. In addition, the German government subsidises sanctuaries. "The Maltese government should sponsor animal sanctuaries," pleaded the volunteers.

Mr Fenech said German families adopted around 300 dogs from the AAA last year alone. Meanwhile, there are around 160 neutered dogs at the AAA also waiting for German adoption. He explained that in order to send a dog aboad, EU regulations state that it requires a passport, must have a microchip implanted in it and must be inoculated. In addition to this, UK regulations state that the dog needs to be held in quarantine for seven months.

Ms Kiesendahl left the island yesterday while Ms Heinemann is leaving today. Both promised to return soon.