Ta' Qali land lined up for SPCA

The Government is expected to sign a letter of intent with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the coming days over the allocation of land in Ta' Qali for the development of a kennel and cattery.

The new SPCA premises, which the society has been after for years, complements the Animal Aftercare Centre that the Government is developing in the same area.

The SPCA would get the land on condition that it can come up with the funding for the project, Government sources said.

"We are informed that they are in contact with international organisations to obtain €1 million required for the project," they said, adding that it can also obtain part of the funding from the Government.

The SPCA stressed the importance of the letter of intent, saying it meant it could now go to the overseas organisations, which it has been talking to for funding, with something concrete in hand.

The land in question had been identified five years ago, said SPCA president Barbara Cassar Torreggiani, adding that it was worth the wait, especially given that the Government also allocated €350,000 for animal welfare causes in the 2008 budget.

Half of it is going towards a stray animal neutering programme, while the remaining €175,000 is being devoted to improvements to existing facilities, run by animal welfare NGOs.

Ms Cassar Torreggiani was pleased to note the setting up of the Animal Welfare Council and an adjudicating team, to which the upgrading plans and projects of the Association of Shelters and Sanctuaries could now be presented.

Meanwhile, the tender for the development of the Ta' Qali Animal Aftercare Centre is due to close next week. The plans were approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority towards the end of last year.