Attard gone to the dogs

The Mayor of Attard is to be commended for his efforts on waste collection (April 30). He rightly observes that leaving garbage bags in the street from the morning to be collected in the afternoon risks having cats and dogs rip up these bags with dire consequences to public health.

However, the Mayor should be aware of another nuisance caused by animals, namely, the constant barking of dogs owned by so-called animal lovers who leave their dogs stranded on rooftops or small yards every day, rain or shine. This problem is more acute in the more densely populated areas of Attard such as Ta' Fgieni quarter.

Abandoning dogs on rooftops is cruel to both the dogs and the neighbours who have to bear the desperate barking of these frustrated dogs until their owner returns home, only to be escorted to the street specifically to soil the pavement and private property with dog excrement.

I am sure that the mayor of Attard can regulate on such a matter of public interest and health. Perhaps readers who have had enough of barking dogs may also want to express their views in these columns and raise awareness on noise pollution and animal excrement.