The Gozo SPCA said today that over the past few weeks it had been inundated with abandoned kittens and puppies.
Centre Manager Betty Berry said that the staff at the centre were "sickened" by the horrendous dumping of young, often new born kittens and puppies.
Monday was a record day, with 20 animals having been taken to the rehoming centre in the space of 10 hours. Abandoned kittens were picked up at Ta 'Pinu, Ghadira ta 'Sarraflu, Qala and outside the Gozo SPCA Centre. Puppies were dumped in a box in a public garden.
"It should be emphasised that all of these were tame domestic animals, used to being handled; all were hungry and thirsty, in varying stages of dehydration," Ms Berry said.
In the previous weeks kittens were found near recycling bins, in skips and there was a case where kittens were found in sacks to be picked up by the garbage truck, which would have caused them to die an agonising death in the jaws of the compactor.
"These are God's creatures with as much right to life as any one of us. This callous disregard for life is appalling - how can anyone be so cold hearted and indifferent to the suffering of these poor animals? It is not only the kittens that suffer, one can only imagine the distress of the nursing mothers, whose kittens are snatched from them even before their eyes are open - the endless searching for their offspring and the discomfort and risk to health of mothers in full lactation with no kittens now to suckle,?" Ms Berry asked.
She pointed out that SPCA Gozo had been helping people with assisted neutering for many years.
"Anyone who thinks that it is 'unnatural' to neuter animals should also realise it is even more unnatural to throw those unwanted babies in the garbage!"
She also pointed out that the situation was just as bad in Malta, with SPCA Malta also inundated with kittens and puppies.
The Gozo SPCA expressed its gratitude to those people who informed it about abandoned animals or brought them to its centre.
"These good people have ensured that many animals now face a bright future in a loving home."
Anybody seeking information about Gozo SPCA's assisted neutering service should call 21553769 or email info@spca-gozo.org
Picture: Ten kittens found together in a sack in Gozo.