Aggressive dogs rounded up

The veterinary authorities yesterday seized nine dogs from the Swieqi, Ta' l-Ibraġ and Pembroke area after residents complained of their aggressive behaviour.

Anthony Gruppetta, director general of the Veterinary Regulation, Fisheries Conservation and Control Division, confirmed that the dogs were indeed aggressive.

The residents had called for action to be taken against a pack of strays that had been roaming the area, sometimes attacking cats and other dogs, as reported in yesterday's The Times.

The dogs were traced back to an illegal sanctuary situated in Pembroke, Dr Gruppetta explained. There, dogs were climbing the fences and passing through holes in it. Other strays from the whereabouts must have joined the pack.

The dogs, which are now being housed at the division's premises in Luqa, are in good condition.

Meanwhile, the authorities are concerned about those that never made it out of the compound. But someone must have been trying to take care of them as food and water were found on the premises.

SPCA personnel scouted the area in the morning. The police's ALE section and government representatives later joined the team and located the sanctuary in the afternoon.

The search will continue in the coming days.