Volunteers not enough to secure animal welfare (2)

The government must do something. It's useless complaining and it's not fair on the poor dogs...they didn't choose to live such a miserable life...they are paying the price of their irresponsible owners or of our society.

People are letting their own dogs go for walks unattended and if they are not neutered they increase the population of stray dogs. Others just abandon their pet as if it were an object rather than trying to find another suitable home for them. As a result, people are putting pressure on animal shelters but we have to keep in mind that the latter work is on a voluntary basis. They have to contend with lack of space and financial problems, and few people are committed enough. I am one of those volunteers. In spite of that, when I come across stray dogs I do my best to find them a good home, picking them up, neutering them and giving them to their new owners rather than trying to pass on the problem to someone else.

Another shelter must be built, much bigger than the one there is at Floriana (SPCA), giving the dogs or cats another chance and not putting them to sleep because they are hurt, sick or old. The government must give harsher punishments to those who abandon or mistreat their pets. Especially those who are abusing of them by breeding them for money while keeping them in a pitiful state locked up in garages or on roofs. We must control this kind of breeding, we must change the mentality that if we want a pet we have to buy a pure breed one. There are plenty of dogs and cats in sanctuaries who are waiting for the love of a family and by homing one you will not only be saving the life of that dog but of another stray dog who will take its place. I have adopted three stray dogs and I wouldn't give them away for all the money in the world.

Regarding the dogs at Pembroke, are we sure the dogs we're talking about are the ones in the illegal shelter? Does anybody have proof that they are the same dogs?

I hope that things will change as soon as possible. Action must be taken. By only promising things we're not getting anywhere.