Joe Aquilina-St John, Mellieha
Legislate against animal cruelty
My dear late father once told me that 'politics is a dirty game'. At the time, I thought he simply meant corruption: after all, I had witnessed a dockyard labourer become a minister and within a short time build himself an impressive villa and become a very rich man.
But since my return to Malta in 2002, my father's words took on another meaning.
Deceit. Duplicity of promises galore during the hustings which are quickly forgotten once candidates are elected.
Among its many manifesto promises, Gonzipn once again included the environment, which included animal welfare.
Unfortunately, however, the Prime Minister reappointed the same Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs (relieving him only of the controversial Malta Environment and Planning Authority).
It looks, therefore, that we should expect the status quo from the minister: lots of talk and little action, especially where animal welfare (cruelty) is concerned.
Recently in Swieqi, a pack of feral dogs attacked and butchered several cats, and in a more recent event in Sliema a pit bull terrier killed two cats.
I am not blaming the minister - the dogs did not belong to him. Mr Pullicino is to blame for his inactivity: he has done nothing to stop animal cruelty, especially the bestial cruelty perpetrated by man on helpless animals.
The 'hunting' dog in question was a stray in the Ta' Silġ area of Marsaxlokk.
It was a sweet-tempered, docile pet by all accounts, which only sought a little affection.
What it received instead was a bullet from close range which caused horrific wounds and untold pain.
Will the perpetrator be caught, taken to court and heavily fined or even imprisoned? Don't hold your breath.
Were the sadistic men who skinned a live rabbit caught and punished? Were those men who shot dead protected birds in the confines of the Għadira Nature Reserve brought to justice?
The Maltese are still lauded for their kindness and hospitality, something the Malta Tourism Authority makes much of in its campaigns.
It is such a pity animals can't talk, for they would contradict such a statement.
Government inertia and lack of legislation and enforcement are nothing but encouragement for vandals and hooligans to continue to maltreat helpless animals.
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Carmel Serracino-Inglott
Jun 30th 2008, 00:51
I agree with most points. I suggest that the SPCA Malta be granted full authority to prosecute ( and investigate) people accused of inflicting cruelty to animals and/or abondoning pets in the streets. THE SPCA will also be in charge of the 24 hour hospital which the Government promised to build at Ta' Qali ( steps have already been taken I understand -- which steps the government is obliged to make public from time to time so that if there are obstacles one could deduce whose faault it is-- if this is not done then the fault falls with the government and the Minister). The SPCA then will be relieved from accepting redundant pets and the other NGO'S concerned will take over this job. It is true that most of the €349,500 will go into the vets coffers because most vets want to charge the maximum fee for neutering pets(circa € 35 per small animal) and maximum fee for chipping. It is also true that the government has appointed an able official to look into animal welfare procedures -- so the government is doing something but are we doing anything except writing and complaining? Citizens come and help the sanctuaries.
E Camilleri
Jun 29th 2008, 22:12
The Maltese general lack of tolerance to other animals is amazing. We have heard it again and again, I’m not going to list these here, the number of atrocities that are done against animals is unbelievable. How many times we have heard of a conviction? Is it because the police are not capable to find the culprits or not enough resources are allocated for this purpose?
I just want to make one simple comparison – the skate board track area near University was allocated by the government and built in a few weeks. Contrary to this, the Animal hospital land was given by the government, but must be built by NGOs! Why this difference? Why can’t the government built this hospital from our taxes?
clifford john williams
Jun 29th 2008, 21:19
There are a lot of us out here waiting to see how many pre-election promises are kept,and two weeks before the NEXT election does not qualify as " KEPT ".
Adrian Cardona
Jun 29th 2008, 14:02
Animals don't vote after all do they...
My suggestion would be to put your money where your mouth is and make it clear to the nice politician who comes to clean your doorstep a few days before the elections that you will not be voting until harsh penalties are put in force to punish these cretins.
Justin Paris
Jun 29th 2008, 12:57
The problem with animal welfare in Malta is that this sector is manipulated by Top Government Vets who just make sure that no change for the animals' benefit is made if it is going to affect their own clinics hence pockets.
The other big problem is that the minister concerned could not be bothered to investigate, so in this respect Hon. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has to make another Minister in charge if he really wants to keep his promise to thousands of Animal Lovers in Malta and Gozo, as I am sure, these countful voters will make their votes count in five years time, most especially if the promise for an effective 24 hour animal hospital does not materialize years before the next general elections.
The beneficiaries of the Lm150,000 allocated in the 2008 budget are not the animals but the vets who are constantly ill advising the government purposely, thus creating a huge conflict of interest.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 29th 2008, 10:53
In a way, I am pleased to read this letter. However, I am also of the opinion that its plea will fall on deaf ears - I have been writing and writing endlessly in favour of such urgent animal legislation.
The problem is that the people in authority in this matter SIMPLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANIMALS and therefore they see no point in, once and for all, detaching the role of animal welfare from any Government sector!
Only some Cabinet member who, luckily, is personally interested in animal cruelty himself/herself, will bring about such a change in mentality.
So, my answer to Mr Aquilina St-John is: do not put your hopes up - no politicians is interested in animal welfare, as far as I can see.