Dog carers in need of aid

I am involved financially in helping the "illegal" sanctuary at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, near Pembroke, which I assume is the one referred to recently by a correspondent.

It is "illegal" because no one will give it a licence or provide suitable alternative accommodation.

Rennie, who devotes all his time to running it, and raising funds, is treated like a leper.

He was recently fined more than €400 for noise nuisance. A fine which he has no hope of paying.

This is madness! The other week when I visited his sanctuary, he had 35 dogs under his control. The place is well-kept by him and Maria, who has also dedicated all her time to caring for these animals. They have spent many hours improving the conditions, on a shoestring budget. I really don't know where they find the time. There is no running water, so all supplies have to be bought from a bowser and then ferried in jerry cans, as they have limited overhead tanks. They have to feed the dogs on the cheapest dry meal which has little nutritional value. I saw a dog which looked like it had just been released from Belsen Concentration Camp. It had arrived in that condition.

Despite the lack of funds, somehow Rennie and Maria manage to keep their animals in reasonable condition. They suffer huge emotional stress when they lose a dog in their care. Taking their bodies to be disposed of doesn't make sleeping at night easy.

You may have to do it once at the end of your dog's lifetime. For them it is happening all the time.

Where is the government-led co-operation between people like Rennie and Maria, and the abattoirs who could supply some waste meats? They receive no help whatsoever from the local authorities or the government. The "blind eye" is everywhere.What about the nearby restaurants? There aren't enough hours in the day for Rennie and Maria to explore these avenues. Come on, you restaurateurs, pay Rennie a visit.

When any of you citizens next visit Valletta, you will find Rennie and Maria most mornings under the large entrance arch, with a couple of their rescued dogs, asking for donations. Their pitch is licensed, and is virtually their only source of income for food, vets' bills, car expenses, kennel improvements and so on. They are spending up to five hours a day trying to raise funds, and 99 per cent of people walk straight past them without a glance. Then they have to go back and clean out the sanctuary, haul water, and feed the dogs.

Shame on you all! It is our problem, as well as the government's.

Show that you are caring Maltese citizens, and stop to speak to them. You will see how desperate their plight is. You have no idea how much €5 would help them, and you will be the winner, because you will feel better about yourself. If 100 people a week stopped and contributed €5, Rennie and Maria could vastly improve the lot of their animals.

Remember that, the next time you "pass by on the other side".

The parable of the good Samaritan applies to all of us, and to all animals in distress.

Finally, a couple of laws should be brought in. A dog licence fee when the dog is acquired, maybe as high as €100, to ensure that the person genuinely wants to care for a dog.

Anyone who cannot afford it, cannot afford to keep a dog. The money raised must be ring-fenced and go into a dog welfare account. If you want to own a dog, your first contribution should be to help those dogs which have been abandoned. Give a discount to those willing to take on a stray. Say €25 as an incentive. Encourage your local authority to raise funds.

Crack down hard on illegal breeding with large fines. Encourage people to report cases of illegal breeding and pup sales. All existing pet dogs, or at least those being acquired, must be micro-chipped. Then irresponsible owners can be brought to account, and lost dogs returned to their owners, instead of ending up in a sanctuary.

These measures would transform the problem very quickly, and in the long run save thousands of euros. That is, your taxes. If you can't afford to keep a dog in a responsible manner, because you don't have the time to exercise and care for it properly, give something of yourself, in time or money, to help people like Rennie and Maria. You will be the winner, I promise!