Friday, 5th September 2008
Save strays from the next 'sanctuary'
The committee of the Island Sanctuary Association was both horrified and disgusted to read the article Sliema House Disinfected After 23 Dogs Are Taken Away (August 12).
Some three years ago, members of our sanctuary were also involved in a similar operation, involving a warehouse in Żabbar and many unfortunate cats and dogs "imprisoned" within. What makes it a hundred times worse is the fact that it was the same so-called "animal lover" who was to blame for this unintentional, but real, cruelty!
The situation was almost exactly the same! The place stank to high heavens - dirt was piled up knee high, and, in spite of masks, we had to keep running out to get some air! The poor dogs were in a sorry state - full of fleas, some had large bald patches on their bodies, others had mange. One poor bitch had given birth to puppies recently, but none of them could be found! We collected 32 dogs in all, including a second mother and her litter of puppies.
Medication and lots of TLC restored them to good health, but even after three years many of them are too traumatised to find homes. Naturally, such a big intake of strays meant that we could not admit any more dogs for ages!
At least the dogs survived! This particular "animal lover" also "saved" around 40 cats - but only 10 survived!
The case ended up in court, but the only result was that her victims were confiscated! She was left free to start her collection again...with disastrous results for the poor animals she managed to accumulate! With her track record, it's hardly likely that any of the dogs were spayed - which would naturally swell the number of dogs even more!
This time, we expect - and demand - that proper action should be taken by the authorities responsible. This particular woman needs help herself! She should never be allowed to keep a single animal, let alone a so-called "sanctuary"! For the sake of the strays, stop her now!
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Comments
There are a few things in this blog to put straight.
To D Bugeja I would like to point out that in the year not 180,000 Euros but 350,000 Euros were voted by the government to animal sanctuaries. Half the funds were allocated and nearly completed exhausted on a massive neutering programme of stray dogs and cats. The other half are being given to sanctuaries for their upgrading in order to meet minimum standards for their animals to be kept in suitable conditions.
M Williams is correct to say that sanctuaries do not just rescue mixed breeds. A large number of pedigrees reside in sanctuaries. One ought to educate breeders and Kennel Clubs ought to register all pedigress by microchip. Government will impose this registration on all dogs in this legislature.
T Azzopardi please note that Noah's Ark took all the dogs (50 of them) from the former Oasis bldg two years ago on condition that no more dogs were kept there.
Finally, I believe that whoever mistreats animals cannot be trusted with fellow humans.
Please carry on passing the word so that more and more people will maybe come to realise that these dogs are the ideal companion to have.
Some years ago we adopted an adult dog from Island Sanctuary and I must say that he is the best pet we've ever head as regards the love that he shows and in all other ways.
Sylvia perhaps you can leave a post here to tell people how they can help (by making donations or otherwise) and become members.
Thanks again for your work. I am sure that there is a special place in heaven for people who show kindness to all of God's creation. (p.s. - as far as I know most of the people involved with Island Sanctuary are vegetarians)
Hence the Saint Francis Foundation for Animals - www.saintfrancisfoundation.com - and other societies were founded to contribute towards these deficiencies.
Mr. J. Farrugia may wish to visit the following website - http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/index.php - and see for himself how antiquated his concept of morality is. The Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics was founded by the Black Friars - Dominicans - and has Accademics and Intellectuals from all over the world contributing to correct the past "teachings" of the Roman Catholic Church and the TRUE teachings of Christ
regarding animals. I also recommend that Mr. J Farrugia buy several publications and books by The Reverend Professor Andrew Linzey PhD. DD. to be able to learn the true meaning of the word morality.
I feel sorry for you Mr Farrugia, you seem like a person who's quite unhappy with yourself, because people who care about animals, have a lot of love to give.
As for you Mr Attard, this is what you were waiting for right? Another animal-hater who seems to vent out his frustration on animals.
In the eyes of God we are ALL EQUAL. When it rains, ALL living creatures drink from its water. When the sun rise, it warms all living creatures equally.
How does the silly situation that Gozitans themselves have created due to their fanatic behaviour during festa time, priests included, relate to this article? You write as though brainwashed.
If you really do have a cat, please find a good home for it. I would be glad to take it to welcome it in my home. It will have plenty more kitties to play with!
Well, we know what JFarrugia thinks about people, so his views towards animals are not really surprising.
As things stand...I really pity JFarrugia's cat. That most be the worst off of us all......
Carry on J Farrugia....You really are entertaining...
it seems that your principle is based only by you and another whilst otherr disagree with you.
What has the church to do with it?
And yes there are priests who does his massion. take a look around you. Dont generalise people.
by the way yes i do have morality, I have 2 dogs at home and they are treated like family
Emmanuel Magrin - I am sure about it that friars and priests take care of animals as well. Even I have a cat. But it's no wonder that morality has gone to the dogs (permit me the expression) because today no one finds a priest doing his mission properly and that is why I think that people stopped going to church hearing the same preaching etc. Priests have their own faults too as we have. Instead of doing God's mission they are dividing people. Go to Gozo and see for yourself. Even the St George' sparish website of gozo has stopped functioning. See what the monsignori of the Gozo cathedral are doing to their Bishop instead of doing their mission of evanglisation. They are tearing themselves apart. Why because a Mgs Vella Gauci was removed from Archpriest. Good example they are giving to the Church in Malta. And you have the cheek and the arrogance to comdemn me? oint your finger to yourself because I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am convinced of my principles not like you.
ATTARD, some days ago, was also in favour of animal CULLING and I wished to give him suggestions where I would start from.
How can we, in this country, have people who harbour such nastiness?????
You see, Ms Zammit, what you have brought up with this letter????
i do not agree with you. Animals shall be put equal to human beings. If you are left hungry or are bad treated you would feel the same emotions and hardship an animal feels.
The government is lacking his responsibility in taking care of these strays. All sanctuaries are being taken care of by volunteers who are either taking money from their own pockets and spending a lot of their free time to help the dogs and other strays..
yesterday there was an article that 188, 000 euros were divided amongst 18 organisations which some includes malta cricket club , Nadur youngsters etc. Please refer to article so you can read all the names of the organisations who benefited from this sum.
I am sure that if only a small amount of the sum was given to the sanctuaries it would have been a great help.
I suggest you will visit one of the sanctuary and see what love a dog can give. I assure you that no human being can give you what a dog is capable to do.
Remember animals depend on us to defend them
There should be no distinction when it comes to an animal and a human being. We are all living beings. The only difference is that a human being can communicate with authorities to get help when in need, and an animal, unfortunately is at the mercy of human beings. Of course, there is another difference, human beings vote, animals don't.
We, as Maltese are always saying that we're Christians, God fearing people, but for most of us, as long as we attend the ritual on Sundays, swallow the holy host and indulge in the gossip on the church steps afterwards, then we have done our duty.
Malta is such a tiny space, why don't we all get together to collect the stray animals and have them spayed and neutered. This will help tremendously with the ever increasing population of cats and dogs roaming our streets. It would take a few years of course, but in the long run, i'm sure it would be worth the effort.
One last point, people stop buying pets, adopt from the sanctuaries!!!!
The place lacks basic sanitary facilities, no waste management services The dogs barking are of a big nuisance to the residents that live barely 10 meters from this place.
The authorities know that this place has been set-up illegally. There are a number of court sentences against the upkeep of such a number of dogs in a place like this – but still the number of dogs keep increasing!
Shame on who is running this filth and on the authorities for being so weak in enforcing the law!
There are priests and nuns who silently help out these poor creatures to give them a better life. Is Mr. J. Farrugia going to condemn them too. Shame on you Mr. J. Farrugia.
In England different faiths get together and organise church services pets together with their owners.
Emanuel Magrin
Saint Francis Foundation for Animals (Malta)
How could you be so heartless?
He should be informed that no taxes of his are being channelled towards animals more than the bare minimum - why not compare it with the millions of euros being channeled in more useless things?
No funds, no government land, subsidies and interventions are being channeled towards animals.
I don't think that J Farrugia has any idea what he is talking about when he mentions 'priorities'. The priority of human beings and other animals go hand-in-hand.
And I congratulate (sic) Ms Sylvia Zammit for chastising this woman in public, thus raising evil spirits in the animal kingdom. Prosit!