Wednesday, 19th November 2008
Court seen as a distraction from business of saving strays
Letting out a sigh of frustration, dog lover Rennie Scicluna yesterday told a magistrate "he just wanted to carry out his mission" rather than being stuck in the court room for the umpteenth time.
Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna reprimanded Mr Scicluna for his outburst, saying the court was not a theatre. He put off the case to early December because Mr Scicluna's lawyer had not turned up.
Mr Scicluna, 53, was jailed for 26 days on November 5 after he failed to pay a fine of €320 for keeping stray dogs in a temporary compound in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. He was released five days later after inmates and friends raised the sum and Mr Scicluna was soon back on the streets hoping to collect a further €600 for another fine, ahead of yesterday's court case.
Leaving court, Mr Scicluna said he has actually raised about €1,600 since the story broke about him being released, adding that after paying the fine due he will be using the extra cash to feed the dogs and fix a broken fence.
On the steps of the court building, five passers-by recognised him and stopped to give him their support. One woman could not understand why the court had jailed such "a good man". The case had gone to court because residents were complaining about the noise of the barking dogs, which had become unbearable, especially for one resident who lived in a mezzanine overlooking the sanctuary.
Joseph Azzopardi, who was in court yesterday, said he had been trying to sell his property after the problem became intolerable: "Potential buyers are asking me for a guarantee that the sanctuary will be moved, leaving me in an impossible position."
He added that the dogs fought with each other and were kept in "horrible conditions". He insisted that he loved animals but "just imagine living with 40 to 50 dogs barking all the time".He said he understood Mr Scicluna's predicament, admitting that the man was trying to do a good job, but the residential area was not the place to keep animals.
Last week, Mr Scicluna had said he did not wish to be a nuisance to anybody and was trying hard not to accept more dogs - he has 19 at the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq sanctuary - until his situation is resolved and he finds an alternative location.
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Comments
How could you even think and comment for dogs to be put down
If you were homeless would you want to be put down or would you beg to be helped.
This man is doing the government a favour. If it werent for these generous people who tries their best to keep them sheltered and fed there will be a lots of strays dogs roaming in the streets. The governemnt should help him by giving an alternative place away from residential areas at least so that the residents wont be bothered.
Popular vets should offer neutering to sanctuaries for free or for a nominal price. I don't mind paying vet fees even though they often cost more than what I pay for my family doctor. But they should balance their high fees with voluntary work. I am sure that most pet owners will respect their vet more if they know that s/he is commiited to helping animlas in need.
Please, I don't mean to insult you but when you write like that, something within me compels me to be sorry that I am part of the same species as you are, because, you are such a sad thing!
@ a. sciberras - I have often been to Valletta and passed through City Gate. I was never irked by these people you care to mention.
jo. galea - these dogs do not 'hatch' out alone - they are abandoned by human beings and left without anything - shelter, food, water... the solution is not putting them to 'sleep' but neutering and respecting the fact that animals are not something to be bought or given on a whim but require commitment, almost as if you are planning for a child! just as a child can give you grief and happiness so can a dog or a cat!
The place for these dogs is Kemmuna or else they should be put down altogether by SPCA.