John Darmanin, Cospicua
Social obligation to help stray animals
This is to show my appreciation for the work done by volunteers of the St Francis Foundation for Animals in saving a stray cat that was badly hit by a car in Cospicua some weeks ago. Soon after calling the foundation for help, an animal ambulance from the foundation arrived on the spot and took the severely injured animal. I was surprised to see that the ambulance bore the insignia of the Sliema local council.
Later I was informed that the animal had been taken to a vet who treated it with the utmost care.
About a year earlier the foundation was asked to help nurse a sick one-eyed cat found lying helpless in the street. Luckily, with lots of patience, and after months of treatment, these people were comforted to see the cat survive and find a loving home.
Saving and caring for injured animals is a rare vocation, demanding a most generous human heart, endless personal sacrifice and devotion. I cannot but admire those people who spend their life facing all odds and opposition. The rest of us, who watch these people put themselves in hot water to help animals without any personal remuneration and even at their own expense and time, should consider ourselves lucky that they are there. It is just unethical that animals should suffer for human misconduct and it is just not right to send any of these people to prison. These people are victims of their own generosity and of the arrogance of irresponsible human conduct. They are the only hope, the only voice for suffering animals. It is a travesty of social justice to condemn these people to pay fines which they absolutely cannot afford instead of giving them help they desperately crave for. It is our social obligation to help them in every way we can.
I discovered that the ambulance was a generous donation of the Sliema local council. It shows that local councils can do a lot. I am sure local volunteers and NGOs can produce better results with the help of councils and also the Church to alleviate the problem of strays. I am sure that most local councils have at least some human resources to organise education, information, space and financial support to help in this problem.
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A. Mizzi
Nov 30th 2008, 17:05
@ Carmel Serracino-|Inglott
Please enlighten us on how the Government Is helping.
Who set up the first Animal Welfare Steering Committer ? It was set up under Dr. Sant's Premiership and was later dismantled when the PN took over again.
I tend to agree with you that the policy is to help people help themselves bust as to animal welfare please explain how since you seem to be in the know.
What about
Frame up On Animal Rescue Malta where they killed 11 healthy dogs under their care.
The culling of dogs at the shipbuilding.
The poisoning of dogs at the Freeport and many other atrocities.
The unethical massacre of farm animals all found in illegal farms
Rene Scicluna 's jail sentence, no Presidential pardons were forthcoming here.
You continue to state that- The govt does not have a magic wand and abracadabra we have an animal hospital than why bother to mention the allocated funds in pre-electoral budget speeches and not even a commemorative stone is laid down?
This Gov helping you is another myth from your book of fables, or Dr. Gonzi's Budget speeches
Carmel Serracino-|Inglott
Nov 30th 2008, 03:15
@Mizzi
Mr. Mizzi definitely does not know ( or does not want to know) that the government IS helping.
The policy is to help people (NGO) to help themselves. The Gov cannot stay helping individuals BUT the Government SHOULD educate MORE our citizens how to take care of animals and persue well cruelty inflicted on animals by appointing inspectors. There is a lot of poisoning going on and the Police should investigate reported cases and say GIVE US names Mr. Mizzi if I am informed correctly the budget for for 2008 ( animal way) was a success and for 2009 it is even larger. The govt does not have a magic wand and abracadabra we have an animal hospital. Do not think that I do not find faults with the Government but this is the only government that really is helping us. A fault is that still cats are being persecuted in public gardens despite the Ministers word that they will not be. Also the culprits who killed/removed cats from San Anton, Barrakka ta' Fuq, Romeo Romano despite known were not booked by the Police. I agree that SOS animals should be given the green light to use 2 cars
Emanuel Magrin
Nov 29th 2008, 18:02
continued 2..
I was one who insisted that animal welfare ngo's should be registered when I formed part of the first Govermental Animal Welfare Steering Committee in 1997. The registration of animal welfare ngo's is certainly a step in the right direction however WE DO NOT AGREE THAT PHILANTORPIC ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE TAXED/FINED 40 EUROS TO REGISTER. We have already gave all that we possess to help sick, injured and abandoned animals. Goverment never lifted a finger to help in this field and we have sacrificed our lives to better the situation of these poor creatures. If we accept to register under the present condition of the 40 Euro registration tax/fine we would be agreeing with government not to give recognition to the many animal carers - many of them pensioners - who although do not form part of any ngo are doing sterling work, just as every ngo is, in different localities around Malta and Gozo. There is an acute scarcity of volunteers in animal welfare and government should encourge each and every animal carer without hindering their work in any way.
Last July we were added on the Local Councils list Chapter 8 Local Council act.
-3
deb bugeja
Nov 29th 2008, 17:42
It really amuses me and really as a maltese citizen, I feel ashamed that when regarding animal welfare we always seem to be helped out by foreigners. While I appreciate very much their concern and willfull help, I feel that the government is lacking about giving vital importance to these animals.
Emanuel Magrin
Nov 29th 2008, 17:36
continued 3 ...
Early this year The National Statistics Office asked us to fill in a questionaire specially set for NGO's. We sent the return and received an acknowledgement.
We are sure that Dr. Mario Spiteri is genuinely trying to help, WE MUST POINT OUT THAT AT NO TIME DID DR. SPITERI INFORM US THAT THERE WAS A REGISTRATION PROBLEM either verbally nor in writing.
We learned recently when we were sent a copy of a letter sent to an English man and through the Malta Today article - MY GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ANIMALS - published last Sunday.
We did not ask for funds. We have only asked government to waive off dues - around Lm8000 - being registration tax etc to have these two animal ambulances commissioned to enable us to give a better service to the poorest of the poor - SICK, INJURED AND ABANDONED ANIMALS. This we did years before the Commissioner of NGO's was inaugurated and became operational. ALL THE TIME OUR REQUESTS WERE REJECTED.
WORKING FOR THE ANIMALS,
EMANUEL MAGRIN
DIRECTOR
SFFA (MALTA )
continued 3
Emanuel Magrin
Nov 29th 2008, 17:21
Ms. Muscat please note that government is using different excuses not to help the Foundation - SFFA. The latest being that we have not registered with the Commisoner of NGO's.
SFFA was donated two vehicles by foreigners to be used EXCLUSIVELY as animal ambulances.
The Volvo was donated in 2004. The Commissioner for Ngo's was launched on the 27th December, 2007. They have been refusing to give us the Volvo since 2004.
The Mercedes in 2007 again before the setting up of the Commisioner for NGO's.
We formed part of a federation - at Minister's Pullicino's request - were we can speak with government with one unified voice. Then what happened. Minister Pullicino consulted only five NGO's to decide on how to spend the Lm150000 budget allocation and this happened before the inauguration of the NGO's Commissioner since the elite five have been meeting for months with Pullicino behind our backs. Is this the UNITY amongst NGO's that the Government wants Its more a case of DIVIDE ET EMPERA..... continued to 2
A. Mizzi
Nov 29th 2008, 14:36
@ Monica Muscat
Well I must say your happiness with last year’s allocation of funds for animal welfare was truly short lived.
Those allocated funds seem to have evaporated with the other allocated funds of the previous years like most of GonZIPn pre-electoral promises, where even our four legged friends were not even spared.
With the election coming GonZIPn made sure to appeal to animal lovers by voting Lm60,000 during budget speech for 2007 Lm150,0000 for invested for the Aftercare Center in Ta' Qali for 2008. No allocation of funds for animal welfare was in budget speech for 2009 and Mr. Joseph Muscat Leader of the Opposition drew Dr. Gonzi’s attention in his reply to the budget to these allocated funds which were not utilized during this year.
It is no use boasting about the Lm150,000 voted in last year’s budget when after 2008 is practically and no more funds are being put aside with the other Lm60,000. This is simply not credible.
What have these funds gone? Certainly not to the dogs where is island is going with false electoral promises ever where men’s best friends are concerned.
monica muscat
Nov 29th 2008, 12:13
I fully agree with the fact that government/local council should give a helping hand. I was happy with last year's allocation (in the 2008 budget) for the care of stray animals. On the other hand I was disappointed that this year's budget (for 2009) was lacking in any allocation.
Besides I would love to know how much of this year's budget was spent and in what manner.
I happen to know the St. Francis Foundation and admire the work they carry out for the benefit oof strays and other animal care. I would expect to hear that this foundation came to benefit from the 2008 Budget expenditure.