American vet works without warrant

Mike Nite

Dec 23rd 2008, 22:50

@ Jenny Carter g'day! I reckon an opology would be in order to this 66 year old * American citizen and last but not least take note of the people that complained to the authorities in the first place, most of us kiwis love animals and care about their well being but rubbing a man's nose when doing a good deed voluntary is unacceptable in my books gee are they so hard up for cash, my guess is that this man is welcome any time in New zealand . M.K. (Auckland) NZ.

Jenny Carter

Dec 23rd 2008, 20:29

It is a complete nonsense to prosectue a highly qualified, well respected, professional man for offering his services free of charge. All he was seeking to do was ease the situation here in Gozo where there are too many feral and un-neutered animals. To charge and fine him seems to me to be a very backward way of thinking. All he has ever done is to try to help. The amount of the paltry fine - 100 euros - reflects the court's attitude - an unnecessary waste of public time and money.

david Camilleri

Dec 22nd 2008, 15:45

In New York City there are thousands of Maltese working illegally without proper documents. Imagine if all these were all fined and sent back to Malta for living and working in the USA illegally, unemployment in Malta would double.
Looks like this US citizen Dr. Childers was doing work to help animals for free of charge. Why the authorities have to stop him?
Was he taking work (eruos) from the other two vets?

Benny Willis

Dec 20th 2008, 23:37

This is a case of cutting one's throat to spite their face, what a ridiculous system, an Ameri -can citizen bringing his well needed skills to your islands yet he was reported by someone that didn't think its a wise idea for more vets in your tiny little island. I find it rather stupid and irresponsible for pet owners who apparently there isn't much of a choice where one can bring his animal to be seen to. Its a disgrace and rather unfortunate as i feel rather sorry for this man who obviously thought he was doing a good turn, and yet because your permit system is not as yet in line with ours he was fined, was it 100pounds or eus? How stupid why not a warning or at least an application form to apply for such permit, its a case of money- money -money- the rest is irrevelent Shame on the person(s) responsible it will stick in their mind forever. Not a good sign for this American ambassidor., i just wonder if any Maltese in other countries experience the same treatment. Welcome to Gozo!!!! Mr. B.Willis. British/American

lesley Kreupl

Dec 20th 2008, 21:49

I stand to be corrected, but as far as I am aware, this gentleman was doing voluntary work neutering, mosty stray, animals. The police should concentrate on arresting people harming animals rather than those trying to protect or help them!

Incidentally, has there ever been an arrest of the 3 hunting dogs who were murdered last yeat?

Charles Sammut (NY)

Dec 20th 2008, 20:27

I also read the good doctor's comments in the New York Times where he promoted Malta and Gozo as a tourist venue. Fact remains that the authorities have their priorities wong. I know of two well publicised murder cases that have yet to be solved. And of course there is complete anarchy as far as motorists go. You never see anyone pulled over for a traffic violation. Of course no one should practise medice without a license but this is a unique case and I cannot imagine who the victim is.

J.Hartmann

Dec 20th 2008, 19:49

Actually i love gozo and have many friends over there who have pets, apparently they are always telling me the price they have to pay for treatments for their pets & is rather very high. They also tell me that there are only a handful of vets in Gozo, maybe 1 or 2 vets, why so few why not issue permits for more qualified vets to practice in Gozo is beyond my way of doing things. Any feedback would be interesting to these comments below., I am an animal lover and like people if one love his or her pets they need attention and looking after and just 2 vets in Gozo is really not enough. I know of other qualified Vets who would like to branch out to various med.countries and i suppose being eu members permits would not be an issue (I Hope)* but these countries tend to move very very slowly , its not like that in Holland or Belguim we tend to be very efficient in this repect.

David Meilak

Dec 20th 2008, 19:45

Senior practician or not................try fooling around in the States with Practicing without a warrant.............100 euros indeed.............they wont even let you visit their country (so far) without a Visa let alone work there as a Vet or a Medic!!! Our fines are too low to be serious...........

Barbara Bode

Dec 20th 2008, 18:35

For an American-educated veternarian with US citizenship, getting a warrant to practice here as a veternarian is extraordinarily complicated. I know Dr. Childers has tried for years. With the advent of EU membership, European-trained or educated vets have minimal problems getting approved. But for a variety of reasons, bordering on the political, Americans need not apply. For someone of Dr. Childers' senior ranking and leadership positions in animal protection in the States, it's all but impossible. Is the problem that there is a surfeit of vets on Gozo, where Dr. Childers has been volunteering? Not at all. Only one vet for the entire island can treat all animals and one vet can treat large animals like horses and cows. (regarding the second vet, I'm not sure..) At best, Gozo has two vets. The number of visitors bringing pets to Gozo continues to increase and, unless cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, they continue to reproduce regularly in unwanted numbers. Dr. Childers helped address that problem. Let's be clear, VOLUNTARY EFFORTS ARE NOT ALLOWED to be undertaken by professional citizens from non-EU countries under this system. no matter how beneficial the efforts are to the community or the country.

Robert Grech

Dec 20th 2008, 18:32

Tending to animals or not, and how much this is indeed worthy, does not change the fact that a warrant is needed to practice any form of medical treatment. Otherwise we all could call ourselves a Vet and start treating animals... indeed we could call ourselves doctors without having a recognised qualification and treat humans. Being a vet is far more than just 'tending to animals', in any case. It is indeed a crime especially when the person is in possession of medical drugs and performing surgery. I believe the authorities have been extremely lenient in this particular case and more strict penalties should be called for. Mr. Sammut should understand that this cannot be compared to any other job, and is not simply a question of having a work permit.

Charles Sammut (NY)

Dec 20th 2008, 16:25

Cannot believe that the authorities did not look the other way. The guy was providing a service and I don,t see why tending to animals should be considered a crime. Probably getting such a warrant would involve dealing with miles of red tape. Do the authorities know how many Maltese are working in America without being legal aliens?

Joe Tabone-Adami

Dec 20th 2008, 15:47

What? A measly fine of 100 Euros? How long had the gentleman been practising without the required permit? How long, and on what terms, had he been resident here (presumably as a settler of independent means)? A very sick joke, indeed.