Dangerous dog on the loose
I am concerned about a dog that seems stray in the vicinity of Mcast school in the Tarġa Gap area, Mosta.
This dog is very dirty and it has tried to attack other people's dogs.
It has also been brought to my attention that sometimes this dog even terrorises the students of Mcast.
Strays near schools create a very unsafe atmosphere. This dog is becoming a nuisance even for the passing cars, since it crosses the road absently and can easily cause a traffic accident. Calls to animal welfare have been made and even reports to Mosta police station but no one seems to care about this situation.
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C. Micallef
Mar 4th 2009, 08:03
Ms. Peresso Fiorentino
The police, unfortunately will not help you in such cases. When you phone for assistance they will ask you if the dog has bitten someone. If in the negative they tell you that it needs to bite someone first before they do something about.
What I am trying to tell you is that Police will not be preventive on dangerous dogs roaming about but will react when someone is bitten.
It is high time that pets are chipped, so irrisponsible owners are identified.
I usually lean towards animals rights etc.. but in such cases I firmly believe that dogs should never be allowed to roam about in the streets, because they could prove to cause a lot of hardship.
Biting, causing car accidents where such animals just cross the road, obviously unknowing to them of the consequences to their own life etc.. Dogs faeces is not something healthy to have lying about on the roads either.
Please aniaml lovers, and that includes me, don't let your unconditional love for the animals obliterate the logical answer forward.
isabella peresso fiorentino
Mar 3rd 2009, 22:01
Excuse me ! Who is this woman and what right has she got to decide that this dog is dangerous?? Before anybody lashes out and writes comments, lets get the facts first. If the police and the Animal Welfare decided there was no need for concern, then this dog is no danger to anyone. Perhaps the this lady simply deslikes dogs and wants to alarm other people by writing such letters?
It's amazing what an animal-loving nation we are ! And as for you, Mr john Spiteri, is this the kind of example you give to others? by being intolerant to stray dogs? because if that is so, then that says something about the party you represent.
Johnny Smith
Mar 3rd 2009, 14:12
John Spiteri:: Did you see the letter dated 3rd March, 2009 regarding that Dangerous Dog On The Loose by Lorraine Anastasi (March 2). A few weeks ago, well Ms Anastasi called the Animal Welfare. However, following on site visits it was not deemed necessary to collect this dog, not only because it is neither ill nor a menace but also because from what they were told by some people in the area, this dog is considered to be everybody's pet, but I hope that this dog be given for adoption or given a nice home in Germany or UK.
Daniela Rieger, policy officer, Animal Welfare Promotion and Services Directorate, Marsa, stated that members of the Animal Welfare Directorate actually went on site twice to confirm whether or not this dog was a danger, on February 18 and 27, but contrary to both reports, this dog was neither ill nor aggressive.So why all this fuss about such a nice dog.
In fact, this dog is fed daily by employees of the factories in the area and also the students of Mcast, why are humans so cruel, you should clear the bad spot you gave to this dog...
A.Farrugia
Mar 3rd 2009, 12:49
Dear Franco Farrugia,
From your words, I deduce, that you either never had children (in the human form, I mean and not animals, as I respect the fact that for some people animals are like children for them) of your own or if you had, you never really loved them more than your own life.
Either one or the other, although, I do not profess to harm animals, anzi, I have written, countless comments in favour of aniamls and birds, but I will never choose any animal, and that means, ANY, over my children.
Of course you do not need to agree with me, and I respect that, however if there is safety problem on the roads, it needs to be attended to. This notwithstanding that it is not the aniamls fault and that it is its owner fault etc. This is the same thing that happens in the all the animal kingdom. Any potential threat to off-spring is removed.
Franco Farrugia
Mar 3rd 2009, 07:18
I am so pleased that more voices are joining this battle in favour of more care towards animals around us.
To John Spiteri: no wonder your AN is not popular at all, if it harbous feelings such as yours. So, all you would concern yourself about is your children or those things that affect your directly! As if that dog was not the 'child' of another animal?
Well, we, real animal-lovers, are a little bit more considerate.
r.lewis
Mar 2nd 2009, 19:53
@ Lorraine Anastasi It seems you like animals. Dogs don't terrorise students, on the contrary they play with students. Dogs dont carry guns, so they are not dangerous, humans are dangerous. If this dog once had a home, and may be a good soul threw him out, what do you expect of him, poor creature, what he needs is help.
Eric Soames
Mar 2nd 2009, 18:57
John Spiteri: Nobody said anything about not rounding up this dog, we merely pointed out the fact that there may be some human (or inhuman?) mistreatment behind his perceived snarliness. And speaking of kids; a few years ago, my daughter still a teen then, was confident enough in her knowledge and understanding of (st) canine behaviour to successfully calm and control one that was running loose and frightening people in the park. (I don't recommend this unless one knows what one is doing).
John Spiteri, Information Secretary, AN
Mar 2nd 2009, 15:46
bad dog or not - let's hope no one gets mauled. that's what the good lady is trying to avoid. it could be your kid and then we see how much you preach about st. canine. i have three dogs myself but if this dog is a threat, he should be at least removed to a location where he can do no harm including it seems to other dogs.
Eric Soames
Mar 2nd 2009, 14:50
There are no bad dogs, only bad dog owners.
H.Van Dorn
Mar 2nd 2009, 12:57
Well how would a person feel if he or she were neglected and treated badly, i still say that animals are just as sensitive as humans,and there must be a good reason for this behaviour of this dog, the only humane thing to do is to round it up and treated at a qualified vet , just like we see on our Australian TV,Animal Planet or the British equivalent with Rolf Harris programme filmed in Battersea London- Animal Hospital, show the other half that Malta is also in 21st century & do care about animals. Helen Van Dorn
Johnny Smith
Mar 2nd 2009, 12:16
Let us learn to love animals; this dog might be barking because he was one day attacked by someone, maybe a human who hate animals or annoyed with his presence.
Yet dogs can be tamed and if given a nice loving home. This reminds me when a dog as this was reported and picked up by an animal lover, and when a German family came and liked this dog, adopted it and taken to Germany. Today this dog is very friendly and a loving dog that no longer barks or bites. Why, because he found love and with love has changed his feelings towards man. I recall that saying by a saint which I cannot remember, "where there's no love, put love and you'll find LOVE." So, why can't we all do this too!!
Stray or dangerous dogs should never be put to sleep, but then one can always contact Mr. Freddy Fenech (if I recall correctly on) 79297930 or on 99464182, who will help you, if one directs Freddy exactly where the dog is, its breed, colour, and other details such@what time he is mostly found there or if he has an owner or not? PHONE-NOW.
Franco Farrugia
Mar 2nd 2009, 11:12
As an animal-lover, my ideas certainly differ from those of Ms Anastasi, and on these counts:
1. She is wrong in stating that strays are dangerous near schools. With what right does she say this? What proof does she bring? Or is she one of those parents who continually tell their children to keep away from dogs and cats?? If this is so, a fine upbringing indeed! Well done!
2. She also states that the dog in question is a 'nuisance even for the passing cars, since it ... can easily cause a traffic accident.' True. But is that all she can say? What about the welfare and health of said dog?
3. 'No one seems to care about this situation.' And she mentions animal welfare units. Did she ever, does she ever contribute towards animal welfare herself or does she merely look them up in order to be rid of this 'nuisance'?
In conclusion, I agree with her but she should show much more attention and anxiety on the state of the poor dog itself and not just care for our own! Non-human animals deserve a good life just as much as we do!