With reference to the sad story of stray dogs and cats in Swieqi (The Sunday Times April 5), we cannot continue to ignore the fact that the community of stray dogs and cats in Malta originates from unwanted pets in households that are thrown out into the streets from the very homes in which they were brought up.

The Maltese are seen to be warm and welcoming by tourists but, sadly enough, this is not extended to our four-legged friends.

Education and regulation are needed. It is important that every potential owner of a dog or cat should make time to learn the temperament and characteristics of the pet they have chosen, and also consider their availability.

The Malta Kennel Club offers free advice on the various breeds of dogs, and the duties and responsibilities of a dog owner.

You may contact the club on 2134 3524 and 2133 1936 or info@maltakennelclub.org or visit the website www.maltakennelclub.org.

Regulation on ownership and identification of pets needs to be more rigorously controlled. One form of identification is the use of the microchip, which identifies dogs and cats and can thus trace them to their registered owners.

The Malta Kennel Club is promoting the use of the microchip on locally bred dogs and in 2010 will request the compulsory use of microchips on dogs that will be exhibited in its shows.

More importantly, the monitoring of pets in households still needs attention. Disposing of pets in our streets is easy and carries no negative consequences, considering that the numbers increase every year. On this issue the club notes with regret that Malta's freedom of movement in relation to dogs and cats exceeds EU regulations where imports are concerned. We then turn a blind eye to the freedom of movement of our pets from their homes to the streets.