Carrying dogs by the scruff of the neck

I refer to Maureen Meers' letter Proper Care Of Animals, April 29.

Dogs which are small and light, regardless of age, can be carried from the scruff of their necks, even more so if, as was the case with the dogs at Birkirkara, the dogs are underweight and thus there is no fat under the skin of the neck.

Some dog handlers actually recommend carrying small dogs in this way to have a better grip on them so that they do not get away. Since our Animal Welfare Officers are not as inexperienced as Ms Meers is suggesting, they knew very well that these dogs would not be so willing to jump into their arms to be carried away, especially following the trauma which they had been through.

The dogs taken from the residence in Birkirkara had severe dermatitis and our officers tried to carry the animals in a way which would cause them the least pain possible, that is by making as little contact as possible with their skin.

As is often the case, it is very easy for people to judge, criticise and exclaim their horror and defend animals by writing a few lines on a newspaper.

Our officers spent the whole day on site at the house at Birkirkara and as was reported in the newspaper some 25 dogs were saved from there.

I do not see how anybody could be appalled by their good work!