Juan Ameen
UK dog charity launches €190,000 neutering drive
Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday visited St George's Bay during the launch of an initiative promoting the importance of neutering animals. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.
Dogs may be man's best friend but sometimes they are not treated like friends at all, especially when they are abandoned.
A UK charity aims to do something about this through a neutering campaign costing almost €190,000. UK charity Dogs Trust and the local animal charity RSPCA will be working together in a dog neutering and awareness campaign in Malta over the coming five years.
In selected areas, which still have to be chosen, Dogs Trust will neuter for free all owned dogs.
Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity and takes care of about 16,000 dogs in 18 rehoming centres in the UK.
Over a span of five years, almost €150,000 will be spent on neutering and €40,000 on a school education campaign, Dogs Trust CEO Clarissa Baldwin said.
The campaign would also involve local vets to offer dog lovers vaccinations and health checks for their dogs at reduced prices, she added.
The trust already carried out a similar neutering campaign in Oradea, a town in Romania where over 7,000 dogs were neutered and 2,000 strays homed.
The campaign will target the owners of 81,000 dogs here, of which the trust is hoping to neuter 35,000 pet and stray dogs. The neutering of the 3,000 strays dogs will be overseen by the government.
Neutering dogs reduces the number of unwanted litters but also has certain health benefits because it prevents certain cancers and reduces the possibility of aggressive behaviour.
The neutering programme will start in August and the education campaign in 65 state, private and Church schools will start in September.
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Peter West
Jul 22nd 2009, 12:29
Good to see the dogs trust at it again - what a great charity they are!
http://www.lavishdogs.com
Marilyn Baldacchino Gatt
Jun 19th 2009, 23:28
In my opinion the people on this tiny island have lack of information on neutering programmes available here. I am very happy this Trust will help Malta in neutering dogs.
This programme should cover farm areas and valleys. In these areas a lot of dogs are abandoned and then farm owners feed them and give them some kind of shelter. None of these dogs will be neutered so in few years the number of dogs doubles.
A lot of people don't know about Happy Paws Organisation, a Maltese NGO who help people like me to neuter stray cats and dogs for a minimum yearly membership fee. This organisation have a clinic in Marsa. www.happypaws.org.mt
W Spencer
Jun 19th 2009, 23:01
Near us there are 4 dogs that are left on their own, in the garden, for most of the week. They bark, and even ' howl ' for most of the day / night.
It appears that the owner does not live at the house where the dogs are kept. Speaking to some residents, its obvious that the barking / howling can be heard, but no one has ever complained !!!
Why ???? After contacting various people, it appears that no one is prepared / authorised / or even interested, in helping the long suffering residents, or the long suffering dogs !
Franco Farrugia
Jun 19th 2009, 19:22
I am very pleased that more people are taking part in activity in favour of animal wellbeing. I sincerely hope that The Dog Trust will only adopt animal-friendly measures in its activities in Malta. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I look forward, like many others, to seeing this important principle being adopted. Stray dogs must not be killed!
Joe Morana
Jun 19th 2009, 18:46
Late last year the Gozo SPCA launched a cat neutering program throughout the entire island, for free! The Gozo SPCA approached all Gozo town councils for support in identifying problem animal communities in their respective areas. Regrettably, only a handful of town councils offered their support and showed any willingness to participate.
barbara cassar Torreggiani
Jun 19th 2009, 17:35
I would like to say that The Archbishop was so intent on supporting our launch that he went out of his way to make an even earlier start to his busy day! It was an honour to have him bless the vans and give words of understanding and sensitivity to the children (and animals) that were waiting for him. We cannot thank him enough.
charles grech
Jun 19th 2009, 16:44
@ a. sciberras. The Church has been working with animals for a long time now. Hence The Saint Francis Foundation for Animals was founded in 1996. Its patron is Bishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca. vide link: below;- http://www.all-creatures.org/ca/art-malta.html
a. sciberras
Jun 19th 2009, 10:06
finally the Church is at least showing its presence at such events!