I would like to make an appeal to pet owners who have not neutered their pets, especially to those who continually moan about the "stray" situation in Malta: The stray cat and dog problem will never be solved unless you, yes you, the pet owners, have your dogs and cats neutered.

Many of those who have travelled to countries like Germany and England will have noticed that they never see strays roaming the streets. This is because pet owners in these counties (and other countries) have their pets neutered.

Here in Malta not only do pet owners not have their pets neutered, they also let them roam the streets freely. And, in the case of some dog owners, they actually put them out in the morning and do not let them back in until nightfall.

These pets are then free to roam around mating with other un-neutered pets (as well as strays) thus producing more unwanted puppies and kittens, some of which are then "dumped" by the pet owners. The situation of stray cats and dogs in Malta has largely come about due to un-neutered pets roaming the streets.

There is a fallacy here that it is cruel to neuter one's dog or cat. This is totally untrue. Neutering will make a dog or cat a more home-loving, calmer pet.

An animal rescuer friend told me that when she went round the industrial estates with her colleague offering neutering for the factory dogs, the men inevitably said that they could take the "females" but not the "males", as if it were an extension of their own manhood being taken. They would remark that it was cruel to take away the male dog's "pleasure"! This is a truly ignorant way of thinking in today's world.

There is a massive neutering programme about to begin in Malta (thankfully) but it will be totally useless for the government, the SPCA, the UK Dog's Trust, and volunteers to plough thousands of euros and effort into this very worthwhile project, if pet owners do not help, by having their pets neutered, especially the ones allowed to roam the streets - this is also very relevant for cat owners to.

So unless the message gets over to dog and cat owners to neuter their pets, the problem of stray dogs and cats will never be solved.

Malta is a very small country. Much larger countries have solved the stray dog and cat problem. So, let us all do our bit and really try to help by having our pets neutered. It will stop so much suffering, by limiting unwanted births, and a national problem solved makes for a happier nation.