Claudia Calleja
New animal sanctuary ambulance service
One of the two ambulances and the team which will be manning them including a member - standing by the vehicle - holding a stun gun. Photo: DOI, Martin Attard.
Animal sanctuary Noah's Ark will be living up to its namesake biblical story by pitching in to save cats and dogs from the cruel streets through a new ambulance service launched yesterday.
The 24-hour service started operating at the beginning of the month following an agreement reached between Noah's Ark, which runs it, and the government that will be financing it.
Since then about 100 animal lovers have already phoned the police headquarters, on 2122 4001, to report an injured or abandoned stray animal.
Once the police are contacted, they direct the call to Noah's Ark who will go to the rescue in one of two ambulances, take the animal to a vet and then take it to the sanctuary from where it will be homed.
As part of the agreement, the government gave the NGO a stretch of land to enlarge its sanctuary and pens were set up to house the cats and dogs rescued by the ambulance, Noah's Ark founder Fabio Ciappara said.
While glad about this constructive cooperation with the government, he called for the introduction of animal micro chipping.
"The biggest problem we face is the lack of microchipping since it would allow us to know who the abandoned animal belonged to," Mr Ciappara said.
Tracing back the owner would also help instil responsibility in people and discourage them from abandoning their pets. This was highlighted in a recent tragic case of abandonment when a German Shepherd, who was found in a cave off Qala, was rescued by a family. However, the dog was in such a bad state it had to be put down.
Resources Minister George Pullicino said he hoped that within the next few years, the government would be able to make microchipping obligatory. However, he said, this would have to be done following consultation with all stakeholders including animal NGOs and pet owners.
On launching the new animal ambulance service, Mr Pullicino thanked all NGOs who dedicated their lives to protecting animals and called on the public not to abuse the service. The service was only free for strays, he stressed.
He added that he planned to increase the staff at the Animal Welfare Department, which fell within his ministry, to improve the system.
Department director Mario Spiteri demonstrated how his team, equipped with another two ambulances, made use of stun guns. These guns, he stressed, did not injure the animals but calmed them down and put them to sleep to ensure they could he handled and rescued.
There were times when his team was attacked by the public who thought they were going to shoot or kill the animals when they were actually rescuing them, he said.
Dr Spiteri added that, apart from the four ambulances in Malta, the Gozo SPCA had one.
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Miriam Williams
Jul 11th 2009, 23:15
Speaking about education in schools, does anyone know what has happened to the Animal Awareness Programme previously run by the Education Division? There has not been a meeting for Animal Awareness Link Teachers for ages, neither have copies of the Animal Magic newsletter been issued, and messages to the email address animalawareness@gov.mt are returned with a failed message. Surely , giving the incidents we keep reading about in the papers, initiatives of this type which foster a caring attitude in children, should be encouraged and not discontinued.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 11th 2009, 22:59
@ Dr Vella Bardon - That is exactly what I was writing about - education aimed at adults. When we speak about education and/or campaigns, we often think that we are referring to schools. In such cases as these, we need to campaign through tv ads, radio and other media. We have to put our money where our mouth is and buy those few seconds before News in order to impart important messages. A few seconds - that is all it takes.
Mark Vella Bardon
Jul 11th 2009, 20:08
@Franco Farrugia - it is amusing to see you so repentant for having been misinformed ... I assure you that it happens to the best of us!
As for education, a lot is being said about education in schools but it is my personal opinion that education of parents and adults is equally if not even more important.
You are correct to complain that there are no television clips encouraging respect and care of animals, including pets. Some programmes stand out, e.g. Puss in Boots and Mini Bugs but spots at adult viewing time would be useful.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 11th 2009, 16:05
@ Dr Mark Vella Bardon - Of course, being human, I am prone to be 'misinformed'. In this regard, I happened to be 'misinformed' with regard to the fact that the service is already 24/7. This is an example where I am 'occasionally misinformed'. I bow my head in shame and will spend an hour on my knees tonight for having missed that.
Registration and Microchipping will go a tiny way towards avoiding the dumping of animals later an but it is not what is essentially needed. What we need is people and resources to promote a healthy consciousness towards animals - that animals DO matter and that animals have their rights and their dignity. Unless this message starts being imparted by sanctuaries and the volunteers who make out that they are friends to animals, it is useless. Make a note of the fact that there is NEVER an ad about animals on the local media!
MARIO DESIRA
Jul 11th 2009, 13:27
I agree with Mr Franco Farrugia, especially about microchipping.
Also studies abroad indicate the microchips themselves may be a health hazard to the animals.
Compulsory registration - or, why not? animal I.D. CARDS - may make mor sense.
Again it is always animal lovers who are likely to comply while some other nondescript barbarbians would not bother and will do everything to bypass the system.........
Good luck to the new ambulance service.
Mark Vella Bardon (Noah's Ark)
Jul 11th 2009, 12:48
Volunteers are always welcome at Noah's Ark, Franco ... we have been begging for them from our inception five years ago
Mark Vella Bardon (Noah's Ark)
Jul 11th 2009, 12:47
Franco Farrugia's comments are always positive but occasionally misinformed.
Therefore please note that this service IS on a 24/7 basis.
Yes, the number to call is the Police, preferable HQ. The official number is: 21224001
Indeed! Volunteers with a big heart used to provide an ambulance service in the past.
They often did so out of their own pocket and limited resources.
What IS important now is that the government has made another official step forward in its commitment to animal welfare services.
As for registration, this is a vital first step to enable law enforcement.
Our law, since 2001, provides for very stiff penalties. However, I have encountered members of the legal profession, including the judiciary, who knew nothing about this law !!!
A fast track court ought to be introduced. A "recent" case has dragged on for three years now ... due for sentencing imminentlyl but subject to an eventual possible appeal!
People will still be responsible for cruel acts, it is in the nature of quite a few humans to mistreat the helpless ... that is why law enforcement is paramount. Lacking this, microchipping will be useless.
C. Weitze
Jul 11th 2009, 12:14
Now that Franco Farrugia has mentioned regular educational campaigns against animal cruelty, let me tell you about an email that I have just received from a local cinema, announcing the launch of the new Harry Potter Movie:
COME AND MEET HARRY'S MYSTICAL FRIENDS : owls, eagles, snakes and iguanas will be on display on the 15th of July for 4 long hours...
....AND NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE IN WHAT KIND OF DISTRESS THESE ANIMALS ARE BEING PUT!
The person, that came up with this "brilliant idea" seems to be in desperate need of some education!
Franco Farrugia
Jul 11th 2009, 10:38
Congratulations to the Government authorities that finally woke up to the persistent call to have animal-ambulances in Malta. Thanks also to those individuals who throughout these years, from their own pockets and their own time, made up for this disgusting lack of service.
It would be much appreciated if the authorities went one step further and introduced a special emergency number instead of the Police number.
It would also be appreciated if this service had to be given 24/7. For this reason, Noah's Ark could, for example, organise a call of applications for volunteers to help man this service. They would be surprised how many would apply.
Microchipping will not even HELP to fight animal cruelty since the wrong people will not bother to microchip the dog - or, what's worse, would try, somehow, to remove the microchip from the animal's body!
The answer to animal-cruelty is a proper animal act which would see that there would be a proper Commissioner for Animals, totally separated from any Government entity and who would have certain powers to act. The answer to animal-cruelty is also educational campaigns throughout the year - and vigilance!
Mark Vella Bardon
Jul 11th 2009, 10:17
The gentleman holding the stun gun belongs to the Animal Welfare Department.
Personnel using this gun require a special police licence.
Ambulance staff do not use the gun, Animal Welfare Department is called in when it is required.
The cooperation and efficiency shown by the partners in this venture has been applaluded, ever since it started functioning on the1st June 2009