Claudia Calleja
Grateful dogs rescued from beastly cruelty
Free at last. Animal welfare officer Godric Marston lifts a dog out of a yard, at the Għajn Tuffieħa barracks, where it had been tied in the sweltering heat. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli.
Desperate barks echoed through the otherwise deserted Għajn Tuffieħa barracks yesterday as an animal rescue team moved in to save three dogs suspected of being kept there for illegal fighting.
One small dog, a mixed breed just a few months old, had its head stuck between two bricks preventing it from reaching the mound of animal intestines beside it that was the only food in sight.
There was also a bucket of water which, being empty, was of little use to the trapped dog. The chain that held it captive in the make-shift yard in the sweltering sun had burrowed into its skin.
Despite its discomfort, the small creature wagged its tail on seeing rescuers from the Animal Welfare Department and animal NGO Noah's Ark, who work together to save injured and abandoned strays from the cruel streets.
Animal welfare officer Godric Marston climbed over a wire fence, about two metres high, to free the bitch which he kept calling "pupa" (doll). Once released the dog was clearly grateful as, tail wagging, it kept trying to jump onto its rescuer.
Mr Marston's colleagues then set up a ladder so that the dog could be safely lifted over the fence.
Earlier on, the team rescued a male pit bull that was tied up with a short chain in another yard at the barracks. Beside him lay a pile of pig skin.
The dog, about nine months old, was surprisingly friendly, despite the scars on its face and body.
"The poor thing was tied up in the yard that was easily accessible by other dogs making it completely defenceless in case of attack," Mr Marston said.
Charlie, as Mr Marston called him, cooperated with rescuers and got into the pen that was then lifted into an animal ambulance - a service officially launched last week.
Rescuers also saved another pit bull that was roaming around the barracks alone. This male dog, about nine years old, was too aggressive to handle so it had to be sedated with a dart gun.
The three dogs were taken to a vet and are now in the care of the Animal Welfare Department. They will eventually be taken to the Noah's Ark sanctuary in Mellieħa. Noah's Ark founder Fabio Cuschieri said the organisation had been informed about the dogs by passers-by.
"I think that, given the circumstances in which they were found, they were being kept there for dog fighting. This type of cruelty towards animals can't go on," he stressed.
He has long been insisting on the need to introduce microchipping as it would allow the owners of abandoned animals to be tracked down.
The government has said it hoped that, within the next few years, microchipping would be made obligatory. However this would have to be done following consultation with all stakeholders including animal NGOs and pet owners.
The 24-hour animal ambulance 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.
Animal lovers can call on 2122 4001 to report an injured or abandoned stray animal.
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David Wirrich
Jul 15th 2009, 12:32
Now another case of absoluteley blatanat cruelty to dogs on Malta. Surely there is some way that we can make the politicians listen and do something, and for the Police to get off their backsides and arrest these scum. Every day brings another cruely case to our attention and I agree witrh Mr Montanara, where are the updates? Nothing has changed on Malta since I was a little boy of five or six and watched in horror as I played on the rocks at Qui-si-Sana and saw this brute of a man systematically pick up one new born kitten after another and hurl each ferocially against a concrete wall, smashing their brains out and laughing. This act still haunts me to this day.
Emma Xerri
Jul 15th 2009, 03:37
With so many cases of mistreatment and cruelty to animals in recent weeks, when are we going to see at aleast some of these perpetrators brought to Court?
It seems that there is little interest from the authorities to find these criminals and make an example of them. And the Maltese Courts need to treat such cases using the same yardstick used if the same crime had been committed on a child or a dependent person.
A serial cat-killer and torturer recently caught in the US could face a maximum prison term of
158 years if convicted!
Peter J. Nesshead
Jul 14th 2009, 16:10
There are too many cases of animal abuse in Malta and Gozo, and perpetrators (who are COWARDS!) fear no punisment from an administration who values the lives of animals (who cannot vote) not one iota. These people need to be made an example of.
Joe Camilleri
Jul 14th 2009, 15:22
@Alexander Morana
before putting pen to paper, check the facts please.
The ECJ has nothing against Malta vis a vis September hunting.
Malta is at the ECJ because the govt failed to apply correctly the derogation for SPRING hunting.
So I wonder who deserves a lesson or the strap.
Alexander Morana
Jul 14th 2009, 14:26
All this reportage about animal mistreatments will not bode will with the European court of justice where the directive against Malta's right to allow hunting in September. This proves that Malta and its people still do not respect nature and its creations.
Thus we all deserve a lesson if not the strap.
v.pulis
Jul 14th 2009, 12:14
Don't tell me that it is difficult or worse impossible to trace the scum responsible for this cruelty. Malta is a small country were one cannot sneeze without being heard let alone keep dogs locked up in these appalling conditions. Even if they're caught, these monsters will most probably get away with a reprimand and a suspended sentence especially if they have a 'clean' record and they have cooperated with the police. I say give them a punishment that will haunt them for the rest of their miserable lives and make them work for the animal sanctuaries in the weekends.
Christopher Vella
Jul 14th 2009, 11:20
I guess its business as usual; they will get away with it. And if they don’t, jail and fines simply won’t do anymore. With all probability, such monsters would have already served a prison term at some point or another during their miserable life, and fines usually will only make them wilier. I sincerely believe that only stoning this scum and the like will come close to what they deserve. Too many times we come to learn of such circumstances and too little is being done. I stopped visiting Marsamxetto for the simple reason that I couldn’t bear anymore to see dogs locked in the small “rooms” cut in the rocks. I stopped passing through the Valletta ring road for the simple reason that I can’t bear anymore to see dogs tied to a gate, lying in their excretions just beneath the church Ta’ Liesse. I have reported these many many times and still these criminals insist.
alan Montanaro
Jul 14th 2009, 10:02
Right... so what happens now? Do the person/s responsible get away with it? Its great that The Times report these heinous acts of cruelty and sadism.... but what about updates?
What's going on with Freddie Fenech? Was there any truth in the fraud claims? What about the owners of the puppies that were being bred as prey for the near-starved fighter dogs in Qormi? Did they get away with it? has there been a crackdown on dog-fighting? Did anyone find out who the owner is of the German Shepherd thrown in the sea and left to drown? Did anyone trace the owner of the Huskie thrown over a cliff with a 12 foot rope around its neck? I have.... and I have no idea what to do with the information?
Seriously... about some updates!