More animal cruelty reported in Gozo

The Gozo SPCA has reported the poisoning of two dogs and the abandonment of a cat in separate incidents today.

It said that just before 8am, a member of the public reported that there was a dog crying in a skip in Marsalforn. The Centre Manager, Betty Berry, immediately responded and requested the local police to also be in attendance. She found a dog feed sack inside the skip in which there appeared to be a dog in severe pain.

"On removal from the skip, to their horror they discovered that the dog was on top of another dog inside the same sack. Examination of the second dog revealed it to be dead, but the death was recent since rigor mortis had not set in. The dog that was alive was in severe pain throwing its head back in agony, screaming and fitting," the SPCA said.

The dog was rushed to the Vet who diagnosed that the dog had been poisoned and was in the final throes of dying an agonising death.

"Sadly the only option was to put it peacefully to sleep," the SPCA said.

Both dogs were small to medium in size, of terrier cross breed and looked to have been in good health prior to being poisoned.

Whilst a report was being filed at the Victoria Police Station, the Gozo SPCA officials were informed that an injured kitten had been handed in by a tourist, who had picked it up nearby. They thought it had been hit by a car, but it in fact had a severe eye infection, which could result in the loss of one eye. Other than that the kitten was very tame, in good health and eating well.It is now under veterinary care at the Gozo SPCA shelter.

"This cruel abandonment may well have a very happy ending since the police would like to have the kitten as a Station cat when it has fully recovered from its treatment," the SPCA said.

A spokesman for the SPCA said that from the recent vigorous discussions in the press there had been a lot of hurtful and ill informed criticism of the of the society, but the society had also received many more messages of support. They were also very heartened to learn that there are a number of people in Gozo and Malta were willing to re-home injured and sick dogs on a permanent basis.

The Gozo SPCA may be contacted on 21553769 or by email at info@spca-gozo.org