Ariadne Massa
Two dogs poisoned, put in a sack and dumped still alive in a skip
Two dogs were poisoned, thrown still alive in a suffocating sack and dumped in a skip in Marsalforn yesterday as the cases of animal cruelty continue to be reported at an alarming rate.
Gozo SPCA centre manager Betty Berry and the police were alerted at 8 a.m. by a pedestrian who happened to be passing by the skip and heard the dog's whimpers.
Ms Berry accompanied the animal ambulance on site and with the help of the police managed to lift the dog feed plastic sack from the skip. To their horror they discovered two dogs on top of each other inside.
"One of the dogs must have just died because rigor mortis had not set in yet. The one still alive was in severe pain throwing its head back in agony, screaming and in fits," Ms Berry said.
The dog, which had its head covered to calm it down, was immediately rushed to the vet, who said it had been poisoned and in the final throes of dying an agonising death.
"Sadly, the vet felt the only option was to put it peacefully to sleep. Both dogs were small to medium in size, of terrier cross breed and looked to have been in quite good health prior to being poisoned," she added.
The voluntary work of the Gozo SPCA was far from over and after filing a report with the Victoria police station, Ms Berry was informed that an injured kitten had been handed in by a tourist.
The tourist thought it had been hit by a car but the kitten had a severe eye infection, which could result in the loss of one eye. The kitten, which was very tame, seemed to be in good health and was now under veterinary care at the Gozo SPCA's shelter, Ms Berry said.
"This cruel abandonment may well have a very happy ending because the police would like to keep the kitten as a station cat when it has fully recovered from its treatment," she added.
Ms Berry said Gozo SPCA personnel were still very shaken and deeply upset by yesterday's two cruel incidents that followed so closely on the case of the German Shepherd found abandoned in a cave off Qala last week.
Gozo SPCA pointed out that recent "vigorous discussions" in the press had led to a lot of hurtful and ill-informed criticism of the Gozo SPCA but the society had also received numerous messages of support.
The society was heartened to know there were several people in Gozo and Malta who were willing to re-home injured and sick dogs on a permanent basis. Gozo SPCA said it would be grateful if such people gave their contact details by calling the centre on 2155 3769 or sending an e-mail to info@spca-gozo.org.
The society is trying to track down the owner of the two dogs found in the skip yesterday and urged the public to report any information they had to the society, the police or the Animal Welfare Department in Malta on 2590 5302.
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edward bartolo
Jul 17th 2009, 19:15
Quote: "Edward you seem to be bending backwards to excuse these filthy scum." Never, my friend. I understand that animals are not robots, they have an advanced brain and that means, they must be treated with respect. I don't have the guts to kill a rabbit for cooking, let alone torture an animal.
charles grech
Jul 17th 2009, 18:29
@ Joseph Borg. You have a very valid point. Lets join forces. NO ANIMAL RIGHTS. NO VOTE
Joseph Borg
Jul 17th 2009, 16:21
If the government and the opposition don't join forces and do something together asap about this horror then I won't bother to vote in the next elections.
Joe Genovese
Jul 17th 2009, 12:40
There we have it now. Three times over. Rene' Giles, Alison Bagley and Stephen Peters (times.com July 4): They left Gozo for they were no longer able to bear witness to the animal cruelty so pervasive around around.
One other thing they presumably had against them was that they did not understand the vernacular. Had they done so, they would have left ages before having to see what they had heard without understanding.
So next time some flag-waving fool tries to tell ' a foreigner ' not to butt in.....
v.pulis
Jul 17th 2009, 12:10
@ edward bartolo
"The most probably reason is that they did not want to pay a VET to have these dogs put down. Most people still see paying a VET to kill an old pet as a waste of money. "
One doesn't have to pay to put an animal down. What's more, In this case the animals didn't need to be put down as according to the vet they were in perfect health until the scum poisoned them that is. remember,these dogs were poisoned, put in a sack and thrown into a skip!
And where did you get this idea that MOST people see paying a VET to kill an old pet as a waste of money?
"... do they accept being searched for killing an old pet to avoid paying a VET to do it for them?"
It is not question of accepting or not.
If the police suspect someone or are given information that would lead to an arrest the suspect has no right to resist questioning. Killing animals is a crime and the police have every power to enforce the law.
Edward you seem to be bending backwards to excuse these filthy scum.
edward bartolo
Jul 17th 2009, 08:33
Quote: "Indeed, the pleasure they derive is in knowing that they are inflicting pain on these creatures."
The most probably reason is that they did not want to pay a VET to have these dogs put down. Most people still see paying a VET to kill an old pet as a waste of money. This in no way reflects what I think: animals should be treated properly.
Quote: "one cannot enforce it (penalties) in the privacy of the people's homes.(!)"
Since these acts are done in private residences, this will be a problem for any law enforcement. Most people can understand the police searching a private house in case of a murder and drug trafficking but do they accept being searched for killing an old pet to avoid paying a VET to do it for them?
As I emphasized earlier, the reason is that many still think that animals only act instinctively. It is such an ingrained belief, that many people feel offended if a scientist says that humans are an animal species. It is true than many people have difficulty accepting what is obvious scientifically.
v.pulis
Jul 17th 2009, 00:25
@ edward bartolo
"....it is scientifically incorrect to assume that animals do not feel anything and that they only act instinctively. "
What makes you think that the scum who perform these despicable acts think that animals don't feel anything? Indeed, the pleasure they derive is in knowing that they are inflicting pain on these creatures.
"one cannot enforce it (penalties) in the privacy of the people's homes.(!)"
I can't understand what you mean to say. can you explain please?
The only solution is education of the young.
the time for education where these scum is concerned is over. Now they nust be apprehended and punished to within an inch of their lives.
edward bartolo
Jul 16th 2009, 22:51
Calling for harsher penalties will not solve this problem because one cannot enforce it in the privacy of the people's homes. The only solution is education of the young.
I see the root of this problem emanating from the assumption that animals only act instinctively. In other words, many believe that animals do not have a consciousness of their own. It has to be pointed out that mammals have an extremely advanced brain and that, the human species, also has a mammalian brain. This means, that it is scientifically incorrect to assume that animals do not feel anything and that they only act instinctively. Observing mammals is showing that they have some mental attributes that once were only associated with humans.
The difference in consciousness of animals when it is compared with that of humans, is that they do not have the ability to reflect about the past and the future - for them, only the present exists. Moreover, they do not have the ability of introspection.
W Spencer
Jul 16th 2009, 21:15
@ Edward Bartolo
I cannot see a schoolchild committing such barbaric acts of cruelty to the animals mentioned over the past few weeks.
Its no good teaching schoolchildren to respect animals, when they see their parents being cruel / negligent to their own animals. So its more a case of punishing the adults for lacking respect for animals in general, but also for setting such a bad example to their children !!!
Robert Camilleri
Jul 16th 2009, 21:01
One wonders how many of the people writing comments below are ready to dedicate some of their time to helping out in animal sanctuaries etc. It's so easy to be an armchair critic. Tut-tutting and x'gharukaza-ing away without any real suggestions to avoid such a nasty incident. And heavens above dragging the Church, the EU, the Police and anyone but the critic him/herself into the blame game which has become our national pastime. May I suggest to the SPCA to regularly and effectively advertise a tel number where one can phone to find help on how to humanely dispose of unwanted animals. As for tourists who are horrified at animal cruelty in our islands, just tune in to the RSPCA adverts on UK tv stations.
v.pulis
Jul 16th 2009, 20:32
@C.Sammut
I agree totally. in fact I had already suggested such a measure in another comment.
@ edward Bartolo
Why not close the courts and prisons because I believe all criminals are that way because of their parents and their parents in turn were like that because of their parents all the way back to Adam and Eve. These people know that when you poison, strangle, drown, cover in glue or trust a pvc pipe round the neck of an animal that animal hurts. Education has no effect on these individuals. These are basic instincts and one doesn't need to go to school to learn them.
C Vidal
Jul 16th 2009, 19:50
shhhhhhhh......because you wake up the authorities!!!!!!!
for those that dream that the EU will do something...forget about it. The EU does not anything in other serious issues. Also for those saying that these things do not happen in other EU countries...come to Greece....and see the number of stray dogs running on the streets. You know when they declined....just before the olympic games five years ago....and not because someone was kind to them...but because they were collected systematically and killed....not to give bad impressions with the foreigners coming from more civilised countries such as UK, Germany and Australia...where laws are strict and protect the animals.
Emmanuel Ebejer
Jul 16th 2009, 18:47
HELLOO!!! IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE!!! ...I'M REFERRING TO THE LAW ENFORCERS.
C.Sammut
Jul 16th 2009, 17:51
V.Pulis - How about adding supervised community work in these animal sanctuaries, in addition to their sentence?
Ray Buhagiar
Jul 16th 2009, 17:47
STOP THIS BARBARIC KILLING.
STOP LEAVING PETS ON ROOF TOPS ALL DAY & NIGHT.
STOP ANNOYING NEIGHBOURS.
ALL PETS MUST BE REGISTERED, MICROCHIPPED
ALL DOGS MUST BE TAKEN OUT FOR EXERCISE DAILY.
Govt adopt the Girona Bye Laws NOW!!
edward bartolo
Jul 16th 2009, 17:46
@ David Wirrich
It is far from an assumption. I lived with this type of people and I can assure you, that they do not deserve the monstrous penalties some are suggesting. On the whole, these people are more than ready to help, in case one needs their help. It is their background and childhood: they are so tough, that they regard suffering as a normal thing. All this is because they have been brought up that way.
If they cannot understand that what they are doing is wrong, due to their upbringing, it would be immoral to punish them. That is why I made a big emphasis on education. Punishment for something many people cannot understand, is not the answer and, I dare say, it is immoral and unacceptable in a modern society.
The last point should be obvious. Humans are social animals and society can have a great influence on how people act. The social background of some people is still lacking a lot and some values they have ingrained, may not be the values of modern society.
a. sciberras
Jul 16th 2009, 16:20
i fully agree with mr. vercelleno. the church should issue a statement about such acts. isn't this also part of morality as well?
Jon Vercellono
Jul 16th 2009, 15:53
I fully agree, the church must make a statement. I believe that in many peoples' minds, the idea of man having domination - as supposedly explained by the church - absolves SOME people from acting in a Christian way towards animals. The stand must be made clear - and I've heard this over and over - and that it was explained in this way by the church - I personally would like to know what the actual doctrine is. I personally observe the maxims of St. Francis - whose published statements regarding animals must have some bearing on doctrine. Finally, one can see little acts around the island - running over a cat and leaving it to rot there for weeks as other cars drive over it. Failing to stop when hitting a cat here in Msida (I picked the cat up off the road with my child in the car) - who was shocked at the callousness. A Driving Instruction car hitting a cat and continuing on its merry way on PP Mifsud Street. I sincerely hope the church makes a statement regarding the serious problems some have with animals.
David Wirrich
Jul 16th 2009, 14:56
@ Edward Bartolo
Are you seriously suggesting that because of these monsters' poor childhoods (which is YOUR assumption) that this is any reason or excuse for these barbaric acts? This is the latest story in The Times, on a daily basis now; it is time for the Police to do what they are paid for and the legal system to imprison the perpetrators for a lengthy period. THAT is the only way these bastards will stop such cruelty to defenceless animals. Call yourselves a Christian country? No wonder the tourists are voting with their feet and staying away. Where are all the priests ? Where is their condemnation? or is that because their faith says that dogs don't have soluls. Please! Malta is now meant to be part of the civislised EU, start acting like it.
Sylvia Zammit
Jul 16th 2009, 14:34
L.Galea - I know you mean well, but please don't give sick people ideas! As for this incident - I have already left my comments on the Gozo SPCA web site, but I would like to challenge the Police to leave no stone unturned in their investigations. It's beyond belief that no crimes involving animals are ever solved!
Pamela DeBattista
Jul 16th 2009, 14:31
OMG ... Poor dogs :( i'm sick of hearing over and over again about cruelty to animals !! Will justice be done ? Come on, don't tell me that nobody saw or knew anything. We mind each others business as a hobby, then when it comes to finding the beast who did this atrocious action, everybody shuts up !! Please dear police, investigate and ask around. Let's not give the impression that anyone can harm these poor animals and get away with it, as if nothing happened !!!
Rene Giles
Jul 16th 2009, 14:29
Yes Alison i remember, we left also for the very same reason, and shall never return to Gozo nor will our associats in the UK.. Gozo and malta are off the visitors list for us and thats final.
v.pulis
Jul 16th 2009, 14:23
@Kim Zammit Endrich
I hope these heartless bas****s burn in hell for what they are doing!!
That is not enough. We must create a hell on earth for these scum. We must make sure that they pay for their crime before they repent and find forgiveness and go to 'heaven'.The time for education is now over for these filth.
Edward bartolo the excuse that these excuses for human beings had a tough upbringing doesn't wash. Everyone is responsible for his actions be they good or bad.
G. Bencini
Jul 16th 2009, 14:05
If these dogs had been found in relatively good health then they must have belonged to someone. I sincerely hope that this abominable and deplorable act does not go unpunished and that the general public co-operates to help the police find the individual who put these innocent creatures through this horrific agony. This is not worthy of a civilized society and sometimes I wonder who is the animal: dog or man?
"A dog is 'almost human' and I know of no greater
insult to the canine race than to describe it as such."
John Holmes
C. Weitze
Jul 16th 2009, 13:38
"If you would like to get rid of your pet, than put an ad on the newspaper or contact the sanctuaries for help..." and later I realised that that might be the actually the reason why these cruel acts happen:
Try to phone one of the sanctuaries and tell them that you would like to give your pet away for adoption. What do you think would be the answer?
The answer will be: Sorry, but all sanctuaries are packed solid with abandoned animals!
So if these people cannot get rid of their pets the "legally", what do you think they are going to do? Keep the animal? No way! These people are fed up of their animals, so they either opt for dumping, drowning or poisoning.
If we want to stop this cruelty we would have to give these people/ignorants/bas****s - call them whatever you want - the legal chance to give their animals up for adoption.
For that we would need more sanctuaries, more money to support this system, more space for the existing sanctuaries and more volunteers.
Alternatively the newspapers could offer animal-adoption ads free of charge.
C Micallef
Jul 16th 2009, 13:17
HARSHER PENALTIES. Please Mr Prime Minister, discuss in parliament.
Duncan Borg Conti
Jul 16th 2009, 13:05
Shame on them.....who do these things should not be called humans at all...not even animals can come up with such a barbaric act. Law has to be enforced with an unsuspended jail sentence and a hefty fine.
Sabine Cassar-Alpert
Jul 16th 2009, 13:00
I'm glad to see that more people started showing their outrage since yesterday afternoon, when nobody seemed to be bothered to comment about such a horrible thing. It's utterly impossible for me to comprehend the sick mind of the "human being" who did this...
- A plea to all who read this: Please give a helping hand, in which ever way you can, to the SPCA Gozo. Whether it is some of your time, a donation of cash or even pet food... the centre is run by volunteers, who are doing sterling work for little more than insults from ignorant people, and they need all the help they can get!
Criss Camilleri
Jul 16th 2009, 12:57
I said it many times, BUT, I will say it again & again; 'THE MORE I GET TO KNOW ABOUT SOME PEOPLE, the more I will LOVE animals.
Shame on you, you simple minded COWARDS.
John Falzon
Jul 16th 2009, 12:53
The point that everyone seems to be overlooking here is that someone who could this to an animal is very likely to be as cruel when it comes to a fellow human being; his/her child perhaps, or his/her wife or husband, or even a perfect stranger. Immediate action is called for so that people learn that every action has a consequence which must be faced.
Galea. L
Jul 16th 2009, 12:48
Calling the people who do these things beasts will be a dishonor to beasts. I've just been on yahoo where a 17-year and a 14-year old in NYC put a cat in the over and let it burn. At least the 17-year old got a 1 year prison sentence on a plea bargain, but I hope that those who do such things will themselves somehow have a taste of their own medicine.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090716/ap_on_re_us/us_kitten_tortured
NYC teen admits to leaving kitten in oven to die
Thu Jul 16, 2:29 am ET
NEW YORK – A New York City teenager has admitted that she failed to let a kitten out of an oven after a friend put the animal inside and left it to roast to death.
After pleading guilty to charges of animal cruelty and attempted burglary on Wednesday, 17-year-old Cheyenne Cherry confronted a row of animal activists outside the courtroom. Cherry stuck out her tongue and told the activists that the kitten named Tiger Lily was "dead."
Authorities say Cherry and a 14-year-old friend ransacked a Bronx apartment before putting the cat in the oven, where it cried and scratched before dying........
edward bartolo
Jul 16th 2009, 12:46
All this has to do with the perpetrators' upbringing. It is not wise to assume that all people were protected during their childhood. Many were abused, beaten and, in general, had a tough time while they were children. How can anyone, including the foreigners who are commenting, logically conclude that these people are inherently monsters. I have lived with such people - the problem is their upbringing. Their concept of suffering is totally different from what many think. They are so used to suffering that they do not think twice to inflict it on animals or even on other people.
Pam Bonello
Jul 16th 2009, 12:33
It gives me the shivers!! What disgusting human being could have done this... Excuse the politeness, they don't deserve to be called humans, but would be censored if I wrote what I thought on these beings... I cannot but imagine the pain these poor creatures suffered! If anyone has information about this horrid act, please do come forward. These 'people' must pay for this horrendous act.
A big thank you to SPCA and the authorities for the great work they are doing! Now we just need to make sure that the culprits are caught and a severe punishment is given
Joseph Galea
Jul 16th 2009, 12:23
The families of these cowardly, sadists must know them. If they have any conscience they should report them. If they do this to helpless, trusting creatures they probably are just as cruel to people. Once identified the law should then hand down the maximum punishment possible to these evildoers. The incidents of animal cruelty seem to be on the increase every day. It is a sad indictment of Maltese society in general.
adrian aquilina
Jul 16th 2009, 12:23
this is just too upsetting..the police must investigate all these cases along with the spca and sever punishments must be given,people must come forward and give information on people doing such things...these people are sick and have a mental problem and must be taken out of society before they do this again to an animal or a human..report anyone you see harming anything
Alison Bagley
Jul 16th 2009, 12:12
I lived for 15 months in Qala & found the people to be very helpful, happy & friendly. One day, whilst walking towards the cart ruts, my husband & I found, at the side of a skip, 5 tiny puppies, who had been dead for some time. We re-thought our opinion of the locals. I think that when these cruel people are identified, their names & photographs should be displayed in their local shops & their church notice board, in order that the, very many, good people may know who is giving them such a bad name abroad. This will effect tourism. It's the reason we left!
d bugeja
Jul 16th 2009, 11:52
THIS IS TORTURE AND THIS MUST BE STOPPED. TOO MANY CASES HAPPENING. GIVE HEAVY PENALTIES TO THESE PEOPLE WHO COMMITS THESE CRIMES.
w.scicluna
Jul 16th 2009, 11:39
And we say that we are the higher form of life? I doubt it! Dogs give their love unconditionally and will always be there for you. People can be double faced, cruel, stab you in the back and are capable of anything. Wake up authorities!
edward bartolo
Jul 16th 2009, 11:14
These acts are the result of a sheer lack of objective knowledge.The only solution is the education of the young from the earliest years in primary schools. Unfortunately, many people are still making the assumption that animals only act on instict. This is scientifically incorrect and it can easily make one assume that animals do not have a consciousness of their own. Obviously, this doesn't mean that animal consciousness is the same qualitatively as human consciousness - there are good reasons to believe that it is radically different. However, having consciousness makes animals capable of feeling physical pain, and even psychological pain. Have you ever noticed a lone dog crying? What could you say about the cry? Was it nice?
As a last note: try to observe a dog or a cat or whatever. Do you think it is possible to logically explain all animal behaviour as instictive?
Judith Schembri
Jul 16th 2009, 11:11
Can someone please stop these atrocious actions? I have used up all the dirty and insulting vocabulary on these people - believe me I cannot call them any more names because I have used them all up!
Is it possible that one can be so satanic and diabolic in his actions? Is it possible that no one sees anything or hears anything? Are you not aware that these are becoming more and more common as time passes by?
G Psaila
Jul 16th 2009, 11:07
Dear Kim, they will RIP now that they've left this cruel world. Sickening. May the culprits get a taste of their own medicine asap
C.Vella
Jul 16th 2009, 11:06
When will this stop?
Vania Lamanna
Jul 16th 2009, 10:53
as long as the laws and punishments handed are not deterring and severe, they will keep getting away with it. a small fine and a warning?? Give them long prison time and a hefty fine!!!They should not be out in public anyway. It also scares me-when you consider most psychopaths and sociopaths have a history of severe cruelty to animals...People need to be educated! Ignorance only begets ignorance. I don't understand how these people can be so cruel and heartless(bastards is too good of a word to be used for them. Ms. Endrich!)
ABORG
Jul 16th 2009, 10:43
when are goverment authorities going to take these barbaric acts seriously, and seriously investigate the bastards behind these?
Mario Micallef
Jul 16th 2009, 10:43
Reading such stories makes me think twice if such people have evolved to the Homo Sapiens stage and are still in Homo Erectus stage at best! Utterly disgusting scenes!!
Kim Zammit Endrich
Jul 16th 2009, 10:35
OMG!!!!!!!!! what kind of monster did this??? I'm crying just reading the story :( I hope these heartless bastards burn in hell for what they are doing!! Don't they realise that animals have feelings too???? OMG how shocking! May both dogs RIP :(
stefania soler
Jul 16th 2009, 10:24
THIS HAS TO STOP, NOW. Don't the authorities realise that matters are getting out of hand here? I wonder when this is going to be taken seriously. It's about time that investigations take place and heavy sentences given to these beasts that commit such cruel acts upon defenceless animals. I am tired, upset and speechless reading about these horrifying acts practically everyday now. Are the authorities going to let it become the rule? WAKE UP!!