Good step forward for animal welfare

The government's recent animal welfare initiatives - setting up an animal welfare team and a 24-hour animal ambulance service - are to be applauded.

The SPCA has been lobbying to improve Malta's outdated animal welfare standards for many years. Once the new Animal Welfare Act (and appropriate enforcement procedures) is in place, the government and the NGOs should be able to work together more effectively to bring our animal welfare system in line with our European partners.

Cooperation between the government, the SPCA and all the animal welfare organisations working in Malta is essential if we are to achieve this goal and increased government funding is a sine qua non. The NGOs would never be able to fulfil their separate but interrelated functions if they were to rely solely on voluntary donations. The multifaceted problems of an uncontrolled animal population, strays, cruelty, disease and a lack of proper welfare facilities are simply too pervasive and entrenched.

I therefore welcome the government's new initiatives, which I hope are an indication that a new awareness of the problems facing us has finally dawned and that further government initiatives and more funding will be forthcoming.