Matthew Xuereb
Breeder told to get his dog house in order
A dog breeder has been given some time to improve the living conditions of the 44 dogs in his possession or Animal Welfare Department officers will take them away.
The department raided a villa in Birkirkara on Monday after it received several anonymous calls from people in the vicinity who complained about the dogs, said Godric Marston, an animal welfare officer.
The officials, accompanied by police, found 28 dogs in a garage and 16 on the roof of the property in Psaila Street, corner with G. Dimech Debono Street.
Vet Duncan Chetcuti Ganado said he checked the animals and found they were in good health. There were a few which were underweight but these just needed a different diet.
There was one dog which seemed to have a condition in its spine. He said the breeder showed him a vet certificate to prove it was undergoing some form of treatment.
Dr Chetcuti Ganado said the garage lacked ventilation although the dogs on the roof had fans and a green sun shade to keep them cool. No further details about the conditions were given.
The breeder, Freddie Falzon, was ordered to improve general conditions in which the dogs were kept, particularly in the garage. Another spot check will follow in a week or so. If the situation does not improve, the dogs will be confiscated.
Mr Marston said the dogs were very friendly, including a Japanese Akita, which was rarely friendly.
One neighbour told The Times the dogs barked all day and night and the smell emanating from the garage and the roof was unbearable.
5 Comments
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Joseph Mallia
Aug 12th 2009, 20:25
I have only one comment to make. Does the law allow a person to keep 44 dogs in a house in a very densely inhabited area? This person is not keeping just one dog as a pet but obviously running a commercial activity that surely requires a police permit and a neighbours'
consent.
CSaliba
Aug 12th 2009, 16:32
Of course the situation will improve in a week or so. And this chap will be allowed to keep his dogs so that his neighbours may joyfully continue to hear them bark all day and night and smell the odour emanating from his garage. As soon as Animal Welfare and police loosen up the situation will be back to normal. Police condoning such behaviour is a very dangerous precendent because this house is in a very densely populated residential area and not a farm in the countryside. Keeping and feeding 44 dogs is a very expensive so the police would be taken in for a ride if they believe that this 'dog lover' is not doing it for money! Indeed Animal welfare anytime but not at the expense of the welfare of neighbours.
Galea. L
Aug 12th 2009, 12:22
If the law does not provide a limit on the number of dogs and other animals that may be kept in a household then the law is indeed an ass.
When are the legislators going to amend the law since people living nearby are clearly being negatively affected apart from having their property value lowered?
Is it going to be when someone loses his patience and his head and does something unthinkable?
ABORG
Aug 12th 2009, 11:57
'the dog breeder has been given some time to improve living conditions' - don;t the police and the authorities feel that this so called breeder is unable to look after 44 dogs? no matter how big this property is, dogs should not be confined to a roof or on the garage...irrespective of fans being used....and yet more time has been given to allow this thing.
i can sympatise with the complaining neighbour with 44 dogs all doing their jobs and making their noise within the house......what about the health authorities..? have they been informed on the possible stench from this house.....
Franco Farrugia
Aug 12th 2009, 10:29
First: the Animal Welfare Dept does not need police or reporters in order to carry out 'raids'. The Police come in only as a last resort, if the people concerned are not cooperative. Reporters are called if there is anything worth reporting.
Secondly: there should be a decent minimum number of dogs kept in residential areas and this is to the benefit of the dogs themselves.
Thirdly: Especially seeing that no law has been broken, it makes no sense to publish photos and acutely give the address of the owner in question.
Fourthly: the Government must enact a new Animal Welfare Act, which would include stricter controls on breeding and breeders in general. We are living in a country where we have few sanctuaries and many stray dogs and cats. In such a context, what sense does it make to fill the 'market' with pedigrees when people should be encouraged to adopt strays? Breeders are there to make profit from the animals they sell - very often, they ignore VAT rules. The least the authorities can do is to ensure that these breeders pay their dues - which would hopefully be channelled towards the running and upkeep of the animal sanctuaries.