Lawrence Magrin, Vittoriosa
Animal ambulance needs blue light
I refer to Bill Andrews' letter Emergency Lights On Animal Ambulance, (August 10).
I ran the very first animal ambulance in 1995 and we started off with an orange light emergency beacon. The result was that during an emergency while carrying badly injured animals, no one would give way for us to pass freely as seeing the orange light drivers used to think that we were a towing service or transporting refuse. Hence on many occasions animals suffered haemorrhage and died on the way to the vet as we were caught in traffic.
Thanks to the mature understanding of the then police traffic superintendent Alfred Abela, our ambulance was given permission to use the blue light. This made a big difference even to human beings, as in some cases we also used our blue-light ambulance to assist during traffic accidents till the police vehicles arrived on the spot while waiting for the St Luke's Hospital ambulances.
Notwithstanding that we had the blue light there were odd times when we used to be stuck in heavy traffic, only to be assisted by traffic police who escorted us to the vets themselves.
I would say that emergency lights and siren on Noah's Ark animal ambulances are a must.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
5 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
emanuel magrin
Aug 14th 2009, 16:02
@ Gerrie Cowie.
The video link shows just how important that an Animal Ambulance service is effective even during heavy traffic as there is a sick or injured animal fighting for life inside.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC10t8bkZis
If Mr. Cowie does not show any feelings for animals in distress after viewing this video, then the only word that befits him is SADIST AND NOT ANIMAL LOVER.
Kenneth Cassar
Aug 14th 2009, 09:25
@ Gerry Cowie:
Have you ever been bitten by a dog or something? I can't understand your animosity to treating animals decently.
Is anyone saying that if a human ambulance meets an animal ambulance, the human ambulance should give way? I don't recall anyone saying that. So what is your problem with giving way to an animal ambulance (at most, it takes 5 seconds of your time)?
As for ignoring traffic signals (if you mean traffic lights), I believe that ambulances are reasonably authorised to do that in an emergency. Not sure about going the wrong way, although I doubt it.
As for people being taken to court for having their cats neutered, I think here you are being ridiculous. We support neutering as a means to control the stray population. As for laws against treading on ants, perhaps since you have no valid arguments, you are playing silly. However, you're not at all funny.
You're just a person who would not sacrifice even 5 seconds of his time to save an animal. And you had the cheek to call yourself an "animal lover" elsewhere.
And no, this won't get you on the Animal Rights blog. It's too silly.
Gerry Cowie
Aug 13th 2009, 20:20
Humans are more important than animals and a blue light, with equal treatment with ambulances carrying humans, is uncalled for. The next thing is that the animal ambulance will want the ability to ignore traffic signals and go the wrong way up one-way streets! Whatever next? People taken to court for having their cats neutered? Laws against treading on ants?
This will get me on the Animal Rights blog!
g.c.Forte
Aug 13th 2009, 16:10
If it is a must, go on,do what it`s best for the animals. Please, and I say again Please do not wait for the "go ahead" from some where,because I tell you, that the engine of the ambulance will be needing changing because the wear and tear, before you will have the permission, to do the sirens and the blue lights. ATTENTION to all drivers.... When you see this ambulance, PLEASE make way instant.
Mark Thorogood
Aug 13th 2009, 13:47
Please bear in mind there is also an animal ambulance in Gozo, operated by Gozo SPCA, which is equally deserving of a "blue light" and siren.
As an aside, the Gozo SPCA ambulance running costs are entirely paid for by donations made to Gozo SPCA. For some reason, they receive no funding to run it, unlike the one operated by Noah's Ark.