The dog poop incident in Gozo (1)

I would like to clarify points raised in your article on a dog owner being fined after disposing of a bag with excrement in a bin (The Sunday Times, August 30).

When contacted by your journalist on August 29, I recall saying a case cannot be commented upon before it is carefully investigated.

From the investigation it resulted that the warden, while issuing the fine, wrote that he saw a man (Joe Mallia) with a dog, the dog pooped, the poop was picked up and put in a plastic bag and was placed next to a wall. Mr Mallia told the warden there was other rubbish. However, the warden replied there was no rubbish but only stains on the pavement where rubbish was normally illegally placed.

In fact, the refuse truck had already passed by. The citation was issued for disposing of dog poop in an inappropriate manner. Had Mr Mallia walked walk down Triq il-Forn, a mere 100 metres away towards the (Marsalforn) waterfront, he would have seen ample litter bins where he could have easily disposed of it.

The illegal practice of putting litter in a stack at various points has to stop. The law clearly points out that garbage can only be put next to the doorstep where a person lives at times indicated by the local council.

Mr Mallia wrote to the Petitions Board and the petition was refused. He was due to appear in court last January 16 but chose not to.

When one does not attend the hearing without reason the Commissioner has the right to charge the maximum fine allowed by law.

He was therefore fined €116.