SPCA Gozo staff assaulted while cat trapping
The Gozo SPCA said today that it has, for the time being, abandoned its ‘Trap, Neuter, Release’ programme after its personnel were assaulted and equipment destroyed or damaged on Friday.
The attack happened during an organised cat trapping session.
The cat and dog neutering programme had been running for several years with much of the expenditure being covered by international organisations in the UK and Germany, namely The Blue Cross and ITV Grenzenlos. Last year over 445 animals in Gozo were neutered in order to stop the wholesale dumping of unwanted kittens and puppies every year.
"The Gozo SPCA personnel involved in the incident were shocked and dismayed that such an attack should take place in Gozo," the Gozo SPCA said.
The police are taking action against the person involved in the attack.
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Ann Mary `Corkett
Nov 29th 2009, 02:12
What is going on here? Are people saying they dont want the SPCA. Why dont they come straight out and say it. And then what they would do in its place. If a cat can have two litters of kittens a year each of 6 kittens , it doesnt take Einstein to work out that Gozo will have a problem if it stops its neutering programme. The government seem to be playing cat and mouse with the SPCA at the moment too. They could be a bit more supportive of the animal management programmes . Maybe they are trying to get rid of the SPCA ./ They are certainly not bending over backwards to secure its future with the much needed accommodation. Wjhat we need herer is some straight talking , not violence or bullying tactics. Either you want the SPCA or not. The governerment leads the opinions of a nation and at the moment it is sitting on the fence . It is not wonder that people think they can attack the SPCA when the govenrmetn cannot even ressolve the issue of new premises
Raymond Sammut
Nov 21st 2009, 19:08
@ G. Bencini -- 2. buy your pet a collar and put your name and telephone number on it
Owners can refuse to do so, citing Privacy Laws. But normally, registration would be required by law, else the animal can be impounded and destroyed. I am surprised that this does not seem to be the case on Malta.
G. Bencini
Nov 21st 2009, 16:31
Who in his right frame of mind would stop the SPCA from curbing the problem of strays? If it's someone who fears his/her dog or cat be taken for a stray than s/he has 3 options:
1. keep your pet indoors
2. buy your pet a collar and put your name and telephone number on it
3. microchip your pet.
And, for Heaven's sake, allow these people to do their job!
Lea Grech
Nov 21st 2009, 15:18
If the animals belong to somebody they shouldnt be running on the streets of Gozo since they might get run over or get poisoned, especially if they aren't neutered as they might scatter kittens about and what happens to the kittens then ! I used to work as a volunteer at SPCA Gozo and I think these dedicated volunteers should definitely continue their kind work for animals.
victor pulis
Nov 21st 2009, 13:05
The Gozo SPCA said today that it has, for the time being, abandoned its ‘Trap, Neuter, Release’ programme after its personnel were assaulted and equipment destroyed or damaged on Friday
So whoever attacked them has achieved his aim that of stopping the programme. Why is the SPCA discontinuing the neutering? why don't its members have police protection while on duty? Is this island being governed by the law of the jungle where the fist rules?
Ivan Falzon
Nov 21st 2009, 10:49
@ W Spencer....there is no denying that the SPCA are doing a sterling job. However in this case, and I stress in this case, since i'm not informed about other cases, they booped, and they booped big time. The way the locals got it was that the SPCA guys were interfering in their daily way of life. Useless to subtly point to animal cruelty, because there no such thing involved in this case.
W Spencer
Nov 21st 2009, 09:41
@ N Portelli
Strays are not necessarily thin and tatty, so how does one distinguish a stray from a neglected owned cat ?
It seems that so many Gozitans are quite happy to have hundreds of feral cats and dogs marauding the streets / countryside, and quite happy to listen to neglected dogs barking and howling 24 / 7 from roofs and garages.
Then people wonder why animal cruelty is on the increase.
N. Portelli
Nov 19th 2009, 23:46
What I might add after I. Falzon said is that they should at first look how well the cats are treated by ALL the surrounding neighbours where they are fed at least 3 times daily. They surely do not look like stray cats at all. While SPCA are certainly doing a great job, they should also take notice of how much some people take care of these animals that are not so stray after all.
lesley Kreupl
Nov 19th 2009, 21:35
Shame on some of you 'should be neutered' people who have commented. It is all very well for you to have your tom cat marking his territory, but not such fun for the neighbours who have to put up with the stink and excrement and disturbed nights. Have you ever seen a litter of pittiful, starving kittens left to die in a field or skip? Or investigated an obnoxious smell in your back yard only to find a sack full of dead kittens? Or a 'mommy-cat' turfed out because she has now become a burden?
I know it is hard for you wonderful SPCA people to continue to look after the many abused animals in Gozo, but please don't give up! You are doing a marvellous job.
James A. Tyrrell
Nov 19th 2009, 20:41
@I Falzon. . The folks at Gozo SPCA do a sterling job and need the backing of the public rather than stupid comments.
J Micallef
Nov 19th 2009, 17:00
@D.Borg – I know that cats have a tendency to roam, not least because of their predatory instinct. But they also roam to go and have ‘a good time’ with other cats. And that could be increasing the problem with stray cats.
So I would suggest you tag or identify your cats in some way so that if caught, it is recognised to be a cat-in-care. Otherwise, you may opt for a cat’s-chastity belt…dunno if they exist though…! :-)
I Falzon
Nov 19th 2009, 16:47
How convenient for our beloved Gozo SPCA. They forgot to say that they did not check if all the cats were strays. Indeed when queried by a neighbour, these people, replied with the most arrogant 'I know better' way. It's time that these people 'neuter' down their attitude.....and by the way leave the cats alone.
Alison Natalie Keeler
Nov 19th 2009, 13:56
How sad.
Austen Lennon
Nov 19th 2009, 13:01
Very stiff sentences must be imposed on people to send a message to others that violence will not be tolerated or else you will be come like us in the UK where rapists are commonly given 3 years and murderers 6 years.
Vincent Buttigieg
Nov 19th 2009, 12:19
Such incidents keep happening because the rule of being strong with the weak and weak with the strong applies to all the authorities in these islands, not only to notorious MEPA. How many bullies get along scot free for all the abuses they carry out? On the other hand, how many simple citizens are made to pay fines for the smallest of infringements? With this 'national' mentality when and how will ordinary citizens be able to lead 'normal' lives?
@g.c.Forte - The SPCA volunteers explained, or rather, tried to explain to the person concerned what the details and implications of the whole operation were but he was too busy with taking the law into his hands rather than listen to reason.
'Lil din l-art helwa' has become a thing of the past a long long time ago!!!!!!!!!!!
T. Orsini
Nov 19th 2009, 12:11
The police should do their utmost to find the persons who made this attack. The real reason should be established. If these persons were in good faith and tried to protect the cats, then more information about these neutering programmes should be given. Hope the SPCA Gozo staff keep up the good work.
Joanne Vassallo Santucci
Nov 19th 2009, 12:07
Indeed the public (those who truly and sincerely are animal welfarists),should be made more aware of how abandoned animals are being taken care of and should also have the opportunity to participate in taking care of these poor animals. I am surprised of how many dogs are abandoned and tortured here in Malta and NOBODY HIGH ABOVE really truly cares!!! Perhaps at school, at a young age children are asked if they can adopt a puppy or kitten for a small fee to start off with to help feed and care for these lonely animals. good luck and keep it up all of you doing a proper job from your hearts to care for our best of friends.
david agius
Nov 19th 2009, 12:04
I agree with mr. micallef. Only it is not a trap neuter release programme,the government needs to do for certain humans but a trap, brain adjustment , release programme.Well done t the police and spca in gozo for taking action against this heartless person. Animal lovers and ther are any of us demand that the courts hand out a sentence which will be a detterent to insensitive people like him if he is found guilty of his action or else these cowboy tactics are going to go on for ever.
J. Borg
Nov 19th 2009, 12:02
guess that some of those commenting are rushing to conclusions.....
better have clearer details before forming opinions.....
as regards some elements of the police doing their duty.....the less said the better!
D. Borg
Nov 19th 2009, 11:56
are the SPCA Gozo sure they are not nuetering house cats???? cats even if they belong to someone are still running around freely....and go in and out of home when they feel like...thats how cats should be living...and as in Gozo there isn't so much traffic I am sure that most cat owners allow their cats to go in and out when they feel like....indeed I would be very angry at the SPCA if they had to catch my cat and just nuter it without my consent!!!
a. sciberras
Nov 19th 2009, 11:25
what a shame! let's hope that the police actually take action on this one, and find cooperation from the locals.
Franco Farrugia
Nov 19th 2009, 11:23
@ g.c.forte - It seems that you must have some kind of hidden insight in such matters. How did you come to this conclusion? Whatever the reason, someone who attacks someone else usually first ASKS what is going on. Are you making out that in Gozo, things are done differently?
Chris Farrugia
Nov 19th 2009, 11:10
gc forte may be right. It could be that the people who did this thought tht they were going to trap the animals and then kill them.. That is why the public needs to be infromed about the services and work done by SPCA. AT least I hope that this happened out of ignorance and not out of sheer cruelty. Well done SPCA and continue your good work
T Aqulina
Nov 19th 2009, 10:13
Unbelievable! So tired of hearing of such acts of bullying!
@ J Micallef, you are so right!
M Mifsud
Nov 19th 2009, 10:09
The police do their job quite well. I think our courts should get more tough when they are dealing with "cowboys"!
g.c.Forte
Nov 19th 2009, 09:59
I am sure that the person who attacked and destroy the equipment ,did not know what was going on. I think that he is an animal lover and thought that they are making the animals goes to sleep for ever. It is a strange case. Well done to the Gozo SPCA.and those involved,for the great job they are doing.I hope that this program will commence in the very near future.
JAFarrugia
Nov 19th 2009, 09:50
While i dont know the reasons or why this happened, sometimes i think that some people on these islands think there taking part in a MAD MAX/ Rambo film.
Time to get some serious hard nut police who take no crap.
J Micallef
Nov 19th 2009, 09:49
Perhaps the Government should start thinking about a human 'Trap, Neuter, Release' programme. :-)