Animal facility delayed by addition of services
Works have been delayed at the animal aftercare centre at Ta’ Qali, which is designed to blend with its surroundings. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
An animal aftercare centre planned to have been up and running in the first half of this year has been delayed by a few months after the government decided to add more services to the facility.
Situated at a site known as Ta’ Ġakbu in Ta’ Qali, the €300,000 project will be geared to take in injured strays and pets and provide them with the necessary care and rehabilitation.
However, with more services and facilities being added following discussions with welfare organisations, its opening has been pushed back to October.
The new services include part of the centre being allocated to the guide dogs association, which currently lacks the necessary facilities to train these dogs, a government spokesman said.
The centre has also been extended to include stables to provide for the care and rehabilitation of horses.
Unsatisfactory tender bids for the laying out of the turf on the roof also contributed to the delay when another call had to be issued.
However, the spokesman said works were at an advanced stage and the centre should be inaugurated in about three months’ time.
The centre is the first of its kind and will complement the animal ambulance service run by the Animal Welfare Department. Injured strays can be picked up, taken to Ta’ Qali and treated by the vets on site, at the government’s expense. A nominal fee will be charged for care provided to pets, and the money will go towards covering part of the centre’s running costs.
The centre will not subsist entirely on fees charged to animal owners but will be partially funded by the government.
It also features an isolation room for contagious cases, an exotic animal ward, kennels and a dedicated area to process waste produced by the animals.
Its architecture is also the first of its kind and it is designed to blend into the surrounding landscape.
Insulation is also being installed to muffle the sounds inside and protect the centre from extreme temperatures.
The project is expected to be the answer to the prayers of animal welfare organisations, whose resources have been stretched to the limit as the number of mistreated and abandoned animals continues to rise.
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charles grech
Jul 21st 2010, 21:25
Sincerely hope that this animal centre is run by HAPPY PAWS whose present facility/clinic at Marsa is providing a service that animal lovers longed for many years.
R.Borg
Jul 20th 2010, 19:44
"ANIMAL FACILITY DELAYED BY ADDITION OF SERVICES"
THAT MEANS
MORE FINANCIAL RESOURCES
O.K. GOOD LUCK TO THE ANIMALS AND ALL ANIMAL LOVERS.
BUT WHAT ABOUT DISTRESSED CHILDHOOD FACILITIES (refer to APPOGG) DELAYED FOR YEARS BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS ?
INDEED THERE IS AN AWSWER:
ANIMALS CANNOT WAIT AND CHILDREN INDEED CAN WAIT.........MYSTERIUM VITAE
Franco Farrugia
Jul 20th 2010, 20:41
Tghidx hmerijiet. Ghall-informazzjoni tieghek, dak li qed isir ghall-annimali Ta' Qali qed isir ghall-ewwel darba minn naha ta' Gvern lejn l-annimali. Miljuni kbar ta' ewros qed jigu ppumpjati fid-direzzjoni li qed issemmi int. Jekk il-genituri jkunu iktar responsabbli, jkun hemm inqas bzonn tal-facilitajiet li qed issemmi int. Toqghodx tfittex ix-xaghra fl-ghagina.
Mark Tanti
Jul 20th 2010, 18:49
Well done with whoever came up with the idea to build this centre for the care of animals in Malta. Finally a Government who is dealing with the issue of animal welfare with the same dedication that NGOs have been doing in the past decades.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 20th 2010, 19:32
Please, do not insult animal NGOs. Please. Don't.
D. Farrugia
Jul 20th 2010, 16:54
For the sake of the animals it is best to delay the "official opening" rather than having to install infrastructure, and what not, AFTER the animals are already housed in this (long-awaited) facility. Let's not rush to the "qtugh ta' zigarelli" and have this properly planned before it is operative. This is a blessing to animal care and welfare, but I agree with some of the readers claiming that this should not be seen as a panacea to the myriad of abuses, suffering and ignorance when it comes to animal welfare in its broadest of sense. Much more has to be done in that regard, and educating the public should be top priority and a good start (awareness campaigns).
charles grech
Jul 20th 2010, 16:30
@ david agius.
You are quite right. The original land allocated to this project was by far bigger. Most of this land was given to Tom Dick And Harry mainly to the American Embassy.
I think the present plans were copied from some BUNKER that were found in Iraq.
emanuel magrin
Jul 20th 2010, 16:25
How about installing solar panels on the roof.
davidagus
Jul 20th 2010, 16:15
Well done.It's a good start.But what I would like to know, because there is not a mention of this, is.What happens to the injured stray cats after they are nursed back to health.Will they be thrown back in the streets so they can get run over again.The area being developed does not seem big enough to annex a living area where these abandoned helpless and beautiful creatures can live safely,so why not create one .
James Azzopardi
Jul 20th 2010, 15:21
Ta’ Qali is indeed being transformed into an area which is showcasing the way we have advanced in our respect for nature. With a family park, a number of afforestation projects and now this animal welfare centre – there is a lot to be proud of. Not too many years ago afforestation and animal welfare were non-existent policies (in Malta). I suggest schoolchildren are sent on outings to this area to create more awareness of the respect for nature.
L Cassola
Jul 20th 2010, 15:21
@ Alan Mallia – it is commendable that Government is investing in the care of animals who get injured. I am not sure why you have to criticise such a policy in a partisan manner and bring in the issue of the Karrozini sheds. The cab owners should be made to take more care of their animals and shouldn’t expect Government to provide all that is needed. They are after all making money off the horses. Owners of horses who use those horses for horse-riding practise would not expect Government to build sheds, so why should cab owners get this special treatment?
estelle grech
Jul 20th 2010, 13:30
Wondeful news, a long awaited rehab care facility for our four legged friends, especially the strays and abandoned pets who have no one to care for them, very happy to hear this!!!!! Prosit!!!!!!!!!!
alfred zammit
Jul 20th 2010, 12:10
Well done .Finally we will have a decent place where to treat our animals.Lets hope that there will be no power struggle between the various animal welfare associations and all animals treated fairly.
c. hansel
Jul 20th 2010, 11:26
Thank you Malta
for once a good investment which is really needed.
Kathleen Micallef
Jul 20th 2010, 11:09
Ejja fl'ahhar something good for the most beloved animals. Although I certainly cannot understand how people bring animals home and then abandon them in the road. Although happy for the animals I totally agree with Mr. Mallia and as the government did something for these animals I would love to see something done especially for our beloved horses as these poor animals suffer both under the scorching sun and even in winter withe the wind and rain. Some thought Mr. Government........
s.koludrovic
Jul 20th 2010, 11:01
Would this be new centre of the SPCA that at the moment is based in Floriana.
c.in den bosch
Jul 20th 2010, 10:21
Bravo !! It's a very good initiative.
It doesn't deserve any negative comment.
Hopefully it will be ready by the end of this year.
Alan Mallia
Jul 20th 2010, 10:09
Why do I have this feeling that this centre-of-sorts will be inaugurated prior to the general elections?
Why do I have this feeling that this centre-of-sorts is not such a priority with the government?
Why do I denote a hint of hypocrisy: with the government unwilling to help the cab-horses under the scorching sun, while at the same time feeding us this carrot about animal-welfare?
J. Mifsud
Jul 20th 2010, 11:47
Teqridx habib! Ghal-elezzjoni baqa 2 u nofs ohra. Nahsab ahjar li tghid GRAZZI ghal darba!
Ian Galea
Jul 20th 2010, 12:57
Probably because you only watch One TV, only listen to One Radio and only read it-Torca!!!
George Azzopardi
Jul 20th 2010, 13:36
@j.Mifsud
thanks for what? .. this is being paid by our tax money ... let's just hope that maybe for once they stay within budget at least.
... yes and if this project just does not get dragged on, it would most probably be opened before some local council election probably .. getting so used these things now!!
Antoine Vella
Jul 20th 2010, 13:59
Why? Because you're biased and prejudiced. You should thank government for every carrot that comes your way. Carrots are good for your eyesight and will help you see the light.