Animals removed from farm following cruelty reports

D. Calleja

Aug 27th 2010, 19:20

@ Monica Pace Bonello

Skond kliemek int qed tghid li dawn l-hniezer huma healthy mela lilek jekk jalquk go kantina bla arja u bla dawl u gol-hmieg tijak u jtuk x'tiekol tkun healthy ux?

D. Calleja

Aug 27th 2010, 19:14

Jekk forsi tafu taqraw hadd ma qal li l-annimali sejrin l-biccerija ghal qatla. L-ANNIMALI marru l-biccerija ghax hemm l-unika post f'Malta fejn jistghu jsirulom it-testijiet mehtiega mill-Vets tal-gvern u mhux biex jinqatlu mill-ewwel. X'jigri wara minn annimali bhal dawn mhux decizjoni ta l-Annimal Welfare izda tan-nies li qeghdin fuq dik il-linja tax-xoghol. U ahjar tkunu tafu l-fatti sew qabel tparlaw fil-vojt.

L.Fenech

Aug 27th 2010, 16:04

If by taking them to the abattoir, it means they are going to be seen by a vet. Can you kindly tell us what's next and where these animals are going to end up?

L Vella

Aug 27th 2010, 08:28

I thought that ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT are rescuing animals not taking them to the abbatoir!! U should test animals and if they really have no cure for their disease then there is no choice but to humainely utanise them - mela biccerija ax ma hawnx post - let us show some dignity to our friends!
i think its about time that we put hefty fines and imprisonment like abroad maybe people will treat them well - and if ur pet runs in the streets MICROCHIP them please! there are too many strays due to selfish owners...

Kimberly Portelli

Aug 27th 2010, 03:57

@G.Borg

Yeah they were taken to the abattoir... Maybe they had to be taken there first to get tested if they have any threatening diseases, I'm sure that you are aware of, that animals that are kept against the law [without a permit] is very dangerous due to maybe carrying some illness that may cause all pigs in Malta to suffer and all be slaughtered. Maybe some tests to check if they're clear or not were done at the slaughter house.. if i remember correctly there are some vets that before for example chickens are slaughtered they have to undergo a check up =] ... so that doesn't literary mean that they're slaughtered aye xP

The officer said they're gonna be taken to the abattoir.. he didn't say to be slaughtered !! And if they were slaughtered I'm sure that its for the best, its better that way than to have to suffer from a great widespread of some illness that may have been cause by a few pigs..

Cheers

A vella

Aug 26th 2010, 21:58

Can we please have the comments of an animal welfare officer on what happened to these animals once they were taken away from this farm please? I know they read our comments because if my memory serves me right, sometimes they post comments on these matters.

Tessie Orsini

Aug 26th 2010, 21:49

The welfare of the animals is taken care of it they are sent to a better place and not sent to the abbattoir to be killed!!!!!!!!!!!

J Pace

Aug 26th 2010, 21:47

'majjali u goats haduwhom il biccerija' (sic)

With this outcome I wonder if the goats and pigs were better off before knowing
that they ended up slaughtered!

paul spiteri

Aug 26th 2010, 19:18

@ Zoe Zarb

very well said!!!! (except that goats eat garbage) but i understood what you meant. You surely got your unit 2 notes right!

Monica Pace Bonello

Aug 26th 2010, 19:10

OMG!!! CRUELTY TO ANIMALS - THE FARM AND THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT!!! WHAT IS IT WITH THIS ISLAND???????????

ALL TAKE NOTE OF THE STATE OF THE ANIMALS - THEY ARE HEALTHY! OH EJJA WHAT A DISGUSTING ACT ON ANIMALS!!!!

Paul Spiteri

Aug 26th 2010, 19:09

The fact that these animals were taken away does not necessarily mean that they were not well cared for. it could be that they were not registered with the veterinary services dept. What beats me is the fact that these pot bellied pigs are in malta. it is illegal to have one of them. L.N 86 of 1980 states clearly in para. 21 "No person licensed to rear swine shall acquire his initial parent stock and any eventual replacements except from a breeding station approved by the Director." Can anybody tell me which breeding station is registered by the director to sell these animals? so Why are the authorities turning a blind eye on those pet shops/ buisnesses selling these animals? paragraph 22 of the same LN states "No person licensed to keep swine shall acquire weaners for fattening purposes from a breeder other than a licensed breeder, and subject to such weaners being tattooed distinctly for identification purposes." Where is the tattoo if I may ask? So these animals are ending up confiscated / slaughtered or whatever when they shouldn't even be in Malta. there are 2 options 1) change the law or 2) abide by the law!

jenkins maria

Aug 26th 2010, 14:27

hazin! ma nafx ,pero jista jkun li haduwom hemm al xi testijiet? forsi hemmek irridu jihduwom bix jiccekkjawom?.. qeda nistaqsi .. ax ma tamilx sens li jinhargu min post ta mohqrija min taht idejn MONSTRU li taparsi jihu hsibom (ax ma jixraqlux xejn ghajr hlif titlu ta monstru min jahqar kul hlejqa innocenti),u jihduwom ghal qatla!! u mhux billi ghandom dhera smini l animali ,xorta f ambjent hazin kinu u ma bniedem li ma jittrattahomx sew.. ehh li kiku nakwista l poter!!!

G Borg

Aug 26th 2010, 13:22

@jenkins maria
THE ANIMALS WERE SENT TO THE ABATTOIR!! An abattoir is where the animals are killed!!! Listen to the animal welfare officer. He says so in the video.

There is nothing to compliment the animal welfare department unless they are very religious and feel that the afterlife is the best place for these poor animals...

jenkins maria

Aug 26th 2010, 12:47

jahasra!! povri innocenti.. dejjem l annimal ibati flahhar mil ahhar.. nittama bhal hafna li once li nhargu min emm ma jigi maqtul xejn minnom ax inkella ma nkunux nistaw nejdu li gew salvati izda li gew is sentenzjati al mewt!! u min got tagen ikunu marru al gon nar.. pero mux suppost li jsir ekk ax animal wellfair qeda hemm ghal harsin ta l annimali.. grazzi..

G Borg

Aug 26th 2010, 11:43

People please understand what this animal welfare officer says
“the potbellied pigs and mountain goats were sent to the abattoir "
Why were these killed? Are these to be put in our food chain?
They look very healthy and are usually kept as pets as gG.Beacom rightly said.
The abattoir is not any better that were these animals were kept even the eu has complaned : http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/in-spite-of-all-the-promises-abattoir-still-a-hygiene-disaster-warns-eu
This officer is discribing the many Licenced farms which are in the same state as this farm...was this one a licenced farm?
Can the Ministry responsible to giving out Farm licences confirm?

gG.Beacom

Aug 26th 2010, 10:57

They are not Boars,But very trainable very intelligent potbellied pigs,they are the latest craze as pets in America,Actor George Clooney and Joana Lumley say they Are more affectionate then dogs !! I sincerly hope they are not put down but are rehomed to hopefully a better life.

P Pace Balzan

Aug 26th 2010, 10:31

The farm may be illegal but the animals appear (from the clip) to be healthy and well looked after.

What upsets me most is the future of these animals and the way the animal welfare officers have treated these animals.
-One of these officers actually pulled the boar into the truck from its ears.
-Sticks were used in the process.

In my opinion shame on the animal welfare department.

Re the Buzzard - they should have called in Birdlife before moving it.

fabio ciappara

Aug 26th 2010, 08:47

As president of Noah's Ark I would like to thank the animal welfare department for the excelent work they are doing. Another illigal animal camp was raided and more innocent animals were saved, thanks to these officers and to those brave people that report such cases.
To those persons who take pleasure in abusing innocent animals, I just say that animal welfare and all animal lovers will not rest until you are stopped and held responsable for all this inhumane suffering!

m.camilleri

Aug 26th 2010, 00:21

din il video clipp nahseb ghanda xtaqsam ma 1 april, salvaw lanimali biex haduhom il biccerija(ishom ha johduwom xi tour flalpi) lol tajba din ic cajta tas sena nahseb kinet din u byw ma tanx jidru mixrubin dawk il goat u il hniezer ghax jidru allaibirek.APARTI IC CAJT DAN IL VIDEO QED JEJD LI HA JIHDU XI ANIMALI IL BICCERIJA DIN HIJA OFISSA KBIRA LILL MIN IHOBB LANIMALI ... GRAZZI

Jackie St. John

Aug 25th 2010, 22:44

I sincerely hope that after being saved these animals will not end up at the slaughter house just for the sake of putting them down since their meat will not be edible.

Please do save them and place them in places like ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija where I am sure that they will be more than welcome.

The rest can be put up for adoption in adequate places.

If the buzzard can be healed and set free then that is what should be done, if not a big avairy should be found for it.

Hopefully my comments will not fall on deaf ears.............................these animals like others like them deserve the best.

Isabella Peresso Fiorentino

Aug 25th 2010, 22:04

What have these goats done to deserve this? As usual, it's always the animals who suffer at the end of the day.

To all those who commented that these animals were not subjected to cruelty, may I remind them that cruelty is not only starving an animal, but failing to provide it with the adequate space to move around, a clean environment, good fresh air and shelter apart from fresh, clean water and food. Many Maltese farms are in an abysmal state and lack all or most of these essential things. What a far cry from the farms we see abroad.

Claire Busuttil

Aug 25th 2010, 21:35

Prosit lil Animal Welfare, tax xoghol li qed jaghmlu, u prosit lil min irapporta.

P Caruana

Aug 25th 2010, 21:01

1) Learn to hear before you write. The Welfare Officer did NOT say that the pigs and goats were ill-treated so what are you commenting about B.Attard and friends?

2) Taking animals to the "biccerija" does not mean slaughtering them. Vet Services are also located over there.

3) Using wooden sticks to guide animals is as good as pig boards, as long as they are not used to beat the animals, dear Manuel Farrugia.

4) Learn to read national and European legislation before judging others. It looks like you are inviting everyone to give you food poisoning, metaphorically speaking.

My 4 pence

m.farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 20:41

@gcforte. I am sure that you are not updated on what the animal welfare dirfectoate is doing visa vis animal welfare. You have to be at the court to see the number of prosecutions are taking place. For sure much more than it used to be some years ago. Please please do not try to use this sector to be political as usual. Your comments direct and indirect with a political flavour only makes people with genuine thoughts sick

D. Farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 20:30

Let's hope that this guy is also fined for possessing a protected bird, and that he's subsequently also fined for this. The way the matter is handled leaves a lot to be desired. It should have been kept covered all the time during translocation to reduce its stress. This is basic animal welfare. Don't animal welfare officers receive training before being deployed to handle animals? And why have the goats and pigs been taken to the abbatoir? Are we insane?? They don't deserve to be put down.

I Said

Aug 25th 2010, 18:41

The boars rescued this morning is a very rare kind of boar and according to information the only type of this species in Malta. The boars and the mountain goats could have easily been tested for any diseases and if found to be free from disease, they could have been donated to Razzett tal-Hbiberija. Why save the animals, only to be killed a couple of hours later? Shame on Veterinary Services Department.

Manuel Farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 18:14

If the animals are not registered and hold identification, there is no traceability. Therefore not tested for zootic and enzootic disease, then these pose a threat to the local livestock population.
With regards to handling for transportation, the author declared that the "pigs were guided by the animal welfare officers into the trucks by wooden sticks". Is this a joke ? Pigs are normally guided by pig boards or pig snares.

Jacqueline Galea

Aug 25th 2010, 18:06

Did I understand correctly? These animals were rescued only to be taken to the slaughterhouse........????

Emmanuel Ebejer

Aug 25th 2010, 17:10

Well done Animal Welfare Department. May I suggest you pay a visit / inspect the vicinity of Safi Barracks, MedAvia, Safi and Kirkop. A number of dogs can be heard barking all through the day in these areas. Some in tied up fields, locked up in garages, on roofs tops, guarding farms(!?).

mario camilleri

Aug 25th 2010, 16:45

tista tejdli il biccerija xha taghmlu bijhom ? igiffieri dawn lanimali haqhom il mewt talli sidom ma kienx jihu hsibhom. affarijiet li jekk ma tismahomx qass alla ma jemnek

L Schembri

Aug 25th 2010, 16:33

Why don't they give the mountain goats to INSPIRE - Razzett tal-Hbiberija! I'm sure these animals will enjoy living there!

Andrew Farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 16:24

I agree with Joseph Bugeja, as usually; as a rambler, I use such paths between Siggiewi and Qormi, behind SAG and in between Monte Cristo, I can notice illegalties in this regards. For instance, there is one which can be seen from an asphalted narrow road leading to a fireworks factory, as there are notices advizing people not to go further on because of danger. Please, animal Wel Dept. take note and if possible, action too!

S, Zammit

Aug 25th 2010, 16:14

Edward Bartolo - what planet are you living on? It is usually the human beings who create the problems n the first place - and other human beings who are ready to help. Animals have few champions, but many enemies.

Kimberly Portelli

Aug 25th 2010, 16:11

@Edward B: Like I'm sure you are aware of, there are many aids that collect money to help the people in need, disabled persons, etc There are MANY associations that help people in need, to begin from the church that are always organizing some ways to make people donate money for misfortune people in Kenya nd so on. I cannot understand with what you found objection to this. Animals are abandoned every minute and there are very bad cases, and people like these are their only hope for surviving and maybe later on finding a good home.I am aware of cruelty on humans, and i am also aware about those organizations who help people like these, but what I am aware of most is that WE the human race [in your opinion we are part of the animal kingdom] we are the worst species that ever lived, we destroy our own habitat and other habitats, we make other species suffer and yet you are asking that there is no rights for humans. when we are the ones who make each other suffer and start wars for nothing. Animals can't sound their voice, that's why people like these are here

S Farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 16:01

Well Done Animal Welfare .. !

a. sciberras

Aug 25th 2010, 15:47

well done! animal welfare department keep it up!
a question to parliamentary members: when is the revision of law to justly punish animal cruelty going to happen?

edward bartolo

Aug 25th 2010, 15:26

The human species also belongs to the great kingdom of animals, but does anyone care about cruelty to humans in the same sense, as one would care about any form of cruelty towards non-human animals?!

Apparently, human beings have less rights than non-human animals!

GianCarlo Borg

Aug 25th 2010, 15:05

in my opinon its all fuss and puplicity!!! the goats seem to be in good condition and even the pigs. @ zoe goats do not eat rubbish! pigs do!! goats eat grass, straw and vegetable scraps which is perfect for them. mountian goats are not used for milk production. to add everything they do not have an idea how to handle an animal for me its a big offence. if animal welfare officers want to make their job, they must vist some pet shops and they will see what is bad welfare.
I am sorry but the intention of the animal welfare section is good but the system they keep their dogs at ghammieri is totally unacceptable.

Franco Farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 15:02

Once again, congratulations to the Animal Welfare ... but why send these animalls to the 'biccerijia' without batting an eye-lid? This is the stance that I cannot understand. I am not judging. I am simply saying that I cannot understand this.
Others, below, speak about whether these animals really needed saving. I sincerely hope so: I mean - the Animal Welfare Dept have their hands full, as it is, and they certainly don't need to overexaggerate in the way they carry out their work. They have enough work as it is, I am sure!

Another comment was that of pulling a pig by the ears. I know that there is a difference between those who are on the field and us, so-called 'armchair critics'. But it does APPEAR that it is cruel to pull a pig by the ears, no? Can't there be better equpiment in the hands of these people who are on the field?
Commenters: Please note that cruelty with animals is not limited to starving them!

Dunstan Camilleri

Aug 25th 2010, 14:59

Well done at last more action and less talk .Nice one guys.

Joseph Calleja

Aug 25th 2010, 14:44

We cannot see any cruelty happening from just these pictures but I am sure the authorities had their reasons for removing these animals. But if the Animal Welfare Departments really worried about animal cruelty, all they have to do is take a look at the line of Karrozzini lined up near the cruise ship arrival area. Sometimes these horses ( and drivers) are kept there in line for hours in the heat and other bad elements. They need some kind of shelter.

M.Cutajar

Aug 25th 2010, 14:42

Need i remind people that simply feeding an animal or providing it with water does not necessarily indicate that it is being taken care of. What about its living conditions? you could keep a pig confined to an environment that is never cleaned nor taken care of, does that mean that providing a source of food and water is enough? It is devastating to know people forget that animals actually have more rights than simply being fed!, of course that being said, it would be nice to know that after cracking down on such cases the Animal Welfare Department ensures animals are actually being given a second chance rather than sending them off to be butchered. Lets hope the right course of action is taken...

Johnathan Farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 14:34

Good Job........plse find some time and visit the road runway in hal far - between Foster clark hunger and Miksons. There are 2 dogs tied in direct sunlight 24X7 on tarmac, with no shade at all. If im not mistaken the yard belongs to Bonello hauler. thanks in advance

Joseph Bugeja

Aug 25th 2010, 14:21

First of all, congratulations to the Animal Welfare Department. It seems that in that area (Qormi/Siggiewi valley) there is an abuse in this regards! A walk through the narrow roads behind the SAG quarters can yield other such abuses........... In this heat such crudelity must be abolished once for all!! I look forward to hear of such more good news!!

M. Cardona

Aug 25th 2010, 13:52

Gullible....all it takes is one meagre online article and soon enough you have a multitude of misinformed opinions. Going by the clip can any one of the below commentators indicate which animal was mal-nourished or mistreated? If you may call it animal cruelty its because they actually seem to be in need of a diet. I think that the action was taken solely because one needs to register and be licenced to keep both pigs and goats and in this case none were tagged accordingly. This does in no way infer that the animals were mistreated as so many rush to judge and profess.

B. Attard

Aug 25th 2010, 13:46

Haven't you ever seen a starving animal. The pigs are obese, the goats seem on tip top condition while the dogs where hardly shown on the video clip. The USUAL BIG FUSS!!!! EXAGARATION.

Antoinette Catania

Aug 25th 2010, 13:22

Another sad case of animal cruelty, which seem to be on the increase! Now who is going to be held accountable for the state of the animals and will the 'owner' be arrainged? Although I do not know what good is coming out of taking such persons to court. And pls do not tell us how many people have been taken to court but how many have ACTUALLY been punished for their foul actions.

Does anybody still remember all those Fox Terriers caged up in B'Kara a couple of years back. What has happened since then? What action has been taken or is their cruel owner still going around scott free? Likewise, I remember reading about another breeder also from B'Kara who was keeping diverse breeds of dogs in questionable conditions. Hopefully Animal Welfare Dept are continue to keep a watchful eye on such cases to avoid any more suffering to dogs !!!

colin stanley

Aug 25th 2010, 13:18

I am against cruelty towards animals, but from the video clip, the animals that were shown actually need to go on a DIET. where are the starving ones? if it really was in such a state why didn't you show it on vldeo.,

Henry J Bonett

Aug 25th 2010, 13:07

Well done Animal Welfare department. You have the gratitude of Maltese people. Can we hope that the Courts will deliver a penalty that is appropriate to such insensitivity and issue no risible suspended sentences like we have been having lately.

C Cassar

Aug 25th 2010, 13:07

Surely in these cases, the property where the animals were kept should be confiscated, sold and the proceeds given to the tax payer?

Mario Pace

Aug 25th 2010, 12:56

Well Done to the Animal Welfare Department.

One question comes to mind though, were are these animals being taken?

Roderick Micallef

Aug 25th 2010, 12:55

I have a question which would be interesting to have the atual real answer to it, can any one tell me what happens to such mentioned animals? The public is always informed that animals are removed following cruelty reports but what happens to these animals? Are they slaughtered? If yes, why and on what grounds? I can understand that they are slaughtered if they have disease but otherwise no. It would be good if some one responsible and competent can some shed more light on these enquiries.

Edward Sant

Aug 25th 2010, 12:54

Where is "Hal Farrug"? Has the farmer/proprietor been charged with cruelty to animals and with keeping an illegal farm?

Chris Grech

Aug 25th 2010, 12:53

good job!!

what about givving the mountain goats @ razzett tal-hbiberija, to replace those that were stolen some weeks ago?!

d vella

Aug 25th 2010, 12:52

can some of these animals be donated to Inspire, to replace the ones stolen a few weeks ago?

F Fsadni

Aug 25th 2010, 12:46

WELL DONE animal welfare department . . . . and thank you to those who reported. Proset !
Forsi fl-ahhar nitghalmu nkunu umani f'dal pajjiz ...... min ma jirrispettax l-annimali, ma jisthoqlu l-ebda rispett.
Keep Up The Good Work Animal Welfare Dept. !! Hope the rescued animals are well taken care of now ..... imsieken.
And what about legal action/proceedings against the farm's owner ? Details please.

Joseph Falzon

Aug 25th 2010, 12:44

Well done. Besides severe punishment. Name and shame the owner/s besides severe punishment.

Lorna D'Anastasi

Aug 25th 2010, 12:40

Well done once again goes to the Animal Welfare Department. More inspections should be done cause Im sure there are other hundreds of these cases. At this point the government should hurry up in opening the Ta Qali sanctuary since its pointless taking in/rescuing all these animals but have no place where to stay

Jeffrey Muscat

Aug 25th 2010, 12:36

Well Done

Franco Farrugia

Aug 25th 2010, 12:28

Congratulations to the Animal Welfare Department.

e desira

Aug 25th 2010, 12:21

well done!!! It is time that these persons, if can be called so are punished. These poor creatures need to be taken care off. I am tired to see cats and dogs lying in the middle of the road. Hopefully in a short time new severe laws will be on the agenda for our Parliament members!!!