Christine Lodge, Swieqi
Handling cats and dogs
Why does Marie Wagner (September 25) complain about someone who looks after stray cats? He has them neutered to prevent a growth in cat population. He feeds them at his own considerable expense.
Mahatma Gandhi said you judge a nation by the way it treats its animals.
Perhaps if Ms Wagner is so concerned about the environment she should check out the area at the top of Triq l-Ilqug It is a dog lavatory for the numerous dogs who live in the area.
Perhaps dog pooh is sacro-sanct.
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davidagius
Sep 29th 2010, 13:11
Just to clarify a point in Christine Lodge's letter.i know the field she is talking about cos it is close to where i feed.It is not actually inhabited by stray dogs.It is where Marie wagner herself takes her dog twice daily to do his buisness.When I asked her why she cannot tolerate a cat going to do his buisness in her garden, while she takes her dog to do his in other peoples property,her answer was and I quote.'everybody does it' . To all those who have heard Marie wagners version of this problem,I ask you please to watch out for my version in the coming days on the Times of Malta.Thank you all for the support that you have shown me through the feedback to Marie wagners letter of the 25th of September, on the internet..Your kind letters give me the strength to keep up this time consuming and sometimes tiresome work on a daily basis,of neutering and feeding these hungry but lovely creatures and all in my spare time when people like Marie Wagner are entertaining themselves sunbathing and barbecuing by the pool. and could'nt give a hoot about controlling the population of strays.
Jon Vercellono
Sep 29th 2010, 16:03
The worst result of Ms. Wagner's letter was the disinformation it spread - however, I believe much of this has been ameliorated through the various responses in other letters. By the way, it would be interesting to know what Ms. Wagner does with the leftovers from her barbeques (hopefully, she doesn't dirty her neighbourhood and encourage the spread of rats).
j n ebejer
Sep 29th 2010, 12:57
Someone who feeds cats in a way that leaves a mess, encourages cats colonies grow without control in children's recreational areas and without basic knowledge of animal care is not looking after stray cats. It takes more than such an irresponsible behaviour to care for cats.
Let's have animal lovers be guided how to care for animals, particularly strays, in the best way possible - responsibly towards the community they live in and towards the animals themselves. Otherwise such uneducated overzealous actions create more harm and antipathy towards good wishing animal lovers.
Franco Farrugia
Sep 30th 2010, 01:17
Rather than educating those who are looking after stray colonies, I think it's the 'other' people who should be educated - those who write and speak in a way which makes one sure that these are people who have no time to waste looking after animals! Especially strays. It is true that there are some carers who are not clean in the work they do. But most of those who look after strays, know teir stuff, and need no 'education' from anyone. The human community should do much, much more in helping and protecting strays! That is where the priority is. It sickens me to read people grumbling about the dirt that strays leave behind when I know, for sure, that the worst possible dirt is that which is directly human-induced! Cura te ipsum!
micallef a
Sep 29th 2010, 12:33
It has become some kind of fashion to own and walk your dog. Some of the owners also
leave there dogs unleashed and their dogs pooh on other peoples doorstep whilst they
watch. Some of them carry a plastic bag which they never use. If you have a walk in
Swieqi you will find dogs pooh allover the place. In Fleur de lys under the aquadots
(the government recently restored these aquadots) it has become an official dogs
toilet. Its about time that these dog owners face the wardens and be fined according
the law. If these owners do not obey the law and litter my doorstep, than I have the
right to protect against these uncivilised people.
Joseph Galea
Sep 29th 2010, 11:40
"Mahatma Gandhi said you judge a nation by the way it treats its animals."
It's good to know that animals are regarded, as sacred in the Hindu customs.
It's like saying to a Hindu "You judge a nation by the way it treats its religious statues"
Jon Vercellono
Sep 29th 2010, 10:32
Christine, I think the problem is that Ms. Wagner is someone with far too much time on her hands who consequently makes lists of things to complain about. If I remember correctly (in reference to your letter) she (or her friend) has a dog - so that could be the case. In any case, do what I do when confronted with bitter (and woefully misinformed people - re illegality of cat feeding) who have nothing to do with themselves - ignore them (and assist and support the feeders in your area). Besides, Ms. Wagner's letter sounded rather like a vendetta or pica - not a logical or reasonable complaint.
gcForte
Sep 29th 2010, 10:15
Nice to hear the other side of this story. ( Marie Wagner`s 25 /9 ). I agree with Mahatma Gandhi`s quote, and I will quote Thomas Edison........." As long as we keep do cruelty to animals,we can call ourselves savages ". But you have just put another problem to be comment on, which is the stray dogs. Stray dogs are different from cats, because while the cats, build up territories, dogs are more movable. If in the area which Christine Lodge is mentioning there are " numerous dogs " habitat there I see a problem, and I suggest to you to call for help. Some times these dogs wont` be strays,but escapes from houses. What bothers me is that when dogs comes a pack of more than four,and you try to feed them, with their enthusiasm, makes you afraid.I remember when I was young, stray dogs were part of our life, we use to play and live with them. Today it is another story, although we use to have three times more stray dogs running alone. But I always blame all our politicians, because they ALL use strays for their propaganda, and after they do nothing.