Six puppies rescued from certain death
Glad to be alive. Six puppies were rescued by welfare officers after their owner said he had killed puppies in the past. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Six puppies were rescued from certain death yesterday when animal welfare officers confiscated them from their owner who admitted he never neutered his dogs but killed their litter instead.
Officers also took 16 sick kittens and gave the man two weeks to ensure his 11 malnourished dogs, which lived in metal tanks, were treated well and provided with decent kennels.
The owner, Francis Inguanez, will be facing legal action for animal cruelty and for being aggressive towards welfare officers who turned up at his Mtarfa home yesterday morning.
If he does not improve the conditions the animals are in within 15 days he may face other legal action.
Welfare officers turned up at Mr Inguanez’s home after someone called the department to report he was ill-treating animals there, officer Godric Marston said.
Officers found the dogs, most of which were mixed breed hunting animals, were not being fed well and needed better care.
“When we told him the dogs had to be neutered he said he never neutered them but killed the puppies instead. Once he said that, there was no way I was going to leave the puppies there to die,” Mr Marston said, adding the puppies were between eight and 15 weeks old.
The puppies and kittens were taken to the animal aftercare centre in Ta’ Qali, for a health inspection, after which they will be taken to the government farm in Għammieri to be re-homed.
Mr Marston said Mr Inguanez was verbally aggressive and threatened animal welfare officers during the rescue. This was reported to the police.
Anyone who wishes to adopt the puppies or kittens or any of the other animals at Għammieri can call 2590 4113/132.
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James A. Tyrrell
Oct 15th 2010, 23:28
Can I suggest that rather than go to all the trouble of a trial they should just kill the owner instead? Poetic justice I'd call it.
Sean Swain
Oct 18th 2010, 09:47
Disgusting, Foul, ridiculous excuse for a human. I agree with James A Tyrrell, Poetic Justice always resonates well with me when it comes to people who are cruel to animals. Why are we so soft on these monsters??
Carmen Borg
Oct 15th 2010, 23:17
One solution for people like this moron. Prison for a year, maybe then he will learn what it is like to be locked up.
Ray Buhagiar
Oct 15th 2010, 17:59
And then all animal lovers wouldn't mind keeping their dogs on roof tops annoying their neighbors. Whitewashed sepulchers no doubt.
Robert Cassar
Oct 15th 2010, 16:08
Another m...... in disguise.. How can someone who defines himself a decent human being do such things? I really hope these poor creatures will finally find some happiness in their lives...
Dunstan Camilleri
Oct 15th 2010, 16:00
Well done Its about time that this kind of cold hearted persons shall be taught a lesson shame on him, some times I doubt it that we are living in the 21st century reading these stories make my heart weep.
Karl Delia
Oct 15th 2010, 15:30
I would like to start by saying that animal cruelty is wrong full stop. However pointing to Malta as being the worst country for this type of offense is not correct. What about the legalized whale killing that goes on in Nordic countries for e.g., not only is this not punished but actually celebrated as part of their culture and heritage….. following the same reasoning some cultures should have the right to go back to cannibalism
Julie Peace
Oct 15th 2010, 14:42
Ann Buhagiar - I think your comment is a little unfair, cruelty to animals is no worse in Malta than other countries and certainly the UK. From what I've seen there is as much if not more being done for animal welfare in Malta than in our area of the UK. Our Government doesn't have an "Animal Welfare Department" with a rapid response ambulance, we have to rely on RSPCA which is a charity. Malta as a country does what it can, but none of this would be needed if it were not for the ignorant people who still chose to use, abuse and abandon animals. I say well done to the Maltese Government for all they have done so far, and would encourage animal welfare education programmes to educate the ignorant.
Ann buhagiar
Oct 15th 2010, 21:55
At least in UK there Very STRICT on cruelty & people are punished with jail sentences I've never heard any1 in Malta going to jail for Cruelty.. It needs to stop thats all i ever read about poor animals. People def need educating we live in 21st Century i think Malta are 20yrs behind other countries!!
Ann Corkett
Oct 16th 2010, 20:50
What matters is the solution, we can argue that we are the best or the worst for ever more. Maybe as part of their role the animal rescue services should pool their case notes and we could get an informed picture of the situation in Malta and Gozo. Actual evidence would form the basis of a government working party to look at the links between ANIMAL CRUELTY AND THE INCREASE OF VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. We need to start the ball rolling // Lets encourage the pillars of society... the church, social welfare groups, animal welfare groups etc etc ... After all if we are not part of the solution we must be part of the problem
G.vassallo
Oct 15th 2010, 12:24
Ghara jehelx xi multa ta mitt Euro biss issa. Min jaf min xi trawma ghaddew jahasra.
Ann Buhagiar
Oct 15th 2010, 12:07
I see Animal Cruelty is not getting any better in Malta it's in fact getting worse...It's worst country i know of, why dont the government do somtehing about it or can they not be bothered wake up Malta this can not go on any longer these poor animals are suffering!! It's shocking!!!
mario aquilina
Oct 15th 2010, 14:37
This week, on this very newspaper, some blogger wrote, that animal lovers are on the increase.
It doesn't look like, does it! Another cruelty story to add to a long list.
Let's see how many puppies and cats are bought for Christmas and thrown out by the following month, once they tears down your curtains and wets your carpets. In the St.Paul's bay area, we've got loads of abondoned cats, that congregate on street corners in packs of ten plus, waiting for a few kind souls, that feeds them out of their own pocket.
ANn COrkett
Oct 15th 2010, 11:51
It is not fair that the animal welfare groups are acting alone on this issue.
There must be a law that makes animal cruelty an offence. THe police ought to be involved in the rescue of animals at risk right form the start.
It may be said that their time is too valuable, but this strikes at the heart of social attitudes and decency. Cruelty and lack of respect is the worm in the heart of society.. We ignore these sadistic attacks on living things at our peril. We ALL need to act to stop this. DIsregard for animal life is a very small step from violence towards humans.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 15th 2010, 11:14
Mr Marston et alia, thank you. On behalf of those poor, vulnerable animals, thank you! Keep up the good work.
Franco Farrugia
Aldo Busuttil (not the Singer)
Oct 15th 2010, 11:08
Does everybody know that neutering is free at the Happy Paws Animal Clinic in Marsa. All you need to do is phone for an appointment (that's all it costs).... Killing the puppies is not the best solution. Imagine a (human) family... Having children and then killing them. It's the same. Prevention is better than cure. If you know of any dogs & cats (even stray)... just call. They will help you and help the animals.
a calleja
Oct 15th 2010, 15:07
I don't think it's free for everyone. A couple of months ago I rescued a small stray bitch from the streets from being run over. When I made enquiries in the area I was told that she had been thrown out and had already been sired by a much larger dog. I had to neuter her immediately because allowing her to have puppies would have killed her. When I asked about neutering vouchers I was told that the vet had to confirm that I was a person living on benefits or a single mum to be eligible. Although I was glad to pay for the necessary treatment and to give the poor creature a home, I must say it was an expense I could hardly afford at the time and a bit of financial help would have been very welcome.
w.scicluna
Oct 15th 2010, 10:47
He will probably get off with a suspended sentence and a small fine. There is no REAL justice here in Malta. A person like that deserves to be publicly flogged.
Vania Lamanna
Oct 15th 2010, 10:09
the mind boggles..why weren't the other animals confiscated too?
Monica Muscat
Oct 15th 2010, 17:59
I also ask the same question! Why leave him with more animals to traumatize? I would not give him a second chance. Not at the risk of the animals' lives or well being. By the way, animal lovers ARE ON THE INCREASE. This is evident by the reports that arrive at call centres. Still, there are still too many cases that unfortunately do not emerge. More and stricter laws are needed, and enforcement of same, of course.