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.