Two fined for animal cruelty
Two men were fined €466 each today after they admitted charges related to animal cruelty.
Francis Bowell, 34 and his brother Elton Lawrence, 35, both of Kalkara, admitted to keeping four horses, some goats and a monkey in poor, unhygienic conditions in a farm in Kalkara.
They also admitted to having, through negligence, not provided sufficient shelter from the weather.
The two were arraigned after a raid by the Animal Welfare Department.
Emanuel Buhagiar and Godric Marston appeared for the department and Dr Joe Brincat was defence counsel.
The court augured that more such raids and inspections would be carried out.
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B. Cauchi
Mar 4th 2011, 10:39
Such petty fines are an insult to the animal welfare officers who are putting in their utmost to help but this is making a joke of their achievements. They pick up the animals, take care of them, follow up the case in court just to experience such a ridiculous end result. Three cheers for these guys who make it obvious that they do their utmost just because they really care for animals. It is like catching thief or a murderer red handed and having him released!
C.Scicluna
Mar 3rd 2011, 23:06
It's great that at least something's being done against animal cruelty and finally laws are being implemented to action and not only words; but I still think that a €466 fine each is nothing as probably both plaintiffs earn them in a month...people who commit such acts should also be susceptible to jail terms
Harrington JB.Hafthorsson
Mar 3rd 2011, 17:58
And here we are talking about Gadaffis's regime being somewhat barbarians and yet, yes we have them here on our own doorstep. Book the bastards had they been in my home country the responsible person or persons would be locked away for a long long time
R. Delicata
Mar 3rd 2011, 17:53
Honestly, the fine is just a slap on the hand (not even the face). Do you have any idea how many months/years these animals have been living in this state. This disgusts me and leaves me rather speechless to say the least.
Furthermore, a huge thank you must be awarded to the Animal Welfare Department for their dedication!! Thank you!!
A Sammut
Mar 3rd 2011, 17:46
A fine of 2000 euro EACH would have been slightly more appropriate ...... 466 is no deterrent at all not to to the same thing in the future ..... hope that the authorities did take away the animals from them, and if not, they should do random inspections from time to time. These people are not to be trusted. People who do not respect animals, in my opinion, deserve no respect. They are unfinished human beings.
A Lauri
Mar 3rd 2011, 17:13
@ S.Schembri...
You comment does not make any sense .. sorry
I have commented about the petty fine imposed on these two guys, and you come back saying :
"...... iktar milli noqodu niktbu "jahasra u imsieken!"
Well should i be silent seeing such fines imposed on animal cruelty ?? Guess not ! jew nghidlu bravu ????
If we manage to educate people not to be cruel on animals, that would be already a good start !
Antonio Anastasi
Mar 3rd 2011, 18:37
What Schembri quite rightly stated was that rather than writing in with "jahasra u imsieken!" we would be doing a greater service to the protection of animals by supporting those NGO that dedicate alot of their private lives and time to safeguarding and promoting animal lives.
Maybe an appology is due?????
M.vella
Mar 3rd 2011, 17:07
seriously....466 euros?? This petite fine only reassures others committing similar acts that if caught they will only have to pay a lousy fine, and they're free. RIDICULOUS!!
c catania
Mar 3rd 2011, 17:03
ha nhallas 466 jien u nrabijhom ghal gimgha jien dawn l ahwa u narihom x jigifieri tghix hekk
m vella
Mar 3rd 2011, 17:22
@c catania,I'll help you,please .
d attard
Mar 3rd 2011, 16:53
ipokrezija maltija ...
Malcolm Debono
Mar 3rd 2011, 16:51
It's common knowledge that animal cruelty is not given priority in our laws, but seriously, €466? And then you expect to teach others a lesson against animal cruelty?
E.Azzopardi
Mar 3rd 2011, 16:42
That's a joke 466 euro.They should get jail too like America and keep them the same way !!!!!!!!!!!!.and they see what is life.
Joe Genovese
Mar 3rd 2011, 16:42
Animal Lovers:
Take off your gloves and send out this piece to as many sites/ forums as you can.
Go for British, German, Scandinavian, Dutch. Show Malta (and Gozo, oh yes, especially Gozo)up for what it is.
We just don' t have any empathy towards animals. House pets included.
How often one sees us Maltese, almost capriciously, hazing man's best friend with: "Sit! Sit! Sit!"
We're fixated on establishing our ascendency (?) over these poor creatures. We wallow in seeng them subservient to us.
Name and shame. We deserve it. All of us.
It's our legislators. From both sides of the political divide. In this respect you can't tell one from the other.
And today they're there because we put them there.
Like we'll be putting them there tomorrow.
Shame on us.
But that is what we deserve.
Franco Farrugia
Mar 4th 2011, 00:49
Excuse me, no.
Speak for yourself, but you cannot speak for me. I work hard for animals, and I know many other people who dedicate their lives for the benefit of animals, even young people! So, please, do not put everyone in the same situation.
Also, do not put the responsibility of such a poor fine on the Courts - the Courts work according to what they are given. It is the legislator who is at fault, not the Courts.
Andy Farrugia
Mar 5th 2011, 13:28
"We just don' t have any empathy towards animals. House pets included."
Kindly speak for yourself rather than blow your crass generalisations over the four winds. I know of people who are still mourning the loss of a much loved pet, months and sometimes years after the event.
Mario Borg
Mar 3rd 2011, 16:11
Seeing this picture it looks like they're also guilty for the theft of a police barrier.
B Mallia
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:59
Animal welfare is never given importance in this country. We will never learn.
Steve Zammit
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:41
What a joke!
Lorraine Vella
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:32
tad-dahjk u tal-biki fl-istess hin!
Tad-dahk = il-multa.
Tal-biki = povra annimali.
annemarie cutajar
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:30
Eur466 - are we serious???????????? I hope this isa joke??!! I mean are the animals dead or have they managed to catch this in time?? Would they have been charged the same if these animals had been killed because ????????????????????????? This is a total disgrace!!
D. A . Agius
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:19
a "money" or a monkey?
A Lauri
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:18
€466 ?!!!!
Probably their defence counsel charged them more !!!!
Poor animals !!!! We're not helping them at all with these petty fines .. Lets do something concrete !
S. Schembri
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:42
Dear Mr/Ms Lauri,
Please note that there are centuries round Malta that are helping such animals....... It looks like we cannot order the goverment to change the laws as from tomorrow.
The best that one can do is help such organistaions to help the animals...... iktar milli noqodu niktbu "jahasra u imsieken!"
C.V. Busuttil
Mar 3rd 2011, 16:11
Dear Mr or Mrs Schembri,
Centuries are periodic intervals of time, blocks of 100 years each.
Institutions for the welfare of animals are sanctuaries!
Daniela Lia
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:14
Tal-misthija dawn l-affarjiet. Il-Multa tad-dahk. Minn tal-inqas dawn in-nies, jekk tista' ssejhilhom nies, jisthoqihom il-habs bl-istess kundizzjonijiet li hallew l-annimali fihom
Jamie Tanti
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:14
tip of the iceberg .. wake up Dr Gonzi and give us some decent anti-animal cruelty legislation and an adequate division of the policeforce to enforce it ... while animals can't vote, those of us who do worry about animal cruelty can vote
Ray Gatt
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:13
Fines are not enough in such cases. They should have got time. What did the Animal Welfare Dept. do with the poor creatures?
Joe Cordina
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:13
How about charging them with theft? Thepicture shows a police barrier, I am sure that it was not placed there by the police. Commissioner take note
C. Balzan
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:12
Heftier fines.. Heftier fines.. They need to learn!!!!
Therese Zammit
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:50
agree 100%!!
T.Zammit
B. Cauchi
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:08
What do you expect, animals don't have a vote!! The penalties laid down are always a joke where animal welfare is concerned.
David Gatt
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:03
did the let them keep the animals??? i hope not!
o.galea
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:03
is that all ????? they should be prevented from ever keeping animals at the very least.
Karl Borg
Mar 3rd 2011, 15:01
€466?? affarijiet tad dahq