Pet shop owner faces new animal cruelty charges

The owner of a Ħamrun pet shop once described as a concentration camp has been charged again with animal cruelty and with threatening a police officer who was inspecting the shop.

Groomer Mario Aquilina, 48, of Ħamrun, who owns High Society Canine Beautician, already has a pending case over animal cruelty. His shop was allegedly found to have little ventilation, tiny rusted cages and animals sitting in their own excrement when an inspection was carried out on April 26, 2010.

Insp. Emanuel Buhagiar testified in that case that inspectors had found a veritable “concentration camp” of 51 animals, with dogs, cats, three rabbits and even a rooster crammed into cages hardly bigger than themselves.

A couple of weeks after Mr Aquilina was charged, however, the residents reported him again and when Mr Buhagiar paid a second visit he allegedly found the animals in the same state.

Police Inspector Ramon Mercieca prosecuted. Lawyers Marion Camilleri and Franco Debono appeared for Mr Aquilina.