Cabbie horse ‘died from dehydration’

A karrozzin driver was yesterday charged with animal cruelty after his horse collapsed in the middle of a main road from dehydration on a hot day last July.

The horse was so dehydrated that when a veterinary surgeon ran a pipe through the horse’s nose into its stomach there was no water at all but only dry food, the court was told.

Carmel Mallia, 35, from Valletta had picked up some tourists and noticed that the horse was looking a little under the weather. So he decided to take it back to its stable but it collapsed in Marina Street, Pietà Police Inspector Anne Marie Micallef said.

Mr Mallia is pleading not guilty to animal cruelty and causing the horse’s death through negligence.

Three other karrozzin drivers are expected to be arraigned next week and charged with animal cruelty after allegedly tying their horses at the Valletta Waterfront at 2 a.m. to be ready for the first customers ... at 10 a.m.