Foxie’s plight proves need for animal welfare centre in Gozo

The plight of an injured dog has led to a confrontation between the Gozo SPCA and the Animal Welfare Directorate, sparked by a misunderstanding over its adoption.

This dog was perfectly healthy and happy before this incident

The two organisations, however, agreed on one problematic issue: that Gozo should have its own animal welfare organisation because the directorate can barely cope with the issues in Malta, let alone handle cases on the sister island.

The issue was sparked when directorate officer Janice Chetcuti yesterday released a statement recounting the story of a fox terrier she had named Hannah, which was up for adoption.

This took Gozo SPCA PRO Betty Berry by surprise because the dog was named Foxie and it already had a home in Gozo. Eventually, the issue was settled and once the animal has healed, Ms Chetcuti assured, she will be reunited with her ‘son’ on a farm.

This story served to highlight the pressing need for an offshoot of the directorate or a separate organisation that catered specifically for Gozo, as it took four days to rescue Foxie.

It started on Friday when Foxie was scavenging for leftovers in an old tin, which got stuck between its jaws. The next day, the woman who regularly feeds Foxie noticed the dog with a tin jammed in its mouth. Her efforts to catch the animal were in vain as Foxie is semi-feral and very timid.

The Gozo SPCA’s animal welfare officer, Peter Camilleri, was alerted on Sunday but did not succeed in capturing Foxie either. The animal had to be tranquillised and the Gozo SPCA did not have a dart gun.

That was when the directorate was called. They asked for an ambulance to be sent from Malta, only to be told that nobody was available and that the directorate “don’t do Gozo”.

When asked about this, Ms Chetcuti said the directorate had only one ambulance and sending it to Gozo meant all the rescues in Malta would have to be put on hold.

However, when she realised how serious the problem was, an ambulance was sent to help Foxie, which was deeply distressed and in pain, unable to eat or drink anything.

Animal welfare officers Olaf Gauci and Godric Marston arrived in Gozo early yesterday morning and took Foxie to the Ċentru San Franġisk in Ta’ Qali, where it underwent surgery to have the tin removed. A number of stitches were applied to its tongue. The animal is being spayed and microchipped.

Once it recovered, Foxie would be returned to the farm in Gozo where her feeder and the farmer on the nearby farm would be happy to have her back, Ms Berry said.

“This dog was perfectly healthy and happy before this incident, which highlights how dangerous carelessly discarded tins can be to both dogs and cats,” she added.

Those interested in helping out can call the directorate on 2292 4132/2292 4113 Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.