Moral duty to horses (1)

It’s August, midway summer. The early hot summer warnings were totally ignored by the authorities.

It appeared that they did not feel the need to hurry protection for the magnificent horses that pull karozzini.

After all, they are not the ones seen struggling to pull through the day in inhumane conditions, simply to keep the Maltese tradition of the horse-drawn carriage rides alive! But they are the ones who publicly stated shelters with water points will all be set up before the summer commences.

True there finally is some work going on in Valletta area. One little shelter and another larger one at the cruise liner terminal. But it is obvious that they will not give refuge to the majority of these working horses who apart from shelter, require water.

Why are the authorities so slow in rectifying this situation? Have they no shame? Millions of euros are spent callously. The building of temporary shades even now could easily be provided at low cost seeing the heat stress these horses are made to endure.

It is the authorities’ moral obligation to offer respite from the elements as promised.