My wife and I have been spending our holidays in Malta for many years, and have owned a timeshare in Sliema for the last six years.

On our most recent stay last month, I left my wife at the hotel spa one Sunday morning while I went to visit my fellow radio hams of the Maltese Amateur Radio League in Attard, followed by a trip around the Aviation Museum, which I last visited in 2009.

Upon leaving the museum and driving towards the Sunday market I caught sight of a dog lying on its side in the gutter. I stopped the car and found the animal to be alive, but weak and emaciated, with a shockingly thin waist and very overgrown claws.

Some local residents directed me to the nearby animal welfare centre, where the staff were very helpful, scanning the dog for a microchip without any luck, and then arranging for him to be transferred to a dog shelter.

I would like to thank the staff concerned, and wish them and the staff of the dog shelter the very best. I have submitted a photo of the dog and would be very interested to learn how he has progressed, if anyone has any information on him.