Almost 90 per cent of Maltese people feel that pets should be treated in a better manner by their owners according to a survey recently conducted by the European Commission on people’s attitudes towards animal welfare. The Maltese felt that “companion” animals should enjoy better welfare. The EU average as a whole was 74 per cent.

Interestingly, the Maltese were the second nation most likely to feel this way, with the Cypriots apparently being more concerned for their pets’ well-being. There may be a common denominator influence for this outcome given that Malta and Cyprus were both colonies of Great Britain, a country renowned for its love of animals.

Asked what the Maltese understood by the term “animal welfare”, two thirds responded by saying it was “the duty of all people to respect all animals”. Only two per cent felt that ensuring animal welfare was not of importance, the lowest score across all the member states. But the survey did not focus exclusively on pets. It also invited respondents to offer their views on livestock and their welfare conditions. Here again, the Maltese also showed high concern and awareness, with 80 per cent saying they wanted to know more about the conditions of farm animals, although the reply – in this highly urbanised country – probably had more to do with ignorance of what was actually happening on the ground, than concern for welfare. Half of all Maltese thought the conditions in livestock farms should be improved.

In 2006 when the last such survey was conducted it found that interest in animal welfare was more than 10 percentage points below what it is now, a most encouraging indication of increasing awareness among Maltese of the need for high standards of animal welfare.

Why has this happened and what do these statistics tell us about our attitudes to animals? Malta is no stranger to animal cruelty. Although more people than ever before now have family pets and many are careful and loving owners, there are still far too many individuals for whom animals and other living species are an expendable and lesser breed.

The survey undoubtedly shows that as a nation we are more conscious now of the need to make changes in our attitude and treatment of animals.

The Malta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a voluntary organisation which has been operational in Malta for almost 80 years, and the many other smaller voluntary animal welfare organisations, would surely vouch for this.

Each year MSPCA takes in hundreds of stray and abandoned dogs, and rehabilitates and “rehomes them wherever possible in loving homes”. But their resources are stretched and it is clear that they come across many daily incidents of animal cruelty and countless cases where animal welfare must be improved.

There is little doubt that greater Maltese affluence and higher educational awareness have also led to greater pet animal ownership (with a concomitant increase in exotic strains), as well as a wider understanding and respect for defenceless animals.

More, much more, needs to be done. Educating people of all ages about animal care through regular educational programmes carried out by voluntary organisations is a continuing requirement. But government with its greater resources should also play an important role.

About 16 months ago the government appointed its first Commissioner for Animal Welfare with the role of promoting animal welfare and the highest standards of treatment of animals. Not very much has been heard from him since. It is hoped that the European Commission’s survey will prompt some action.