On April 8, I went on an organised day trip to Gozo. In the afternoon we were taken to a ‘farm’ in the vicinity of Marsalforn, but it was very disappointing.

As soon as we arrived we were herded into this room, which in fact was a shop selling jars of the usual Maltese products, like sun-dried tomatoes and honey.

A table was covered in the usual pastries found in all little shops and supermarkets in Malta and Gozo like honey rings and baked imqaret.

Then the sales talk started and we thought the products for sale were produced on this so-called farm. We were mistaken as a delivery man brought a whole box full of the mentioned above.

Many of us asked to see the animals – after all this is the scope of a visit on a farm.

The person just told us: “Up there.” We went up a short slope by the side of which, against a rubble wall, were a few cages. Some of the fowl had hardly any space to move in and we counted seven rabbits in one of the filthy cages.

We were so sorry for two young emus who were in a cubby hole at the foot of the slope. They could hardly move and to crown it all, the netting in front was covered by dirty jerry cans, so these poor creatures were not only crammed but in the dark. At least the two adult emus had a fairly decent enclosure but the sheep were the dirtiest I had ever seen in my life.

We were so embarrassed when we saw the looks on the faces of some visiting foreigners. Where are the department for the welfare of animals and the tourism authority? Don’t they make surprise visits to such places?

I can only find one word to describe the place – disgusting!