It was with great interest that I read Joe Attard’s letter ‘Beach gone to the dogs’, (The Sunday Times of Malta, July 31). We have been visitors for the past month and we enjoyed the beauty of the old buildings, the lovely people, the weather and seascapes.
But oh my, the stink of the dog poop and the fact that there is dog poop everywhere, was just too much for us to bear. Every morning from our rental apartment we watched the start of the morning; this is when dog owners let the dogs out for their morning poop.
Anywhere goes, it seems, for these lazy owners. Between cars, behind cars, on pavements, on every spot they can find. Then by midday in the heat, the stink becomes unbearable. You also need to check out the ground wherever you walk, in case you walk or stand on dog poop.
We stopped walking on the heritage trail in Xemxija as one cannot walk and enjoy the scenery; one must walk head down to avoid stepping in dog poop.
In Qawra it seems the main street is made for dogs. Dog poop everywhere. You lose your appetite quickly and there are pubs everywhere on this street. How can this be allowed?
I also think that dog owners who keep dogs in apartments are cruel and selfish. Cruel to the dogs who need open spaces and exercise and selfish to think that their dogs’ poop does not stink nor upset the people around them. They are also unlawful because they do not pick up the dog poop, which is a law in this country, but one that seems not to be enforced.
Will I come to Malta again? It depends. Will the Maltese people and the government become stricter with people who litter and dog owners whose dogs poop everywhere?
In the streets of Buġibba, there is litter everywhere. I am sure tourists are part of the problem, but please keep your cities clean. Sort out the parking, the litter and the dog poop and Malta will be great again.
Malta is such a wonderful destination for people. Being proud Maltese citizens for the future should be the motto of people living in Malta. Dogs should also be banned on beaches as they not only leave their urine and poop behind but also worms. So all tourists, not only children, be aware of this fact.
To Mr Attard, keep on informing people of these facts. It is really a stinking matter and hopefully clean streets and stricter laws for dog owners and litter bugs will sort out these matters.