Pet owners who take sick or injured animals to Ċentru San Franġisk for treatment are being charged higher rates than those promised when the government’s animal hospital in Ta’ Qali was opened a year ago, the Labour Party charged yesterday.

In December 2008, when the centre was still under construction, the government said a nominal fee would be charged for care provided to pets, and the money would go towards covering part of the centre’s running costs.

However, PL spokesman on animal welfare Gino Cauchi said yesterday that pet owners were having to pay hundreds of euro for veterinary services.

Prices were so high that animal sanctuaries that benefited from a 20 per cent discount were opting to go elsewhere, Mr Cauchi said in a press conference held outside the Ta’ Qali centre.

He added that the Animal Welfare Department was being charged for medicines for strays although care was granted for free. Mr Cauchi explained he had spoken to several animal NGOs who voiced a range of concerns that included the high charges.

“They were under the impression that the opening of the €600,000 centre, last October, would mean a new era in animal care with non-commercial prices. But it is being administered by a private vet,” Mr Cauchi said, pointing out that the centre had been built from public funds.

He questioned whether the government had issued a public call for tenders for the centre’s administration. Mr Cauchi said the vet, whom he did not name, had turned the centre into his private clinic.

In a statement issued later, the Rural Affairs’ Ministry highlighted that a call for applications had been issued in 2009 and the best out of four bidders was selected. This was public information Labour was well aware of, a spokesman said.

When contacted, vet Trevor Zammit, who was awarded the tender, said he had taken over the centre when it opened last October.

“I have nothing to hide. Everything is above board,” he said as he explained that according to the tender agreement he paid an annual rent to the government and guaranteed the uncapped free treatment of animals taken there by the Animal Welfare Department. Three vets out of the nine who worked there were dedicated to strays, he said.

He said he set his prices according to competition. The centre examined about 100 animals a day, the vast majority of which were strays, and therefore fees had to be charged to make up for the costs.

Dr Zammit added that all the equipment at the centre, costing some €300,000, belonged to him and he also had to pay taxes and salaries.

“I’m very sorry that this is being politicised... I work an average of 80 hours a week and I’ve been doing this since October 3... This week I’ll be working 120 hours.

“I just won a tender that was given to me in the very last second since we signed the contract three days before. If someone wants to come and take this cross off my shoulders, I’ll be very willing to give it to him because I have destroyed my life,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Cauchi said animal NGOs were also concerned because the Animal Welfare Department only had 16 members of staff that included five enforcement officers.

He pointed out that in June the government promised a €330,000 investment on shelters for karozzini horses. So far, only temporary shelters for 10 horses had been set up at the Valletta Waterfront and he questioned what happened to the money and the plans.

Myriam Kirmond, from the Animal Rights Coalition, said despite expert recommendations that the horses were in dire need of shelter and drinking water, “no acceptable reason from the authorities has been given as to why the delay in providing the permanent horse shelters with necessities for the rest of the karozzin horses”.

The ministry said it was waiting for the planning permits to be issued and a tender process to be concluded.

Mr Cauchi also criticised the government for having no control over exotic animals imported into Malta. People were importing lions, tigers, crocodiles and snakes and the government had no control, he said.

He also called on the government to revise laws banning pets from entering some public gardens and swimming zones, saying these were discriminatory against blind people.

He added that he knew of cases of blind people who were fined in gardens for taking their guide dogs.

Joe Camilleri, from the National Commission Persons with Disability, and Joseph Stafrace, president of the Guide Dog Foundation, said they had not heard of such complaints.

Mr Stafrace, who is blind, said members of the foundation had been approached by wardens when they were with their dog but the wardens understood when they explained.

Mr Camilleri urged anyone to report any such incidents to the commission. He added that according to anti-discrimination laws, blind people had the right to take their dog where they needed to be.