A man keen on keeping his new car spanking clean called the animal ambulance on Saturday to shuttle his dog to the vet for a routine intervention.

The man claimed it was an urgent case but it turned out to be just one of the many cases of abuse the free service faces.

"The animal ambulance is there to rescue wounded or abandoned strays. We urge the public to respect this and not call in for such reasons," Animal Welfare Department director Mario Spiteri said, adding such abuse ate into the ambulances' resources.

In another incident, a woman called the department to report that a dog was being badly treated at a pet shop.

"It turned out the dog had an eye infection but was being medicated by the shop owner. It later transpired the woman wanted to get the dog confiscated by the authorities so she could adopt it for free because she could not afford to buy the pedigree," Dr Spiteri said.

"In both cases, the ambulance was dispatched because we did not want to take chances," he said.

As from January 1, the 24-hour animal ambulance pilot project was extended indefinitely. However, it is now being run by the department instead of the animal organisation Noah's Ark, which ran it for six months.

A Noah's Ark spokesman said that, while he was glad the ambulance service was still running, he was concerned about what happened to animals being rescued.

He feared they may be put down by the department because sanctuaries were full and they would have nowhere to place the rescued animals.

Clearly irritated by such an allegation, Dr Spiteri said: "I can assure you we never, ever, put a healthy animal down." He explained that animals were only put to sleep if there was no hope of recovery or were dangerous.

He said once the ambulance rescued an animal, it was taken to a vet and then to a temporary shelter at the government's farm in Għammieri.

Dr Spiteri pointed out that, just yesterday, two Samoyeds were taken to Għammieri after they were found chasing horses in Mellieħa. Animal welfare officers intervened and picked up the two dogs, probably mother and son, after someone called in.

The two dogs, named Bonnie and Clyde by the animal welfare officers, were friendly, looked healthy and were well fed. Chances are their owner just dumped them on the road to fend for themselves.

Once at Għammieri, animals are homed or handed over to animal sanctuaries if they can take them in. This collaboration with sanctuaries will go on until the government's Ta' Qali animal after-care centre opens later this year.

Romina Formosa, from the Association for Abandoned Animals, agreed sanctuaries were full and this could lead to healthy animals being put down but she did not believe the department would take such action.

She praised the work being carried out by the department and stressed the need to tackle the problem from the roots by educating the public not to throw out unwanted pets, like the huskies, on the streets.

SPCA Malta backed up the work of the department adding it would support the service when possible.

Those wishing to adopt the Samoyeds can call the department on 2590 4113.