A good, Maltese friend of mine and I had planned to visit Malta and Italy some time in September. Instead, my friend rushed together a spring trip to her former country to spend time with her ailing sister. On top of the stress incurred watching her sister fade away, she suffered immeasurable distress when witnessing fellow natives abusing animals.

While animal cruelty happens in many countries, including the United States, here, when it does occur, police arrest those responsible and the courts prosecute the guilty to the full extent of the law.

Malta needs to shelter unwanted animals, control overpopulation by spaying and neutering, and punish convicted animal abusers promptly. Until then, forget about joining the European Union. Ironically, I read an advert in the New York Times` travel section describing your island as warm and charming. Animal abuse is neither.