The owner of a horse and a pony has been fined €233 for failing to provide shelter for the animals, which he kept in a San Gwann field last summer.

Magistrate Silvio Meli yesterday fined Michael Gauci, of San Gwann, for failing to provide adequate shelter from the hot sun for his horse and pony after he was told to do so by the Animal Welfare Department.

The magistrate warned Mr Gauci to sort out the situation and pointed out that he faced a maximum fine of €46,000 if he did not.

Animal welfare inspector Emmanuel Buhagiar said this judgement was encouraging since it showed that the law courts were taking animal welfare cases seriously.

Police Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted.

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