The view from my bedroom window wasn’t very spectacular the morning of a public holiday.

My curiousity was aroused after three consecutive, sleepless nights enduring constant howling and wailing coming from an abandoned dog in a field next to my residence.

The sight of a mid-sized, honey coloured dog with protruding ribs (due to undernourishment) and the sad, agonising cries of the nights before, forced me to call Animal Welfare for assistance.

I was promptly told that unless the animal is not grieviously injured, the department had no obligation to carry out any service. However, with my persistence the Animal Rescue car did show up after several phone calls.

Two casually dressed men stepped out of the van with no form of trapping equipment whatsoever and no idea of dog handling – they quickly climbed the low wall surrounding the field and attempted to encircle the dog, who at this untactful manoeuvre, fled for shelter among some rubble.

The man who had spoken with me earlier quickly reminded me of our previous conversation and drew to my attention the fact that the dog could use its feet.

Within no time the men jumped back into their van and drove off empty handed in spite of the neighbours’ persistence for the dog to be taken away and looked after.

On calling the animal sanctuaries they all claim that no more space is available, which is understandable.

So, may I ask, if Animal Welfare is the only government department in charge of strays, why isn’t responsibility taken when reports are made? Does an animal need to be bleeding profusely for some kind of care to be provided? Aren’t undernourishment and hypothermia a form of slow death?

Let’s not pretend we’re a Roman Catholic country!