Updated at 7.15pm with Parliamentary Secretariat's statement

Three dogs were shot dead at a garage in Għaxaq last night.

The police said the dogs were found in a garage in Triq Santu Kristu early this morning. They said they must have been shot between 11pm and 6.45am.

The dogs were found in a pool of blood.

An inquiry is being held by duty magistrate Anthony Vella. The police are investigating.

Secretariat working with police to bring culprit to justice

In a statement this evening, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Animal Rights deplored the "criminal act".

It said the incident was reported to the Directorate for Animal Rights by the police this morning and a coordinated exercise was immediately embarked upon to identify those who carried out the act.

The secretariat unreservedly condemned the person carrying out the act and said it was cooperating with the police to find the culprit and bring him to justice as soon as possible.

It called for the public's assistance and said that any information should be passed on to the directorate on tel. 1717. This could be done anonymously.