Noah's Ark, the animal welfare organisation, is piling pressure on the authorities to evacuate the remaining animals which it claims continue to suffer at a Mizieb farm.
The farm was raided by the police Administrative Law Enforcement section last Monday after the owner refused to heed several warnings to improve the animals' welfare and upgrade the farm's pitiful state. Four horses, a Dalmation, a boxer, a fox terrier and four puppies were seized. However, a number of sheep, goats, fowl, plus a pony and donkey remain there.
"It is disgusting that not all the animals were taken away after three years of pushing to improve their condition and nothing was done," Noah's Ark said. The organisation said that while Monday's raid was an admirable move, it could not understand how certain animals were discriminated against and left there.
"It's a pity that this raid was a half-baked affair. No animal or bird should have been left behind. Their condition is equally sad, and they are often left without water, food or shade," it added.
When contacted, government vet Duncan Chetcuti Ganado said the decision to leave certain animals behind was because they were not in such a bad state as the others. "We are hoping that our action to raid his farm will finally encourage the owner to pull his socks up and do something to make some progress towards the animals' welfare," he said.
Dr Chetcuti Ganado insisted that if the owner fails to take concrete action, all the animals will be removed.
"The raid showed we mean business. We will continue monitoring the situation with regular inspections and proceed accordingly," he added.
Noah's Ark first highlighted the farm's dire state three years ago. While the authorities tried to intervene time and time again, even taking a few of the animals, the state of neglect remained.
It is now questioning whether Monday's raid will really jolt the owner into improving matters, or if it will be back to square one with the animals having to suffer at the hands of the man who should be caring for them.
Noah's Ark, which took in the dogs that were removed from the farm, is calling on people to adopt one of the 20 puppies or 120 dogs who are hoping for a home.
www.noahsarkmalta.org