Volunteers are taking food and water to 35 “abandoned” pigs in Mellieħa, while calling for immediate action from the authorities.
The animals’ plight was highlighted on Tuesday by the NGO Animal Liberation Malta, which said the pigs were found in an abandoned farm in Mellieha, starving and dehydrated. The group said that as the pigs were not tagged, they would be destined for slaughter.
Police and animal welfare officials visited the site in recent days but it is not yet clear what action, if any, is being taken.
On Thursday afternoon, a group of volunteers visited the farm with food and water. They said they intended to continue doing so daily until the pigs’ situation was resolved.
Dumping 35 pigs in an abandoned, broken-down place is cruel and illegal
“Dumping 35 pigs in an abandoned, broken-down place is cruel and illegal,” Karmen Koleiro, one of the volunteers, said.
“Animal Welfare has known about this for a week but seem to have done nothing.”
Ms Koleiro said the volunteers had asked the authorities to check on the pigs’ health and insisted that, if found to be healthy, the animals should not be put down but kept at the government farm at Għammieri.
“The public has the right to be kept informed about what’s happening,” she said. “Every day we’re hearing about new cases of animal cruelty, but we’re kept in the dark about what happens in cases where the animals are collected by the authorities.”
Animal Liberation Malta, which first highlighted the situation, said it would be difficult to rehome the animals as, by law, anyone not raising pigs for food was only allowed to keep two. The group said it was sad that such an “intelligent, loving and sensitive” was given less importance than a dog or cat.
Inspectors find pigs were well-fed
Meanwhile, in what appeared to be the same case, the Veterinary Regulation Directorate said it had carried out an on-site inspection where it was alleged that a number of pigs were being kept in undesirable conditions.
The inspectors found that the pigs were in good health condition and did not show any sign of transmissible disease. They had access to feed and water and the body score condition of the animals confirmed they were sufficiently fed, while none showing discomfort. None of the pigs were microchipped, in breach of the law. The owner immediately rectified the situation and no further actions will be taken.
The site where these pigs were kept consisted of a sheltered area made up of three rooms and an uncovered outer area. An automatic drinker was found in one of the rooms and no excess of manure was present.