May I suggest to those who are against the culling of pigeons, on the pretext of cruelty to animals, to stop eating chicken, rabbits and other meat or even all kinds of fish because that too is cruelty to animals.

I invite those fond of pigeons to volunteer to clean up the mess on the Balluta church belfry and other private roofs and balconies in the vicinity. We would appreciate their help very much because we cannot cope with the situation. I know of an elderly person who was advised by his doctors to stop caring for pigeons because of lung problems. He had 400 pairs of pigeons and he let them free. As a result, St Julian’s, Sliema, Gżira and the surrounding areas were infested.

I have been living in Sliema for over 50 years and I have never seen so many pigeons as I do now.

Those who like feeding the pigeons should not break the law and allow pigeons to fetch their food in the wild (as St Francis used to do), not in inhabited areas. Otherwise, they can also feed the rats.

Local councils must do something about it.