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I have been purchasing your newspaper for some time now, captivated by your apparently unbiased reporting. Two Sundays ago, your journalist, Kurt Sansone, took ‘Freddie’ to task for not accounting for thousands of Liras donated from a fund raising concert by Winter Moods. The latter raised the funds. It is to them, if to anyone, that ‘Freddie’ was accountable. I feel sure they were responsible enough to arrange that their noble deed, which brought an overwhelming response, was put to good use.
Today, Kurt Sansone pretends to open a ‘Pandora's Box’ of wrong doings. Note that at no time did he consult Noah's Ark. If your reporter thinks that he knows something he feels everyone else ought to know, then he should be more investigative in his work.
He is doing a big disservice to dogs that are abandoned in our island on a regular basis.
I have only recently been involved in animal rescue and although I don't know ‘Freddie’ personally, I can appreciate what the poor fellow goes through by dedicating his entire life to the dogs he tries to sustain and re-home.
What he is doing is only out of selfless love for these poor dogs. In fact, when a helpless dog appears out of nowhere, the first person people think of calling is ’Freddie’. The SPCA, the only government assisted animal rescue NGO, does sterling work but operate limited working hours. Their operation exemplifies that in spite of funding and staff they cannot operate alone. It is a daunting task indeed.
To hint that Freddie Fenech "operates under veil of omerta" is irresponsible.
I certainly agree with the minister that professional management is essential. How can one expect professional management from an individual who is moving mountains to assist these dogs when the powers that be do next to nothing more than give a token grant to the SPCA. It would be interesting to know the amount of funds the ministry has available to assist a joint venture of animal rescue NGOs!
Your newspaper could advocate its readers to help in the task of caring for abandoned animals. ‘Freddie’ has a handful of dedicated part-timers doing just that. I have great admiration for these individuals. You could also educate your readers to care for their pets. Investigate why so many dogs are abandoned. Find out how many persons have been prosecuted for doing so, when for the past year it has been a criminal offence to abandon an animal.
Your sensational personal attack on Freddie Fenech must have been confusing to those many generous souls who put their hand in their pocket to help abandoned animals. It has also done a great disservice to anyone else involved in animal rescue. Like so many other readers, I expect you to present the exact facts and not insinuations. Only then might I be encouraged to continue to pick up your newspaper.
Mark Vella Bardon
Noah’s Ark
Mellieha
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