Cats and dogs may be the most common and popular choice of domestic pet in Malta, and yet we still find stray animals flooding the streets throughout the year.
Unlike other countries, abandoning animals does not seem to be a seasonal affair in Malta. The number of abandoned animals in the UK tends to increase after Christmas festivities, as a result of unwanted gifts or people deserting their pets to fly off to some fantastic beach resort.
By way of contrast, Malta’s numerous sanctuaries, kennels and vets agree that there is no specific season or time of the year when the number of animals on the street increases.
Joanne and Lino Farrugia from the Tat-Targa Kennels said, “I think you find dogs and cats here in Malta out in the street every day of the week, regardless if it’s Christmas or not.”
According to Mark Vella Bardon from Noah’s Ark, abandoning dogs “happens all the time.”
In response to the question of what can be done to reduce the number of animals on the streets, Vella Bardon found neutering to be a good option to reduce the numbers and feels it is the only alternative for Malta.
“It is worrying that the MLP spokesperson on animal welfare, Dr Joe Brincat, is vehemently against neutering when most, if not all, animal welfare organizations here and abroad recognize this important procedure.”
Vella Bardon said, “The only way to discourage people from abandoning dogs is to enforce the law. It is against the law of the Animal Welfare Act to abandon an animal. However, unless registration and identification, preferably by microchip, of every last dog is introduced in Malta there is no possibility that the law can be enforced.”
Many animal sanctuaries in Malta are under pressure as they become overcrowded with animals rescued every year. The number of animals can go up to about 100 every year for each sanctuary, and trying meet the demands of such a large number is difficult.
Veterinary and feeding bills are costly, and volunteers are not largely available. The Island Sanctuary Association has sent a plea by email for people to volunteer, as it risks having to close down with its present staff complement. What would happen to the animals once their only home is forced to close remains unknown. However, recent reports of putting the dogs to sleep are unfounded.
Sylvia Zammit, PRO of the Island Sanctuary, said, “People in Malta generously offer money to help us out, which we need and are very grateful for; but our main problems lies in the lack of volunteers. People tend to volunteer for a day but then disappear.
“We need regulars to help out and we are hoping this plea will not fall on deaf ears once again or we will not be able to continue running the sanctuary. One thing that I must urgently point out is that whatever happens to the sanctuary, the animals will remain safe and definitely will not be put down.”
Finding homes for the animals is the priority of animal sanctuaries; however it is not the first time that cats and dogs are brought back to the sanctuary if the new owners decide they do not want them. On occasion, the animals are simply tied to the gates of the sanctuaries and left there until they are found.
Dr Victor Vassallo, a vet from the Vetcare Animal Clinic in San Gwann, said: “It has happened that pets are abandoned at the clinic but it is a rare occurrence. I must say that too many animals are abandoned on the streets. This is certainly the most common form of cruelty in our country and as a result the various animal sanctuaries are overflowing with abandoned pets.”
Shocking stories of animal cruelty are constantly reported, and the recent story about a kitten painted blue during a ‘festa’ celebrations was just one of many. The kitten did not recover from the traumatic experience, and died of blood poisoning as a result of the oil-based paint.
The law courts usually issue only minor penalties to people who maliciously slaughter animals. One such case still fresh in most minds is that of the three Pharaoh hounds (“kelb tal-fenek”) hanging dead from a steel beam in Gozo. The killers are still running scot-free and have not even paid the pitiful fine which would most likely be issued to them if convicted. It seems that when it comes to animals, the term “get away with murder” can be used too literally on these islands.
Marica Mizzi, the popular actress, TV presenter and long-time animal rights activist, said, “The problem of strays has remained a problem because government never did anything to solve it. Why? Because there is a good number of NGOs trying to solve it. We have always said as World Animal Conscience, and this was also discussed on the animal welfare council, that there should be a fund created through a programme of microchipping of pets. So a dog-owner would be legally bound to microchip his pet against a one-time fee, which would go to this fund to be used to neuter stray animals.”
Mizzi feels grateful towards many people, housewives in particular, who feed stray animals. However, in the absence of a neutering programme, a single cat and its offspring can cumulatively produce up to 70, 000 kittens in seven years.
The people from Tat-Targa Kennels have discovered that the best way to restrict pet owners from abandoning their dogs at the kennels is to draw up a contract to ensure the dogs are retrieved once the time has come.
“We have had cases were dogs were left here and we issue penalties to those people. Hopefully this will lessen the problem.”
One problem is that people always want to adopt puppies and kittens as pets, but what they do not realise is these animals need training and time in the beginning. Once the difficulties begin, the animals, especially dogs, are returned to the sanctuaries or abandoned on the street.
The SPCA has a no-homing policy over the Christmas period to ensure that none of our pets end up as “unwanted” Christmas presents.
Lara Refalo from the SPCA said, “If people are interested in one of our pets over the Christmas period we take down their details and reserve the pet against a deposit. This ensures that people have given the adoption some thought and are ready to have their pet spayed or neutered and microchipped.”
Mizzi said, “Microchipping would also mean that if you abandon your pet on the road you can be immediately tracked down once the pet is found. We made our proposals on the council but they were never taken up, and I have no idea why. It’s pathetic.”
The different sanctuary representatives gave a few tips for first-time and existent owners on how to keep their dogs and cats happy and healthy throughout the year.
Dr Vassallo suggests keeping dogs indoors in cool places during the peak hours of summer. Plenty of fresh drinking water should be available at all times, and exercise should be carried out only during the coolest times of the day.
“Most dogs tolerate low temperatures very well; however taking dogs from very warm rooms directly into a cold environment can be stressful, especially for puppies and some small short-coated breeds. This is not really a problem in Malta because our winters are mild.”
Lino and Joanne Farrugia both feel that “pets should be kept on good diet food containing lots of fats to keep their coat in top condition.”
Refalo said, “Check with your veterinarian to see if your pets should be taking heartworm prevention medication. Heartworm, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal in both dogs and cats.”
Ivan Galea from Animal Doctors found cats to suffer from kidney failure, which is one of the most conditions and is very common in older patients. “In cats too we suggest routine blood tests from seventh year onwards, so that if there is an initial kidney problem we can take care of it while the cat is sign less. Regarding cat flu, which is a group of diseases in the upper airways, it is very serious for small kittens. Adults also can have a rough time with cat flu but will usually survive.”
Vella Bardon said, “The predominant danger in the warm months, between April and October, is from sandfly, which transmits leishmaniasis (a tropical disease which can be fatal for dogs). Ideally, dogs should be kept indoors between sunset and sunrise. They should have a fan at low speed over their sleeping place. Scalibor Collar or Advantix drops reinforce protection. There is no vaccine against leishmaniasis.”

Information on all the sanctuaries and veterinary interviewed:

Island Sanctuary Association
Contact: 21659895 or visit: www.islandsanctuary.com.mt - and check out the fund raising book sale happening today at the sanctuary.
Noah’s Ark
Contact Fabio: 79730900 or visit: www.noahsarkmalta.org
Tat-Targa Kennels
Contact Lino and Joanne Farrugia: 2157 3081 or email:
tattargakennels@hotmail.com
Vetcare Animal Clinic
Contact: 21373277 or 21382936
SPCA Malta
Contact: 2123 4431 or visit: www.spcamalta.org
Animal Doctors
Contact: 21233011, 79290667, or 99898614

bcaruana@mediatoday.com.mt