The plans for the National Centre for the Protection of Animals have been completed, the Department of Information said.

As announced in the budget for 2007, the government voted Lm60,000 for work on the setting up of such a centre to start this year.

The plans were completed after consultation with the Veterinary Services Division, and were drawn up by David Xuereb and Associates, architects commissioned by the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry. An application for the development of the centre has now been submitted to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The site chosen by the government is Ta’ Qali, the DOI said, and is suitable for the purposes as it is cut off from residential areas while at the same time providing the best environment for such a centre. The designs of the centre reduce the impact on the area too, the DOI said.

The centre will include equipment and specially-designed areas to keep animals in quarantine. There will also be boarding kennels, veterinary clinics and an emergency section.

This is being done to give animals the best treatment possible and create more awareness on the respect that should be shown to animals.

The centre will also include an area earmarked for educating people on animals and will offer space for exhibitions and other activities. A library and an audio-visual centre is also planned.

Such a project is planned to create more synergy between the government and non-governmental organisations. In this sense, the government is working to set up a foundation for the care of animals, which will also administer the centre.