An elderly couple were fined €1,000 for animal cruelty yesterday after pleading guilty when they appeared before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

The couple, from Zabbar, had 11 dogs on their farm in Zabbar. Three of them had to be put down on a vet’s orders because of their condition.

Joseph and Grace Debgabriele, 67, pleaded guilty to keeping the dogs in bad conditions on their farm and that they had not taken proper care of them, making them suffer.

The dogs were found by animal welfare officials in December after complaints were filed.

Inspector Sylvana Briffa conducted the prosecution.