Free dog neutering services offered by organisations like the SPCA have helped contribute to a reduction in Malta's stray dog population, SPCA representative Sarah De Cesare Dunkerly told The Malta Independent.

She explained that free neutering is offered to specific targeted niche markets, including hunters, farmers and those on social benefits.

The service is offered to farmers and hunters for free as they often let their dogs off their leash resulting in pets mating with strays. Persons on social benefits offered this free service as some owners might have wanted to undertake such an action however would not have had the funds to do so, Sarah explained.

Turning to statistics Sarah argued that in 2008, public opinion surveys showed that 15.1% of dog owners had their pets neutered, with the number now standing at around 70.4%.

Alisson Bezzina, a SHout representative posted on Facebook asking why this scheme would be open for hunters. In response, Sarah said that "We have found that most were unwilling to pay for their dogs to be neutered and it took a lot of speaking to them  to bring them round to the idea. If getting it free means they will do the right thing, we will gladly offer it to them in hopes that the education that goes along with it will pay off in the long run and they will eventually pay for it themselves once reaping the benefits".

"Stray dogs often starve, going through bags of rubbish to find food leading to disease and poor health," Sarah stated.

Such free initiatives began in 2009, when, according to Sarah, the problem was far more prolific back then.

Sarah is also a SHout representative, and in this regard said that although her views clash with those of hunters, neutering of pets is one point that both can agree upon.