The MSPCA, with the support of Dogs Trust, has once again carried out a national survey on neutering and microchipping of dogs' and cats' rates-of-acceptance in Malta. The annual surveys have been carried out since 2009 when MSPCA and Dogs Trust embarked on a joint action plan to reduce stray dog populations through neutering and education. The six-year project was deemed successful through yearly studies to monitor the impact of the neutering and educational campaign. While Dogs Trust no longer has an office on the Maltese Islands, they continue to support MSPCA to monitor the progress in this area by implementing a subsidised neutering scheme for dogs owned by farmers, hunters and people on benefits.

This year's survey carried out in November 2017 on a scientifically representative sample of the Maltese population by Prof. Mario Vassallo for MSPCA, covers public attitudes towards cat and dog ownership, legal compliance, perceptions about stray animals and their care, as well as adoptions.

Although the study gives a lot more information, some keys findings indicate a decline in both cat and dog ownership, a decline in observed strays, increased dog microchipping compliance and the public's change in the perceived responsibility of strays which has shifted away (42.4%) from Animal Welfare Department (AWD) in previous years (84.4% in 2016; 2015: 77.2%; 2014: 77.6%). Perceived responsibility has taken a more social orientation to individuals, NGOs and local councils. This change was also replicated in who should be responsible for stray animals.

The MSPCA greets the results of the neutering campaigns for dogs by the MSPCA and cats by other NGOs which are encouraging, but are concerned that lifestyle and residential changes may be behind the decline in cat and dog ownership. While the MSPCA does not advocate irresponsible ownership of pets, a decline in people that want to adopt a pet may place animal shelters under more pressure than before as fewer homes are available for animals for adoption.

This year's study has for the first time attempted to measure local trends in international rehoming. While it has been common practice for Maltese NGOs to send dogs abroad for adoption, a practice the MSPCA believes to be unsustainable, a new phenomenon in recent years has emerged with people in Malta adopting animals from foreign NGOs. In this first time measure of the extent of this phenomenon, 12.5% of respondents that had adopted a dog, had adopted it from abroad. This, coupled with measured interest in doing so by other respondents, indicates this figure may increase in the future.

These last findings highlight the stark reality that stray population management cannot be discussed simply and solely on a local level but needs to be on the agenda of the European level authority. The MSPCA believes that an EU-wide strategy to control and reduce stray animals humanely in all its member states would eliminate the necessity of international rehoming and would eventually protect vulnerable animals from undergoing the unnecessary stresses of border crossing. The MSPCA will present its findings and proposals to Maltese MEPs in the coming weeks and look forward to a serious discussion about future action.

The full report on this year's findings and previous years may be obtained from the MSPCA upon request by email on [email protected]