We say that we love animals but what we do, as a nation, seems to show otherwise.

Let us take some examples from the past few weeks.

In 2016 PN MP Mario Galea presented a Private Member’s Bill that proposed banning the chaining of dogs and the use of electric shock collars.

The bill was aimed at banning the cruel practice of keeping dogs chained up to stationary objects for their entire life. Back then things looked promising but, unfortunately, the bill never made it past the first reading.

There were talks, after the last election, to revive the issue and present a new bill (a bill that is not concluded by the end of a legislature has to be tabled again in the next one), but nothing has materialized so far. This means that, in 2018 Malta, the practice that has been banned in many European states, where it is deemed as animal cruelty, is still allowed.

Last week this newspaper reported how animals at the government farm in Ghammieri and rescue dogs in the neighbouring compound belonging to the Animal Welfare Directorate were left terrified by fireworks that were being let off from a launch site just ten metres away. Sources who spoke to this newspaper said staff at both facilities were disgusted by what was happening but were told to keep their mouths shut because the decision had been taken by ‘high up.’

This has happened elsewhere – earlier this year the dogs at the Island Sanctuary in Marsaxlokk were scared stiff by the fireworks display there. Calls for more sensitivity towards animals, including by using silent fireworks, have fallen on deaf ears.

Other recent examples that come to mind are the ‘traditional’ festa horse races, held under the scorching afternoon sun. The authorities have still not declared the practice as inhumane and continue to issue the permits.

But this is not just a rant against the authorities. The government, for example, has invested in horse shelters at the Grand Harbour. Yet some very selfish drivers think the shade is meant for their owns cars – the horses can stay in the sun, for all they care.

Some would go further and say that horse-drawn karozzini should be abolished in this day and age.

Over the past months there were reports upon reports of snail poison scattered in dog parks and on the streets, often followed by heartbreaking stories of people whose beloved pets died of poisoning.

One would think that these horrific stories would have a bigger impact on people, that there would be a serious call for a ban on snail poison.

But this is, after all, a country that held a full on referendum about whether we should keep killing birds or not, and voted to retain the controversial practise. And now that the European Court of Justice has ruled that the trapping and caging of wild songbirds is illegal, the government plans to appeal that sentence, in the hopes that this cruel sport may continue.

There are other things one could mention, for example the incessant cases of animal cruelty and neglect. Just ask the animal shelters – the stories coming from those places are horrifying.

We could also mention irresponsible dog breeding – a subject we have written about extensively in the past – and which brings profit above the welfare of the animals.

Or we could mention the abysmal condition animals are kept in at some pet shops.

We may say that we are an animal-loving nation but that is far from the truth. Sure, there are quite a few who love and respect animals tremendously, and who manage to make a big difference when it comes to animal welfare, but as a country we need to change so much if we want to live up to that name.