Eight dogs which were living in inadequate conditions were confiscated from breeder Andre Galea’s residence, Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Welfare Alicia Bugeja Said said.

In a post on Facebook, Bugeja Said said on Tuesday that officials from the Animal Welfare Department, along with the police and veterinarians, confiscated eight dogs under Galea’s possession, confirming that they were living in ‘inadequate’ conditions.

She thanked the Animal Welfare Department for following the case to ensure the wellbeing of the animals.

“As the Parliamentary Secretary responsible for animals, I will continue to follow this case, and I am convinced that the involved institutions will do all that is possible to achieve justice,” she said.

Andre Galea was attacked by his own two dogs in Msida in the early hours of Monday. In 2020, his 95-year-old grandmother was mauled by pit bulls to death. Galea attempted escape by climbing onto a nearby parked car.

Neighbours of Galea estimated that there were around eight to ten dogs living in the residence, who were growing increasingly frustrated after authorities failed to feed them more than 24 hours after the incident.

Galea is undergoing court proceedings where he stands accused of the 2020 involuntary homicide of his grandmother, who was mauled by two of two pit bulls at her Msida home. 

MaltaToday reports that Galea used a knife to kill one of the pit bulls which attacked him outside his Msida home. 

Sources told the newspaper one of the two pit bulls involved in the incident was stabbed with a knife and killed by Galea shortly after they turned against him.