I refer to the letter from Mr John Baptist Camilleri, Marsascala local councillor regarding strays in Marsascala (TMID, 3 June).

Mr Camilleri says that “sometimes we could easily count a dozen dogs hunting in the area, with no authority or animal care organisation trying to control the situation”. He further says that he has “travelled to many places around Europe, and have never seen such a number or stray animals. I strongly feel that something must be done”.

Well, Mr Camilleri might be surprised to know that the reason why he does not see a lot of strays in other European countries is that the local councils there assist animal welfare organisations, both financially and physically, to control the situation.

What is the Marsascala local council doing about the problem? Do all animal welfare problems have to be solved by the understaffed societies whose members do all the work without getting paid and who are overwhelmed with work in taking care of hundreds of dogs? When will the authorities, and this includes local councils, start doing their bit, which will after all be beneficial to everyone, and not just animal societies?

I would like to remind Mr Camilleri that animal welfare societies in Malta get no regular funding from the government, and what is more, animal welfare societies did not even get a single cent from the l-Istrina collection for animal welfare.

So Mr Camilleri, ask not what the animal care organisations can do for you, but what you can do for the animal care organisations.

The animal societies will gladly help if they have the means to do so.

Kenneth Cassar

Animal Rights Malta

Marsascala