It was so touching to see Education Minister Galea tickling a cute cat during one of his visits to Skolasajf at Zabbar, where he also spoke on World Animal Day saying that children should learn to love and respect animals (TMID, 11 August).

Obviously, children should, but is anything being done to ensure that the “should” is turned to action and not only children, but even parents, would end up loving, or at least, respecting animals?

Has anybody ever suggested including animal welfare in the children’s school curriculum to ensure that they grow up fully aware of the situation and how their actions can affect animals and the environment?

Has anybody every suggested a nation-wide campaign on animal welfare issues? We see this regularly being done even on the Italian TV, but not here. Obviously the government is just immune to this whole thing despite the issue of animals and cruelty being dealt with ad nauseam in local media – which I would like to heartily thank for their interest and never-ending campaign to ensure that these things are brought to light.

But, despite the endeavours undertaken by the animal lovers and handful of animal sanctuaries which survive on the generosity of real animal lovers, Parliament is still sitting pretty on the situation and not doing anything to enact the relevant laws which can seriously tackle the desperate situation of animal abandonment and cruelty, which is becoming so much worse.

All we had so far have been promises and statements that have long gone up in smoke and been blown away. So, honourable ministers please note, next time when you are sitting in your comfortable chairs in Parliament ,some poor animal could be dying out there in the real world. So, who is going to get the ball rolling and do something about this?

Antoinette Catania

Birkirkara