A Gozitan farmer arrived at his farm on the outskirts of Xewkija yesterday morning to the horrific sight of his three tal-fenek dogs hanging lifeless from a steel beam in the farmyard.

The dogs had been strung up by their necks with nothing but a thin cord keeping them suspended just inches from the ground. All three were strung up side-by-side, less than a metre apart, with their tongues lolling from their mouths. In what was a macabre sight, the dogs appeared to be standing on their hind legs, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their owner.

The heinous killings must have been carried out at some point on Monday night, when the culprits entered the gated farmyard and carried out the brutal crime. The dogs were discovered early yesterday morning, when the farmer, who preferred to remain anonymous, turned up to begin his day’s work.

According to the Gozo SPCA, which was called in to witness the disturbing scene, one of the slain females was heavily pregnant, while another was mother to three puppies. The puppies had luckily evaded death but were said to have been running about in a distressed and confused state – little wonder, considering they were probably trying to make head or tail of what had become of their mother and companions. The third slain dog was male.

The Gozo SPCA reported that all three dogs were in excellent physical condition and represented fine specimens of their breed, kelb tal-fenek, which are often erroneously referred to as “Pharaoh Hounds”.

The police were called to the scene, while Veterinary Services personnel were also summoned by the Gozo SPCA to examine the bodies of the dogs before they were cut down by their owner, who was said to have been “distraught” by the scene.

The Gozo SPCA has condemned what it describes as a “barbaric act on three defenceless and blameless animals”, while pointing out that the act was even more tragic as the kelb tal-fenek is an increasingly rare breed and an ancient and important part of Malta’s national heritage.

The Gozo SPCA has appealed to anyone with any information about the crime to “find it in their hearts” to contact the police so that appropriate action can be taken against the perpetrators.