Indeed, as Mrs Cassar Torreggiani of SPCA rightly said (TMID 23 August), my vision is that of Malta having ‘an acceptable standard of animal welfare’.

In her letter, I find a few points mentioned by the SPCA President which ask for clarification.

Firstly, I sincerely hope that she does not consider me a critic with a hidden agenda. I seek to criticise what I believe goes against animal welfare in my country, simply because I love animals and anything else that requires man’s protection. And this without being some kind of armchair critic.

For, and this brings me to my second point, Mrs Cassar Torreggiani should be aware that work in favour of animals does not take place solely at SPCA in Floriana. In other words, she and her number of good people working on a voluntary basis at SPCA are, by far, not the only benefactors of stray animals. There is an immense number of other equally well-spirited volunteers in other animal associations, catteries and dog-homes, as well as the often-unseen army of ‘freelance’ animal lovers who protect stray dogs and cats on our streets, our pavements, our public gardens and even traffic islands and roundabouts.

Thirdly, a word about the so-called ‘fallen animals’ as she describes it. From her letter, I wondered if the term refers to animals that are unfortunately killed by traffic and other similar accidents and not by 'humane euthanasia', which I will be referring to, further down.

My fourth point is that I don’t agree that there is anyone out to ‘discredit the SPCA’. True, the basis of the article in question did not originate from a sense of love for animals, but rather as a result of the bitter political divide that continues plaguing this country (as well as a result of the questionable level of professionalism of journalists of our political party stations, who leave our University with first and second degrees in journalism). But to say that the article’s aim was to try to discredit the SPCA is, to my mind, switching to paranoia mode.

However, my fifth and main thrust of my letter is that what bothered me most is the expression – ‘humane euthanasia for one good reason or another’. In animals, ‘humane euthanasia’ can only be carried out for one reason and one reason alone – that is, the animal being simply too dangerous and impossible to handle, and is a menace to other animals (including humans) around it; beyond that, an animal is put to sleep only if it is proved beyond doubt that it will no longer be able to live a comfortable, worthwhile life. Only then can its life’s termination be described ‘humane euthanasia’. Anything other than that, Mrs Cassar Torreggiani, is called killing. So, there can only be one ‘good reason’ behind ‘human euthanasia’. In this regard, SPCA will be discrediting itself if it were to refrain from pronouncing itself with regard to its ‘kill’ or ‘no-kill’ policy. I feel that the Maltese people have a right to know where this association stands in this matter.

Finally, not only do I concur that it is certainly not ideal to take fallen animals to WasteServ, but I firmly believe that it was a gross error on the part of SPCA to dispose of carcasses in that disgusting manner. SPCA should have sought for alternative means of disposing of the 'remains' of 'fallen animals'. Even if not to the proper specifications, an alternative means does, in fact, exist.

All our animal associations need to reach a mature stage in which their representatives sit at the same table to discuss matters to the greater benefit of animals, especially but not only, strays. We need to see animal associations working closely together and not at loggerheads with each other and each working in its own individualistic manner. We need proper animal legislation and this must include the creation of a Commissioner for Animals, with powers to oversee and monitor animal well-being in Malta and Gozo. Until the Government decides to take the bull by its horns (Oh-I-hate-that-expression) and decides to legislate meaningfully in favour of our four-legged friends, Malta will continue to be one of God’s hells for animals.

Franco Farrugia

Pieta