This letter is in response to Mr Franco Farrugia’s article, Answers expected from SPCA (TMID, 8 September). Please note that I am not writing on behalf of Mrs Cassar Torregiani but in my own name – a member of staff who works at the SPCA together with a team of dedicated people without whom the fate of animals in Malta would be a lot more tragic.

I am not one to write in the newspaper, but in this case if “coming clean” requires me to reply to your questions, Mr Farrugia, so be it because we are as clean as animal welfare gets.

To begin with, our no-kill policy depends on the health and disposition of an animal.

Surely you must know that the Animal Ambulance run by the government is not in operation and we do not have an animal hospital in Malta yet. Our medical resources are limited and unlike popular belief, we do not have a 24/7 in house vet. Therefore all medical procedures have to be performed at private vets including spaying and neutering.

Although we cannot accommodate seriously injured animals, we have cared for three dogs with broken limbs in the past month and another one with dislocated shoulders.

As already mentioned, 80 per cent of animals that are put to sleep at the SPCA are owners’ pets.

I think owners have a right to decide whether or not their sick or old pet is suffering. Do you actually think that we simply accept owners’ pets to be put to sleep without verification or in some cases, a referral from a vet?

Putting animals to sleep in such cases is animal welfare rather than abandoning them onto the street either sick, blind or in various stages of decrepitude.

The SPCA has come a long way from putting dogs to sleep after seven days point blank. We have dogs with us who have been here for five years.

Bambi being one of them, will be flying to her new home in Cheshire this Christmas.

For the record, aggressive and seriously sick/injured animals make up 20 per cent of animals put to sleep by a vet at the SPCA. Aggressive dogs are our responsibility when it comes to members of staff or potential owners.

I do not like watching people bringing their pets to be put to sleep. It is often a very emotional experience.

Supporting people who have no choice but to put their beloved pet to sleep is one of the most difficult jobs we have and we hope we are of service to them.

It is the worst part of my job which is otherwise a very fulfilling one.

If you have any doubts about SPCA, come and visit our premises. Despite their woeful state, we carry on because without us, animal lovers would have much more to worry about.

Lara Refalo

SPCA Malta