I have no intention at all to enter into any polemic with Dr Mario Spiteri, Director, Animal Welfare Protection (TMID, 16 March), but his letter merits some comments.

Referring to the sentence when he said, “an over-population of stray dogs and cats can also have serious adverse public health effects”, I wish to add that if more dogs and cats are taken away, we would be seeing more cockroaches, mice and rats running around! Furthermore, stray dogs and cats sometimes act as sharks because they scavenge the leftovers of foods and drinks that we, as a dirty nation, tend to throw away onto the floor while walking, celebrating something or even driving.

Another thing which concerns me are those people who say that they are animal lovers and then enjoy hunting them down!

As regards the Animal Aftercare Centre that is being built at Ta’ Qali, I wish to query the following: If Joe Public encounters a wounded dog in the street and as an act of goodwill, takes the poor dog to this hospital, what will happen to this dog after it is cured and back on its feet? Unless this hospital doesn’t end up as another sanctuary, can I say that the recovered dog is again doomed if it doesn’t find someone to take it as a pet?

C. Micallef

Fgura