I refer to your leader ‘It’s not been that quiet a summer’ (TMID, 2nd September 2009).

While we appreciate your newspaper’s continued efforts in highlighting the sterling work being done by the Animal Welfare Directorate and its staff, I feel that a clarification is in order. The directorate acts upon complaints received from residents and in most cases it responds to reports submitted to police, as was the recent case at Xemxija (which presumably led to this comment). It must be underlined and emphasized that all actions regarding the putting down of domestic animals are taken following the necessary verifications and after the owner is identified.

Obviously, there will be cases, which, due to their urgent nature, are tackled differently, but it is highly appropriate that as your editorial rightly states, that all cases are treated on a case-by-case basis.

Keith Galea

Communications Officer

Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs