Dogs, such as pit bulls, and which are deemed aggressive should start to be micro-chipped shortly as new regulations are issued in the coming days, Resources and Rural Affairs Minister, George Pullicino announced.
The microchip – which is similar to our identity card – is inserted under the dog’s skin in a simple procedure without the need for anaesthetic. A microchip reader will then be able to identify its date of birth and owners, among other relevant information.
This was demonstrated on Eva a dog hailing from the pitbull breed, which used to enjoy visiting boys at the secondary school situated in Handaq, who used to give it their lunches. She played with the boys and entertained them with it’s friendly tricks, often contributing to disturbing a lesson or two, before the Animal Welfare Department picked it up.
Eventually all dogs and their puppies in Malta and Gozo will have to be microchipped and animal welfare officers will be confiscating those dogs which are not microchipped. Recently the procedure has been completed on all dogs that are in sanctuaries.
While visiting the Animal Welfare Department base at Ghammieri on the occasion of the Animal Welfare Day, Mr Pullicino also announced the Animal Welfare Department’s website will be updated in the coming weeks for it to become more interactive, making dog adoption easier.
Works at the Ta’ Qali after care centre are also at an advanced stage and he announced it should be open towards the end of summer. The reaching out programme in schools will also be extended and plans are for it to keep going in summer schools.
Animal Welfare Department director Mario Spiteri said that in the two years since being set, the department responded to several animal cruelty cases. It also collected some 500 cats and dogs from the streets, among which was a cross breed Husky which was found abandoned in Mtarfa last Saturday. A significant number of pure breed dogs, including German Shepherd had also been abandoned.
Some animals were housed at animal sanctuaries but 30 per cent of the animals were adopted. A number of dogs were also sent to Germany for adoption.
While patting the dogs and commending the Animal Welfare Department for their hard work, Mr Pullicino condemned hoax calls to the animal ambulance. Of the 500 calls the department received since January, 50 were hoax calls.
“Besides being a waste of resources, such incidents could be depriving other animals from immediate response when this could be truly needed,” said Mr Pullicino.
He explained the Animal Welfare Department also carries out inspections in pet shops, private residences and farms upon reports of animal cruelty. In fact, 1,000 inspections were carried out in total and a number of persons were successfully charged in court over animal cruelty.
Some 25 animal cruelty cases are currently ongoing at the courts. Some four cases were about abandoned animals and if found guilty, their owners would be ordered to pay a minimum fine of €230.
A case of the sort, which is nearing conclusion, is that of Mario Agius, who turned up at the Island Sanctuary wanting to hand in a dog but then decided to abandon it in the streets after being told the Sanctuary could not take in anymore dogs.
Mr Pullicino noted the Animal Welfare Act is stricter than other similar European laws but hoped the courts apply it correctly. He went on to explain that stray animals were among the worse disease carriers.
Mr Pullicino also pointed out the Gozo Ministry had identified a suitable place for the Gozo SPCA and applications for Malta Environment and Planning Authority permits were in process.