The story published on the front page of this edition shows very clearly that the issue of cruelty to animals is still very much present.

This year, the infamous cat killer was caught. He was vilified, and became the object of pure and absolute hate. The crimes he committed were horrible, and cannot be excused. However, it later emerged that he was quite disturbed. Now equate that crime with people who buy pets, or working animals and then starve them to death. Is that worse? When a person knowingly mistreats a pet – beating it, or starving it, it is a terrible thing. Animals cannot defend themselves and if a person decides to make their life misery, then they can do so.

The Animal Welfare Unit highlighted the case we report today, that of a horse being set on fire because he did not win a race. The case was one pure frustration taken out on an innocent animal.

Over the past years, we have seen some heinous crimes committed. There was Star the dog, and Gaia the boxer – one dumped to die in a skip and the other buried alive after a shot to the head was botched.

It did prod some national conscience, but from the interview we publish today, it is very clear that more presence is needed. Reading the interview with members who staff the unit, it becomes very clear that they need more staff, more equipment, and above all else, more clout. It is also very clear that they put in super human efforts and go well beyond the call of duty in responding to cases of cruelty and abuse where they often face violent threats and behaviour themselves. On a macro level, Malta has made progress, but has also regressed. We have banned circuses that feature wild animals, but then some hunters and trappers continue to break the law and shoot protected species. Only last week, this newspaper how a hunter in Gozo fired across the bow of a yacht to kill two birds resting on the surface of the sea. Moreover, it seems that the government is sympathetic to the hunting lobby, even in the face of a referendum calling for its total ban. We now have a parliamentary secretariat for the wellbeing of animals, and while the AWU continues to perform sterling work every day, more focus is needed. As always, these issues are best tackled when children are young and at school, where they can be taught the love and joy that animals bring to our lives. Abuse will always, however, take place. And this is why the Animal Welfare Unit needs more support from the government and needs to be expanded. It is now setting up a branch in Gozo, and this is very welcome news. We are all very good at being armchair critics and experts, but this problem needs money and investment thrown at it.