Almost 3,000 Maltese have signed a petition asking Virtu Ferries to change their policy about pets on board, after a dog died from heat stress in the garage of the catamaran.

The dog died while being kept in the garage below deck, during a trip from Malta to Sicily, on board the MV San Gwann on Sunday.

At present, the MV San Gwann is being used instead of MV Jean De Valette, because the latter suffered damages when it hit a pier in Pozzallo.  MV Jean De Valette has huge fans in the garage, but its replacement does not.

The owners told the media that they had asked whether they could take their dog, Coeco, on the deck in his box, but the security personnel had refused. When they got to Sicily, the owners found the dog lying on his back.

But according to a report on Times of Malta today, Virtu Ferries have now blamed the owners for the dog’s death.  The operator said that that the pet was not declared by the passenger, in accordance with veterinary regulations and the company’s conditions of carriage.

The spokesperson said that the policy not to allow pets in the passengers’ area is because of health and hygiene reasons.