The case of Gianni Attard, the Gozitan shepherd and his sheep will end up before the European Parliament as his lawyer sends appeal to Maltese MEPs and the Maltese Commissioner Karmenu Vella to press case before the highest EU institutions.

In a lengthy letter, a copy of which was acquired by this newspaper Attard’s lawyer, Dr Joshua Grech wrote how this plea is aimed at safeguarding the sheep’s life and so that the farmer’s position is regularized. 

Attard’s case began four years ago when the Department for Veterinary Services culled 216 of his sheep because they were not registered. Aided by lawyer Joshua Grech, the Gozitan farmer started a court battle in which Mr Attard is trying to save the remaining 300 sheep. 

The courts have consistently ruled against Mr Attard in the interests of public safety. According to Mr Attard, most of the killed sheep were pregnant and their worth could some up to some €520,000.

Gianni Attard’s lawyer had presented the case to appear in front of the Constitutional Court. 

The Veterinary Department has said that the sheep had to be killed because the test could only be acquired once the animal is put down. Also, it appears that the same department deems every animal which is not registered as sick because its roots are not traced.

The lawyer explained how Mr Attard had been trying to register his sheep with the Veterinary Services and for reasons unknown to him, these animals were never registered. The letter explains that Gianni Attard’s sheep are the only microchipped sheep I Malta. The constitutional court had ordered that every sheep is ear-tagged, but the court had not ruled the need for a microchip. The farmer is also claiming a breach in animal rights as 10-day-old lambs were also ear-tagged. 

In its conclusion, the letter, calls on the authorities to immediately test the sheep for any illnesses.

Earlier this month Mr Attard has been billed €651,175 for a fixed police guard at his sheep farm, court documents reveal. Mr Attard has filed a court application contesting the bill, arguing that the police guard was unnecessary.

He has also filed an urgent application calling on the authorities to carry out brucellosis testing on his animals. He says the authorities have refused to carry out the tests and have not given a valid reason.