Commissioner for Animal Welfare Alison Bezzina has raised concerns about the minimum space requirements for dogs to be kept, which were recently updated through a legal notice.

Bezzina said that increasing the minimum space required for dogs was her recommendation, and she welcomes the doubling of the previous dimensions through the legal notice. However, she expressed concern with regards to the wording of the notice which merges together the sleeping area and exercise area when considering the minimum space requirement.

“Many fail to realise how small they are, almost the size of spare bathroom for small dogs.” As for bigger dogs, she said they are only being given six square metres, “which is not much bigger than most people’s main bathrooms, and this area needs to include their sleeping space and exercise area.” This is what worries her most, she said, as a dog such as a Great Dane “can be kept in a six metre space for all its life.”

While the government legislating on the minimum space required for dogs is a good thing, one does question why the amounts are so small. As any dog owner knows, pets love exploring their surroundings. The more energetic breeds love running everywhere. It would be absolute cruelty to restrict dogs to such small spaces.

Now some people might not have the space needed (and here we are not referring just to the minimum standards) to keep dogs, but then don’t get a dog.

Another issue was recently brought up with regard to this legislation. In parliament, PN MP Janice Chetcuti said that the PN feared that these regulations do not fully respect the rights and proper care of animals. Chetcuti said that she cannot comprehend or accept why this basic right of space for different-sized dogs excludes sanctuaries, pet shops, and/or dog accommodation establishments.

Here, the PN may have a point. In the latter case, surely anyone having to leave their four legged friends in such an establishment would want to have their minds at ease that their dogs have the space they need. So why not expand the regulations to cover such establishments? In the case of pet shops, forgetting the business side of things, why shouldn’t dogs have, at least, the minimum space they need? Shouldn’t their welfare come first? On this latter point the Animal Welfare Commissioner said that she is against the selling of any type of animal, however, “one needs to cater for them since they exist.” Perhaps some form of agreement could be found where, after hours, pets are moved to larger spaces, or perhaps where digital technology could be used while the pets are kept in bigger areas throughout the day?

As for sanctuaries, she said that many of them already have the required space. Now there is no doubt that people working in animal sanctuaries have the absolute best intentions for the dogs under their care and thus it is no surprise that most, if not all, would fall under the requirement already, so then why not include them, and perhaps allow for some leeway in circumstances where, for instance, there is a temporary need to house more dogs?