Second Chance Horse Rescue has been operating for 330 days without a direct water or electricity supply because the sanctuary is based on a temporary site where permanent utility connections are not readily available, the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply (MAFF) has said.
The Ministry's comments come after the NGO appealed for an independent water and electricity supply, warning that it has been caring for rescued horses without either utility despite soaring summer temperatures.
In replies to questions sent by The Malta Independent, MAFF said the sanctuary is currently operating from a temporary site allocated by the former Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights (MAFA), which is now the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supply.
The Ministry said the relocation was arranged after concerns were identified at the NGO's previous premises, including what it described as "the lack of adequate structures to shelter horses from the elements".
According to MAFF, the current site was provided on a temporary basis in its existing condition to allow the horses to be moved "without unnecessary delay".
"At the time of relocation, permanent utility connections were not available, with water being supplied through a neighbouring source," the Ministry said.
It added that the site is located in an area where the nearest existing utility infrastructure is several kilometres away, making the installation of permanent water and electricity services more complex.
"Extending permanent water and electricity services to the location is therefore not a straightforward connection and requires the assessment of technically feasible and proportionate solutions," the Ministry added.
MAFF said it has been working with the NGO since receiving an application earlier this summer.
"Since receiving the relevant application during this summer, the Ministry and the competent authorities have been actively engaging with the NGO and working to identify a workable solution," it said, adding that discussions have involved ongoing technical and administrative exchanges.
The Ministry also revealed that an alternative arrangement had previously been proposed to the sanctuary but was not pursued.
"The authorities have since continued working on a different solution that can address the particular constraints of the site," it said.
MAFF said that because the land is legally assigned to the Ministry, it is coordinating efforts with the relevant authorities and utility providers to identify and implement a suitable solution.
It added that work remains ongoing.
The Ministry also stressed that, as with other animal sanctuaries run by voluntary organisations, responsibility for the horses' day-to-day care and welfare rests with the NGO, while the authorities continue to provide support within their respective responsibilities.
The Malta Independent also sent questions to the Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare. However, no reply was received by the time of publication.