The Animal Welfare Department swooped down on a residence in Birkirkara this morning after receiving reports that dogs were being cruelly cooped up in chicken cages in a backyard.

Accompanied by police, department staff found 25 fox terriers in rusting cages without water, covered in their faeces and severely malnourished, without any shelter against the elements.

“This is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty I’ve witnessed so far,” one of the department employees told The Times.

Noah’s Ark animal sanctuary and SPCA took in a few of the dogs, but unfortunately, some are in such a sorry state they may have to be put down.

The dogs seen in this photo, after being put in the rescue van, are three of the ones that are in a better condition. Described as “ferocious” by their owner, they licked their rescuers’ hands the second they were given some human affection.

Police are investigating.

See full report in The Times tomorrow.