Big animal rights march in Valletta

Several hundred people yesterday evening marched down Republic Street to the Palace in Valletta calling for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.

Carrying banners calling for animal protection, the protesters chanted slogans such as "No animal rights, no vote" and "We want animal rights".

On arrival at the Palace, the protesters waited for MPs and presented each with a letter calling on them to emphasise the importance of enforcing the act.

The letter pointed out that although many incidents of animal cruelty continued to be reported, there was very little evidence to date of prosecutions.

Most of the MPs took the letter and walked on but Education Minister Louis Galea stopped to chat with the activists.

The activists also presented well over 8,348 signatures from the public to Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg.

Dr Borg told them that the police were doing their utmost to catch culprits but the activists insisted that not enough was being done.

Mr Michael Pearson said on behalf of the organisers that many volunteer workers and supporters were concerned that the new legislation was not being treated with the seriousness it deserved.

"The animal protection NGOs are willing to assist the police in investigating cases of animal cruelty, and arranging appropriate training for law enforcement officers," he said.

The letter presented to MPs was signed by the NGOs organising the protest, namely the Animal Rights Group, Azzjoni Pozittiva, Catcare Association, Community Animal Welfare Society, GLUE, International Animal Rescue (Malta), Island Sanctuary, Moviment Graffitti, National Cat Society, Nature Trust, St Francis Foundation for Animals, Support for Abandoned Animals and World Animal Conscience.

Although the Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (SPCA) was not among the organisers, the president and other committee members took part in the protest.