Editorial

It was both impressive and most heartening to see several hundred people marching down Republic Street to the Palace, in Valletta calling for the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.

It was a march meant to raise awareness for the better treatment of animals as well as a protest at what participants termed as the inability, or unwillingness, of those in authority to apply already existing laws.

Represented were the Animal Rights Society, Azzjoni Pozittiva, Catcare Association, Community Animal Welfare Society, Glue, International Animal Rescue (Malta), Island Sanctuary, Moviment Graffiti, the 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. On their behalf, Michael Pearson promised that "the animal protection NGOs are willing to assist the police in investigating cases of animal cruelty and arranging appropriate training for law enforcement officers".

Are we, as a people, inclined to be thoughtless and sadistically cruel? God forbid. It is because we care that we cannot allow the forces of order to turn a blind eye to certain very blatant acts, some of which have, again generously, been brought to the notice of the public.

The Maltese care. There are several organisations in Malta interested in animal welfare and they all hate to see strays and abandoned animals.

Freddie Fenech, of the Abandoned Animals Association, launched an appeal for people not to abandon animals. He counsels imprisonment for offenders.

As a committee within the Animal Welfare Council is working to draw up a system to control the stray animal population with the possible electronic identification of pets, the care of stray dogs is discovered as a bone of contention between the Society for the Protection and Care of Animals and Island Sanctuary.

Neuter and release is one method; putting to sleep is another, especially when animals cannot be housed or homed. By quarrelling over methods, some good people are shooting themselves in the foot whether by throwing tantrums or painting themselves green with envy.

It is not a good sight to see good people arguing over a good cause. They must all realise, like the rest of us, that different answers are possible, especially when one looks for the hard practical rather than the nebulous ideal.

What they and all of us desire is for decent treatment of animals, greater education and reasonable punishment as a sensible and civilised mode of persuasion.

It is a duty of a civilised society to see that animals are not ill-treated. We may disagree about how we vent our anger or express our great love for animals but we are all agreed that it is a duty on our part, and an expression of solidarity with creation, to care for animals.

We must educate ourselves not to make animals victims of our hate, frustration or sense of inferiority.

The public is rightly asking for greater action by the forces of law and order and for better coordination between all the friends of animals.