French couple still awaiting official information on fate of dog

A French couple who brought their dog to Malta on April 25 have not yet been given an official explanation over why the dog was reportedly killed at the quarantine section on the same night it arrived, and they are even starting to suspect it was actually stolen.

Alain and Chantal Goldhagen are still dumbfounded following the loss of Bonnie, their six-year old beagle.

Mr Goldhagen arrived in Malta on a flight from Libya at about 10.30 p.m.

He had obtained an import licence for the dog before his departure and handed over the dog, which was in a pet cage, at Tripoli airport. The dog was supposed to be taken to the quarantine section as soon as it arrived in Malta.

When he enquired about it the day after his arrival, a person from the quarantine section told him over the phone that a dog had been found unaccompanied and without any documents in the airport arrivals hall and was immediately put down on instructions from the vet.

Chief government vet Lino Vella said the dog had been put down because of fear that it could be carrying rabies and Malta had been free of the disease for many years. He said, however, it was unacceptable that such mistakes happened and an enquiry about the dog's death was "still underway".

But lawyer Dr Peter Fenech, who is representing the Goldhagens, said he was facing a lot of stonewalling in his bid to find out what went wrong.

"I have written to the customs department and the chief government vet. I also have a copy of a letter by the agent which shows that the Department of Agriculture was given notice about the dog three days before its arrival," Dr Fenech said.

Dr Fenech said all he was told was that a dog was found in a cage next to the conveyor belt where luggage from the Tripoli flight was offloaded. As no one claimed the dog, it was taken to the quarantine section and put to sleep.

"On May 7, I was asked to appear before the board of inquiry but have heard nothing since," he said.

Neither the agent who handled the paperwork, Mr Aaron Stivala, nor Mr and Mrs Goldhagen have yet been called to testify before the inquiry.

Mrs Goldhagen said she still could not believe that the dog was killed.

"At times I have doubts whether the dog was killed or stolen. The dog was in a proper animal carrying case, had an expensive collar, a metal tag with its licence number and a tattoo in one of its ears. It was very evident it was not a stray dog," Mrs Goldhagen said.

"If the dog has been killed, where are its remains? Where are its cage, collar and metal tag," she asked.

"I can understand that an island like Malta would have strict quarantine rules. On the other hand, I cannot understand why a dog found in a pet cage at the airport is not kept at the quarantine section and is instead immediately put down," she said.