During the past few weeks Gozo SPCA has been inundated with kittens and puppiess. Centre manager Betty Berry said personnel at the centre were sickened by the horrendous dumping of young, often newborn, kittens and puppies.

Last Monday was a record day. Twenty animals were brought to the centre in the space of 10 hours. Abandoned kittens were picked up from Ta' Pinu, Għadira ta Sarraflu, Qala and from outside the centre.

Generally puppies were dumped in boxes in public gardens. All were hungry and thirsty, in varying stages of dehydration.

During the previous weeks kittens have been found near recycling bins, in skips and perhaps worst of all, put out in sacks for the garbage collector.

Ms Berry said this callous disregard for life was appalling - how could anyone be so cold hearted and indifferent to the suffering of these poor animals.

It was also frustrating for nursing mothers, whose kittens were snatched from them - the endless searching for their offspring and the discomfort and risk to the health of mothers in full lactation.

"If people do not want their dogs and cats to have puppies and kittens, why don't they have them neutered," said Ms Berry.

Gozo SPCA has been helping people with assisted neutering for many years. The society was doing all it could to prevent these unwanted births, mainly through education and having all animals rehomed by the centre neutered.

Gozo SPCA was truly grateful to all those kind Gozitans and foreign residents who had gone out of their way to inform the society about these abandoned animals, sometimes even bringing them to the centre or staying with the animals until the rescue vehicle arrived.

Anybody seeking information about Gozo SPCA's assisted neutering service should call 2155 3769 or e-mail info@spca-gozo.org.