Long-term quarantine

After reading your article on the death of a boa constrictor in quarantine, I add my voice to the growing concern of Maltese and foreign visitors for the health of animals in long-term quarantine.

As a frequent visitor from Canada for over the past 20 years, our children and we have enjoyed the many benefits of Malta. On this occasion, as a long-term visitor, our family dog joins us. We acknowledged and accepted the quarantine period but were unprepared for the physical condition of the quarantine facilities for larger dogs.

The facilities, as indicated in the picture, are concrete floor, wire mesh sides and top with ill-fitting partial tile "roofing". Constructed during British times, cages are open to the weather. On my daily visits during the rainy season, I and other animal owners covered the cages with poly. During our dog's limited "stay", many of the six-month (mandatory) quarantine residents were frequently ill with various ailments.

We found the Luqa quarantine officers caring and helpful but they were hampered by the facilities. As an emerging EU nation, Malta's reputation would be better served by a more enlightened approach to the care and control of their animal visitors.