Police investigate macabre slaughter of dogs

Gozo police are investigating the horrifying slaughter of three pure-breed Klieb Tal-Fenek on a farm on the outskirts of Xewkija on Monday night.

The Gozo SPCA were called to the scene on Tuesday morning. They said the farmer, who prefers to remain anonymous, found his dogs hanging lifeless from a steel beam in his gated farmyard when he arrived early in the morning.

One bitch was heavily pregnant, the Gozo SPCA said. Another was mother to three big puppies which had escaped death and were running around very distraught and confused. The third dog was a male.

All three dogs were in excellent condition and very fine specimen of the breed, the organisation added.

The police were called to the scene and the veterinary services were summoned to examine the carcasses of the dogs before they were cut down by their distraught owner.

The Gozo SPCA said it absolutely condemns this barbaric act on three defenceless and blameless animals. "The crime is made even more tragic since the Tal-Fenek is becoming an increasingly rare breed, which is an ancient and important part of our national heritage.

"Gozo SPCA appeals to anyone who has any information regarding this crime to contact the police, so that they can then act on behalf of those poor, gentle creatures."

Editor's note: Photographs of the dead dogs are not being printed as some readers could find them disturbing.