Question of abuse

I refer to the letter "Cat's disappearance" (November 6). It is not a question of disappearance but whether the cat was put to sleep out of spite and, if that was the case, why. It is a question of abuse. It is a question of arrogance. It is a question of complete disregard to professional ethics in honouring certificates of clearance issued by other authoritative health professionals (locally or foreign).

I am pointing no fingers at anyone in particular. However, experience in a similar situation, concerning our pet cat which my wife and I brought to Malta from the US, and in spite of official medical certificates being presented to the veterinary officer at Marsa, we were told that the cat would be put to sleep. Simply because the pet came from the US; and the question of rabies! Only after complaining to the CGMO at the Health Department was the cat then kept in quarantine and eventually released to us.

To say we are sorry is not acceptable. Neither is the fact as to whether the Ombudsman should be involved. For this would be a matter of abuse by the government's veterinary officials at Marsa.

It is a pure and simple case of self-importance by the official responsible.