'Stop dumping pets on the streets'

The Association for Abandoned Animals has appealed to animal owners to stop dumping the pets on the streets and stressed that pets were for life.

Association chairman Alfred Fenech was speaking on Tuesday outside City Gate, Valletta, holding a puppy which had just been abandoned along the Sliema promenade.

Mr Fenech also appealed to parents not to give animals as presents to their children, because it was often the case that the novelty quickly wore off.

"Families have to realise that a pet needs love and attention and lots of care," Mr Fenech said.

Mr Fenech also said that in the past months, the situation had deteriorated and he was receiving an average of 70 calls a day from people reporting cases of cruelty or abandoned animals.

He said that as an association they tried to rehome abandoned animals. However, this was not an easy task.

"We do take in animals, but we cannot cope with all these cases. We are already over the limit," he said.