The killing policy

It is very difficult for the SPCA (March 8, 12) to "eradicate a perception" that it has created over many years. Despite the change in committee members, the policy of killing dogs that has always existed, still exists!

In fact, this was lately confirmed by Antoine Vella (SPCA committee) himself during a recent meeting by NGOs in Valletta to discuss the Fgura dogs! Ironically at that meeting, the SPCA were questioned several times as to "what happens to dogs collected when no home was found". Their silence and their refusal to answer this direct question speaks for itself.

In fact, since a large source of the SPCA's funding is provided by the government, it perhaps explains the necessity to "collect and kill" on its behalf, otherwise the funding could be withdrawn.

We all know quite well from experience that it is impossible to home as many dogs as you collect. So how is it possible that they never "refuse to shelter an abandoned dog" and are never "full up"?

At the same time, the SPCA has always stated that it is not a sanctuary and cannot keep dogs. Again a contradiction!

I find it rather unbelievable to read that they keep dogs "as long as they can", sometimes many years. That would be the day!

Can they possibly be referring to those two healthy dogs that were killed as soon as the new committee took over? These dogs were young, spayed and waiting for a home. No second chance was granted here!

Or are they referring to the Naxxar dog which an SPCA official insisted on collecting and killing under the pretext of the animal "being aggressive" according to a police report? It eventually turned out that the police report stated nothing of the sort.

These are only two of so many cases I am personally aware of.

To put it in the SPCA's own words, they "owe it to their readers" not to misguide them. So, yes, please, do set the record straight once and for all.