An elderly couple from Zabbar was today fined €1,000 in total by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli after conviction for animal cruelty.
Joseph and Grace Degabriele, 67, admitted to have kept 11 dogs in poor condition in their farm at Zabbar.
The dogs were discovered by animal welfare officers last December after a number of reports were made to the Animal Welfare Directorate.
Three of the dogs had to be put down on orders of a vet.
Police inspector Sylvana Briffa prosecuted.