| On this page I shall hilight the main issues of concern in the animal rights field in Malta, and what you can do to make a change. They are not necessarily listed in order of importance. Each cause is important. Below you may find some addresses which you could find helpful. |
| Killing of non-human animals for food and clothing: Like everywhere else in the world, this is a major concern for anyone seriously into animal rights. Millions of non-human animals are killed every year for food and clothing. Alternatives are readily available. I honestly do not believe change in this area can ever come about through legislation. Education is the only way forward. What you can do to help make things better is: Go vegetarian or vegan, do not buy "fur" or "leather" products, and make your opinion heard by writing letters to the press or through any other means possible (TV, websites, public protests etc). Dog fighting: Dog fights are still common in Malta. What you can do to stop them is: Write to the press and/or the Government for tougher fines for those caught in the act, report any dog fights that you know are being organised (if the information you give the police is leaked and the dog fight does not take place, it's a small victory nonetheless, even though the culprits are not brought to justice. What's really important is the welfare of the animals). Stray animals: The stray problem is one of a considerable degree in Malta, especially the stray cat problem. What you can do to help solve the problem is: Give some of your time if possible to some animal welfare society dealing with strays, or donate money for neutering or medication. Give a home to some non-human animal if you have the time and the place to do so. If you have a pet, neuter your pet. Do not be part of the problem. Be a part of the solution. If you want a pet, get one from an animal shelter and not a pet shop. Bird shooting and trapping: Hunting is an outdated blood sport which should not be tolerated anymore. The hunters' excuse that it is a tradition and a hobby in Malta is not valid. What if it was a tradition to kill children, or if it were my hobby to shoot people, would I be justified in doing so? Of course not! Bird trapping is not any less objectionable, where birds are left in cages for hours in the sun so as to lure other birds to come and be trapped. Also, to keep birds who naturally are inclined to fly over long distances, locked up in cages, is life-time cruelty. What you can do is, write letters to the press to show your concern, and educate the public especially the young, about this cruel practice. Karozzin (carriage) horses: Karozzin horses obviously suffer in Malta, especially in the summer months. Those who are against the exploitation of animals for entertainment, do not make use of Karozzin horses. If there is not enough profit, the Karozzin business will stop. If you are not totally against the use of Karozzin horses, at least ask for adequate shelter and water supply for these animals. Write letters to the press and to the government showing your concern. Animal mutilation: Sadly, we ofter read in the local news about non-human animals that are tortured and mutilated by sadists. If you witness such an act, call the police immediately and report the crime. In many cases, the police would take immediate action. Through experience, many animal protection societies have found the army very helpful too. To be on the safe side, call also the local press. This will put pressure on the authorities to take action. Also, make sure you have the phone number of an animal welfare society or vet handy, so that you can ask for assistance if the animal is still alive. If you feel it is safe to take the animal to a vet yourself, do so, but if possible, phone someone who specialises in the animal field, like vets and animal welfare societies, to explain the situation and ask for advice. In some cases it would be best for the animal if an expert handles it. It does no harm to ask. |
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