| Malta Market Cruelty Have you ever visited a Maltese market (like the Marsaxlokk market) in Summer? If so, you must have noticed the terrible conditions some non-human animals are kept while their seller waits for people to buy these poor creatures. Hamsters, birds, cats, dogs and fish, all kept in terrible conditions, confined to small places in very high temperatures. Perhaps you might have seen dead hamsters or birds in their cage, others biting the iron bars, desperate to get out, kittens panting for the heat. A terrible scene, which goes on and on with no one stopping it. Unfortunately, "animal welfare" in Maltese markets is yet unregulated. There has been some discussion about them in the Animal Welfare Council's sub-committee on pet shops, but until now, the selling of pet animals at markets remains unregulated. In the meantime, hundreds of animals suffer and die in tiny cages in the hot summer. |
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| What you can do: Although Markets are still unregulated, still, cruelty to non-human animals is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act, even though, since the new laws promised by the Government have not yet surfaced, it remains a question of interpretation specifying what entails cruelty. But in this case, the cruelty is so blatant that there is no room for interpretation. There are a few things you can do to help these innocent animals. Write letters to the local and foreign press, describing the state of the animals at these markets. Taking a picture and sending it as well would help. Ask the government to regulate the sale of non-human animals at markets. Report any cruelty you notice to the police (there is a link to the police website on the homepage). Even if the police take no action, you would have at least tried. If several people report the same cruelty, the police will be compelled to act. Send a letter or email to the Local Council complaining about what happens, and asking them to stop this cruelty. |
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| Marsaxlokk Market - picture sent by a tourist (Summer 2005) |