During a press conference, Minister Anton Refalo and Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said provided an update on the ongoing reform within the Directorate for the Proper Treatment of Animals.
They highlighted numerous initiatives aimed at strengthening animal rights.
Among the progress achieved in the first year of this reform were key milestones from the seven pillars of the initiative. These included a 50% increase in staff for enforcement and rescue operations, the introduction of a dedicated 153 hotline extension for emergency reports or suspected abuse, improving responsiveness and efficiency, and the addition of two state-of-the-art animal rescue ambulances.
Minister Refalo emphasised the commitment to transforming the Directorate into a higher-quality service. “Through this reform, which we are diligently working to complete by 2026, we aim to ensure the Directorate is empowered with the necessary resources to safeguard animal welfare,” he stated.
Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said commended the Directorate’s efforts, noting a tripling of hotline calls since the reform began in late 2022, with over 10,000 calls received this year alone. She also reported increased inspections, confiscations, and disciplinary actions against animal cruelty.
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