Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare has initiated an investigation of an alleged dog euthanasia case by the Animal Welfare Directorate. The incident allegedly occurred, according to Commissioner Alison Bezzina, over a period of time and involved three or four ‘bully breeds.’ In a statement by the Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare, it was revealed that the office is not in any way consulted beforehand in such cases as the law does not require the involvement of the commissioner’s office in any way. 

Quoting law CAP439 (43), the statement highlights how ‘aggressive animals shall not be kept in stock and may be slaughtered or culled if this is deemed to be necessary or expedient by the Director for Veterinary Services or Director for Animal Welfare.’ 

Activist group Vegan Prism also released a statement updating on the killings. The group allegedly met ‘very high-ranking officials within the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Animal Rights to discuss what is happening as well to present our proposals to what should be done moving forward.’ 

The statement by the activist group expressed how their biggest disappointment was that even though the Ministry accepted that the situation needs to avoid this from happening again, they allegedly expressed the notion that there is nothing that can be done for past actions. 

They revealed that the ministry is keen on implementing the proposals built for them by the activists. Muzzles have been ordered to be used, as well as a trained behaviourist to be added to the panel of decision makers with the power to decide a dog’s fate. 

The mass neutering for felines will still continue, but, given the lack of stray dogs, this will not be needed for canines. Vegan Prism gave credit to the ministry for working hard to improve Animal Welfare and even agreeing that this situation was managed quite poorly. An official social media presence is also allegedly around the corner. 

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Photo Source: Alison Bezzina FB, Vegan Prism FB