The Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Roderick Galdes has today announced the setting up of a new animal welfare fund, in order to provide much needed financial to the voluntary organisations working in this sector.

He made the announcement at a press conference at the Ta’ Qali petting farm, he said the fund was part of the Government’s electoral manifest as well as being a budgetary promise to be carried out this year.

The €40,000 fund will be distributed among NGOs and other organisations that safeguard animal rights and will be used to improve animal shelters, cost related to veterinary treatment as well as food and transport, animal rescue, and the spaying and neutering of stray cats and dogs.

Parliamentary Secretary Galdes added that the main objective of the fund is to improve the way animals are kept and treated, as well as to further raise the level of cooperation of organisations working in this area.

To ensure transparency and that the allocation of funds goes to the most in need, the fund will be operated by a special committee.

This committee includes representatives of the Government, Chairman of the Council of Animal Welfare, and a representative of the Maltese Council responsible for the Voluntary Sector Organisations.

Photograph:DOI/Clifton Fenech

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