A meeting to welcome the new members of the Council for Animal Welfare, has been hosted by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights.

Animal welfare activists, who are now also members of the Council, issued a call earlier this year for the Ministry to address an exhaustive list of 7 proposals to assist in the improvement of animal welfare and animal rights in Malta, Minister for Animal Rights Anton Refalo said.

Topics highlighted during the discussion included a request for a national mass neutering programme for cats, responsible ownership and compulsory microchipping/registration of dogs and cats, farm welfare, wild animals in captivity, immediate removal of dangerous poisons widely available which are being abused, and a new rehoming centre.

“I am elated that as a government we will be embarking and have already started working on these proposals,” Dr Refalo said.

Minister Refalo emphasised that the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights has heeded the requests made by the members of the Council for Animal Welfare and has taken immediate action.

The Ministry reassured the Council that it intends to maintain this open dialogue to work together to achieve these common goals.

Photo: DOI

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