Q1 – Stray
kittens are repeatedly being spotted in the same area. To whom shall I report the case.
A1 – Do not touch the kittens.
Allow some time to see if the mother cat returns to take care them.
If the mother cat does not turn up, pick up the kittens and check if
their tummy is full to ensure that they are being fed. Repeat the same
procedure at 6 – 8 hour interval to see if the mother cat returns. However, if the eyes of the kittens have pus on
them or the kittens look generally sick call the Animal Welfare Ambulance on
1717 so that they will come and check them. Should they need to be hospitalised, it would
be ideal to find the mother cat too.
Q2 – A dog/cat has
been hit by a car. Whom shall I call for
assistance?
A2 – Call Animal Welfare on 1717 immediately.
Stop your car in a position that would prevent further hits and put on
the hazard lights. If you have any towel
or cloth in the car, cover the animal leaving the head exposed.
Q3 – A dog is found
dead on the spot. Whom shall I contact?
A3 – Call Animal
Welfare on 1717.
In line with legislation, the Animal Welfare Directorate will
come on site to verify if the dog is microchipped or otherwise even though it
is dead. The Animal Welfare Directorate
will then inform the owner of the dog about the outcome.
Q4 – A friendly dog is
seen roaming about. How shall I proceed?
A4 – Call Animal
Welfare on 1717.
If the dog is not aggressive hold it until the Animal
Welfare Ambulance arrives on site Otherwise, keep an eye on the dog to make
sure that it does not get hurt and also to guide the ambulance team is
about the exact location.
Q5 – My pet is very
sick. Can the Animal Welfare Directorate
assist?
A5 – Animal Welfare
Ambulance caters only for stray animals.
However, should you require, the Animal Welfare Directorate can provide
you with contact numbers of a private
animal ambulance or veterinarians who carry out private house visits or the
animal hospital which provide a 24/7 service
Q6 – I found some sick
cats in my colony. As a feeder, whom
shall I call for assistance?
A6 – The Animal
Welfare Directorate can help you catch
sick cats from your colony. You may then
have to decide whether you are to continue taking care of the cat and take it
to a private veterinarian yourself or leave it in the care of the Animal Welfare Directorate, depending on
a number of conditions.
Q7 – Stray animals
are in a poor state. Whom shall I
inform?
A7 – To report poor
welfare state or abuse of animals, you
may either:
- call
Animal Welfare on 1717 In such case, you may opt to give contact details to help the Animal
Welfare Officers to identify the location or remain anonymous; or
- send
e-mail on animalwelfare.mafa@gov.mt or
- make a
report through the Animal Welfare Mobile Application.
Details of
person making the call are never made accessible to the offender.
Q8 – My neighbour’s
dog is constantly barking. To whom shall
I report the case?
A8 – The Animal
Welfare Directorate will investigate all reports lodged. If the dog is well kept in an acceptable
environment, then the case does no longer fall under the remit of the Animal
Welfare Directorate but under the remit of the Police.
Q9 – My dog ran
away. How shall I proceed?
A9 – You may wish to
file a Police Report at the nearest police station. In addition, you may either
- send an
email to animalwelfare.mesdc@gov.mt with
the description and/or photo of the dog and any other useful information
together with contact details; or
- call
1717 and give the description of the dog and any other useful information
together with contact details.
- Upload
photo on the Malta Animal Welfare app.
It is important to microchip your dog and to update the
register in case of any changes so that it will be easier to trace it should
any mishap occur.