Government implements new policies under Dangerous Animals Act following recommendations by activists

A coalition of animal welfare activists and NGOs held a press conference today at Ta’ Qali to discuss key amendments to the Dangerous Animals law, which comes into effect today. The activists at the press conference said, the new regulations, to be officially published in the government gazette tomorrow, contain significant provisions for improving animal welfare and regulating the keeping of dangerous animals in Malta.

The session brought together representatives of animal welfare organisations, activists, and representatives of government institutions, including Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo, Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said, Permanent Secretary Sharlo Camilleri, and other relevant authorities.

Principal Announced Measures

Following a roundtable meeting held on 22nd January, when activists submitted a comprehensive list of proposals, the government pledged to implement two main measures:

• 90-Day Amnesty Period: Owners of dangerous animals will be provided with a three-month amnesty period to register their pets without penalty. This is to create a current national registry of such animals.

• Mandatory Neutering: To prevent overbreeding, abandonment, and population growth, owners will be required to neuter registered dangerous animals.

Renowned activists Althea Galea, Moira Delia, and Darryl Grima, who addressed the press conference, reaffirmed that while they are in principle against keeping such animals, they realise that there must be a better solution in light of the situation in Malta today. The proposed steps, they explained, are in the best interest of the animals and seek to prevent such an event as the one discovered in Naxxar lately.

Commitment to Animal Welfare and Enforcement

The activists emphasised the importance of introducing a positive list of permitted species, centralised registration, and enhanced enforcement measures to ensure compliance with the law. They also called for more public education and awareness on responsible animal ownership, emphasising that educated citizens play an important role in improving captive animal welfare.

Additionally, the government also assured that the amnesty window would not affect existing judicial proceedings, including high-profile cases such as the Naxxar investigation

This latest legislative amendment marks a collaborative step between the government and animal welfare activists, showing the shared objective of addressing the issue of dangerous animal ownership in Malta.

Ruth Zammit

News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster