The government has pledged to launch a nationwide emergency veterinary care service following public pressure reignited by a social media video from animal activist Moira Delia. In her video, Delia criticised the prolonged closure of the Ta’ Qali Animal Hospital, stating: “It’s 2025, and we still don’t have an animal hospital.”
Delia highlighted recent distressing cases brought to her attention, including a paralyzed dog and a cat unable to urinate, both left without access to immediate veterinary care due to the ongoing lack of facilities. The Ta’ Qali hospital has been shut since August 2023 after suffering extensive damage from a power surge. Though a reopening was initially scheduled for October 2024, delays have continued without clear explanation.
In response, the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights announced a temporary emergency scheme, to be launched in collaboration with the Veterinary Surgeons Council. The initiative aims to provide 24/7 emergency veterinary services through licensed clinics across Malta and Gozo until the Ta’ Qali facility reopens.
The service will operate nightly from 8:00pm to 8:00am, and all day on Sundays and public holidays. Clinics will rotate participation across three regions – Gozo, northern Malta, and southern Malta. Financial incentives will be offered to encourage participation, and a list of selected clinics will be published on the Veterinary Surgeons’ Council website.
The government statement emphasised that this move reflects its commitment to animal welfare, ensuring pet owners have access to urgent care during off-hours.
Back in February 2025, NGO Animal Guardians Malta launched a national petition calling for the immediate establishment of a fully operational 24/7 animal hospital. The NGO cited serious gaps in emergency care, particularly during nights, weekends, and public holidays, highlighting cases of unanswered calls, shuttered clinics, and avoidable animal suffering. Their demands include a round-the-clock facility for both pets and strays, financial support for low-income pet owners and NGOs, and greater transparency from the Animal Welfare Department.
The petition also accused the government of sidelining animal rights, despite repeated promises over the years. The campaign quickly gained traction, with more pet owners and carers sharing distressing experiences of delayed or inaccessible treatment. “We will not remain silent while animals suffer due to an imperfect system,” the NGO said. The petition remains open for signatures to this day, inviting the public to take a stand for stronger veterinary care and animal rights protection in Malta.
The Ta’ Qali hospital is now expected to reopen sometime in 2025. It was also meant to serve as a veterinary training facility for MCAST students enrolled in the Master’s programme in Veterinary Medicine, run in collaboration with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Eight students had been accepted to begin the course in November 2024, but nearly a year later, it remains unclear whether the programme ever got off the ground – let alone whether these students will complete their training.
Despite these developments, activists maintain that the absence of a fully operational animal hospital for nearly two years reflects a lack of government priority on animal welfare.
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