A grieving pet owner has taken to social media to condemn Malta’s emergency veterinary system after her two-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel died in the early hours of the morning.
In an emotional post, she described frantically calling multiple clinics between 6:00am and 7:30am without reaching a single veterinarian. “Thank you for leaving my dog to die. Thank you for the trauma you caused my family. We lost not just a dog but our daughter,” she wrote. She accused the system of being a “failure” driven by profit rather than compassion, recalling how one clinic reportedly told her they only opened for emergencies involving their own clients.
Her words sparked an outpouring of sadness and anger online, with dozens of commenters echoing the same frustration: “It’s 2025, and we still don’t have an animal hospital. Still no emergency vets.”
Her story is not an isolated case. Repeated complaints highlight deep flaws in Malta’s emergency veterinary system:
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Two Years Without a Hospital: The Ta’ Qali Animal Hospital has been closed since 2023, with no clear reopening date.
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Empty Promises: Government announced a 24/7 emergency scheme in 2025, but clinics are still not on board – leaving owners stranded.
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No One Answers: Pet parents report emergency hotlines that ring once, cut off, or demand a €5 fee with no vet on the other end.
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Restricted Access: Some clinics allegedly limit emergency care to their own clients only.
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Public Outcry Ignored: Despite petitions and repeated warnings from NGOs, Malta remains without a functioning emergency system for pets and strays.
The frustration comes despite the government’s promise earlier this summer to launch an after-hours emergency veterinary service in collaboration with licensed clinics across Malta and Gozo. The scheme was meant to guarantee urgent care during nights, Sundays, and public holidays, with clinics rotating on a regional basis. According to the Veterinary Surgeons’ Council’s Expression of Interest, clinics would be compensated €200 per shift. The deadline for applications has since been extended, suggesting the service is still not fully operational.
This tragedy highlights the gap between official promises and reality. While the Ta’ Qali Animal Hospital remains closed for a second consecutive year and NGOs continue to petition for a 24/7 national facility, pet owners are left with no lifeline in critical situations.
For the heartbroken family, the loss is irreparable: “We didn’t just lose a dog, we lost our daughter whom we loved dearly. We turned for help and found no one.”
The incident raises urgent questions about whether Malta’s veterinary emergency care – delayed, fragmented, and under-resourced – is fit for purpose.
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