Animal rights group criticises costly and inadequate horse shelters

The group said in a statement that the shelters, which were approved by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), include water and drain facilities. However, the shelter roof is reportedly made of Eroco strips of wood with spaces in between, allowing both sun and rain to get through.

Myriam Kirmond of Animal Rights Coalition said: “Had the architect from Transport Malta consulted with the Karozzin Committee, the obvious would be a complete roof coverage protecting the horses from both elements.”

“To add insult to injury, it is the karozzin owners who are being made to pay these exorbitant costs,” Kirmond said.

The Karozzin Committee had been informed that although MEPA approval was sought fr the design of the shelters, had the committee not agreed with the costs and designs, the project would have been scrapped. “We therefore seriously question why a tender for this project was never put forward, thereby offering alternative designs at more realistic costs,” Kirmond said.

The group said that the World Association for Transport Animal Welfare and Studies (TAWS) also suggested the need for more realistic costs, rather than those quoted by Transport Malta. The report to the authorities follows their second visit to Malta since last August.

TAWS also recommended in their report six-monthly veterinary inspections with horse in harness and carriage and increased water points available for horses to quench their thirst on their regular working circuit.

Animal Rights Group added it would welcome micro-chipping for horses, in order to be able to track of their movements, and possibly a veterinary department registering change of ownership and registering of legal births and deaths.