[WATCH] San Frangisk animal hospital set to open next month

San Frangisk animal hospital set to open next month

Malta's first fully-fledged animal hospital looks set to open its doors next month, as the project reaches its final stages.

Keith Attard, director of Animal Pro-Health Ltd - the company that won a tender to revamp the former San Frangisk animal clinic into a hospital - said that 15 employees have already been hired and are currently undergoing training at private clinics

"Our indication is that it will be fully operative in July, and that it will first open its doors to strays collected by the Animal Welfare Department, before welcoming injured pets a few days later."

The Ta' Qali hospital will be open 24/7 and will cater for up to 109 animals at a time. It will consist of orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery rooms, X-Ray rooms, recovery rooms, a laboratory, and a lecture room for MCAST students. Strays and pets will be treated in separate operation and recovery rooms. Pet owners will be able to choose from silver, gold or platinum care packages, that will be based on factors such as whether their animals will stay at the hospital overnight or require 24/7 nursing.

Attard was speaking to the press after giving parliamentary secretary for animal rights Roderick Galdes a tour of the hospital building. Galdes noted that the project was set back after APH encountered severe damage to the building’s drainage system that it had to fix for a cost of around €600,000. 

Meanwhile in parliament, it was revealed that almost €50,000 were paid in emergency services for use of government’s veterinary services.

In reply to a question raised by PN MP Toni Bezzina, Environment Minister José Herrera said that the MSDEC paid €13,350 between March and December 2013. The amounts for 2014 and 2015 stood at  €18,400 and €17,950 respectively.