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Hi,

You will see many dogs here in Malta and their products on the pavements too !But most owners are responsible and use doggy bags to get rid of the stuff,

Depending on where you live there are ,in general , no open spaces. You will nearly always be walking your dogs in streets, on the promenade or along the rather rocky beaches.And there will be lots of co-dogwalkers around- at any time of the dog.I have seen dogs  in the rock pools at any time of the day.I'm not aware of any ban but that could be the case of the very few sandy beaches that Malta has.

Are you aware of the procedure to bring dogs from the US to Malta?You have to start about 6 months before you intend to come with them.

Regards

Ricky

Thanks Ricky,

Yes - they are in line to get thier pet passports - they take a better picture then I do!

Hi,

Don'T forget all the other procedures - including finally making sure that the Government is aware of your arrival and is waiting for you and your pet.

Let's get together when you are here this week .

Ricky

I am currently cuddling with my Canadian kitty while checking emails so  I feel the need to add it can be done and it's worth it!

Whilst I'm sure it can be done and of course people's pets are "part of the family" - but the reality in Malta seems to be that there are simply too many cats and dogs anyway. I've seen 5 dead cats in the road in the last 2 weeks - prior to that, living in the US and UK I hadn't seen a single one for over 20 years.

I'm just being a devils advocate in rasing the issue, but maybe people should comsider adopting pets when they get here rather than bringing more - it seems there is a need for pet adoption...just from my observation, I really have no axe to grind...and love cats myself, which is why I am so saddened when I see dead ones in the road.

Just something to consider.

Tim

Excellent point Tim, except then what would I have done with my cats that I already owned when I moved here? I'm happy to adopt (and my kitties are both rescues) but now that my household is full I can't just ditch them every time I move...

If ít's any consolation they're both neutered and strictly indoor cats, so their not adding to the population boom around Malta...

Well, we adopted out our cat out to someone in the US before we left - it was a tough decision as we'd had her 6 years and my kids were very fond of her and had grown up with her, but we felt it was better for her under the circumstances...and I'm really not saying it's the right choice for everyone, just saying it's an option that people may like to consider...I didn't use a phrase like "ditch them", I'm not trying to be incendiary, just another point of view...sorry if I offended at all.

Tim

No no, not offended, just enjoying a very relevant discussion. It was a decision we struggled with as well leaving Canada, but most of our friends had full cat households as well due to adoptions and I'm a schmuck. Then once we'd moved to Norway, we'd slipped down that slope and now they are little international kitties of mystery ;-)

"international kitties of mystery" LOL!

Tim

One thing about walking dogs in Malta.

When in Malta you will see that some owners will keep the dog's bag clearly visible, sometimes attached to the dog's leash.  They do that on purpose since there are wardens (in uniforms and in plain clothes) who will stop you to check that you will clean after your dog.  There are fines if you don't but do not know the cost of the penalty.

Unfortunately not all promenades have dog bins, so at times you would have to walk with the dog bag until you get home.

Wow - if that is true (and I don't doubt what you are saying) I'm at a loss to understand how there can be so much dog pooh on the pavement! - is it strays? I know a neighbour of ours lets his dog run free and the dog often opens up rubbish bags before collection and leaves a terrible mess, I can only assume he poops where he wants to also (the dog, not the owner!)...maybe this bag rule and enforcement is only in some places?

Tim

Hi Tim,

Reporting from Sliema.

Here the rule counts too ....the bigger the ???? , the bigger the poop !

The seafront seems to be ok ....but some side streets can be really bad .

Cats always bury there stuff somewhere as they are very clean creatures.Dogs are different !So it is a ??? problem.
Solution ? : Poop tax ! The heavier the dog the more poop ...the more tax .Of course the tax revenue should go towards a mobile poop removal unit ...report the heap , dispatch the mobile unit , suck up the problem, clean and sanitize the pavement, problem resolved ....

We visited Naxxar today and did see some 'problems' there too !
Hope you had a nice holiday.

Ricky

You don't doubt what I am saying, but with the way things are you would have all the right doubting!!

All I am saying that the law is there.  Probably, they enforce the most popular areas like Sliema, Bugibba.  As it happens often in Malta, wardens tend to enforce laws as soon as they come into force and they do it to ensure that everyone knows that the law is there, but then they slacken.  Environment wardens (the ones in plain clothes) were set up for this reason and they can even fine you if you throw something out of your car window.

As for "surprises" on the pavements... school is out now.  You have to be well trained when you try to walk on the pavements next to any govt school in Malta.