Doggy Day Care Negligence Case Taken To The Criminal Court, Ruby’s Family To Give Deposition Tomorrow
The case of two dogs who went missing while under the care of a Gozitan day care company has officially been taken up by the criminal court, the family of one of the dogs will give their deposition tomorrow.
The tragic stories of German Shepherd Kim and British staffie Ruby broke the hearts of hundreds of people across Malta and Gozo last year. Kim was found dead on a cliff’s edge shortly after she went missing in the scorching summer heat while Ruby has never been found.
Emily Biesmans, the owner of Ruby, spoke to Lovin Malta to share that their case has been taken up by the criminal court, saying this is a “true testament” to how seriously the authorities have taken this devastating case of negligence.
“We are very happy with how seriously it’s been taken so far, we feel heard and listened to. It is about time that people who are negligent and careless, causing animal abuse, are punished so that this deters future people from breaking more families apart,” Biesmans said.
She further attributed this good news to the public support the owners received during the thick of the ordeal saying “they gave us the courage to keep fighting”.
“And of course, we wish for this particular abuser to never be able to care for animals again and be punished in whatever other way brings about justice,” she said about Doggy Day Care Gozo owner Cassie Gold.
In July of 2023, news of Ruby’s disappearance made headlines, her heartbroken family offered a €5,000 reward for her safe return. Biesmans and Amir Chalaby- Ruby’s owners – were abroad when she went missing and were informed that Ruby escaped the daycare centre.
Mere weeks later, news circulated about another dog, Kim, who was found dead on a cliff’s edge in Għarb. She was also under the care of Gold when this incident happened.
Calls to regulate pet sitters, groomers and trainers were sparked once again and were finally translated into Maltese legislation this summer. In June, the 2024 Regulations on Standards for the Operation of Grooming Establishments for Domestic Animals and the 2024 Regulations on Standards for the Operation of Pet Sitting and Pet Boarding Establishments for Cats and Dogs were announced and came into effect two months later, they intend to enhance standards for pet groomers, sitters and boarders.
Ruby’s family will give their depositions tomorrow while Kim’s family gave theirs on 18th September. The magistrate presiding over the case is Simone Grech and the lawyer representing the dogs’ families is Daniel Calleja.
“We want justice, we want her to never be able to hurt another animal again, we want no animal to have to suffer negligence again. We pray for better regulations and adequate punishments to avoid this heartbreak in the future,” Biesmans emotionally concluded.
What outcome do you hope to see from this case?
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