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‘Traditions Should Change As Awareness Is Gained’: Animal Commissioner Reacts To Horses’ Gruesome Photos

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Malta’s Animal Rights Commissioner has appealed for the need for traditions to change as new awareness is gained, in light of gruesome photos capturing horses’ reality.

Alison Bezzina reacted to the grotesque photographs that emerged recently, showing terror and fear in horses’ eyes during a race that took place in the sweltering summer heat.

“The argument that we’ve been doing something for 500 years does not hold water in any scenario, let alone where animals are concerned,” Bezzina told Lovin Malta. 

Photos by Animal Liberation Malta

Photos by Animal Liberation Malta

“Traditions should change as new awareness is gained. God-forbid we keep doing things like we used to do them 500 years ago just because it’s traditional to do so,” she said. 

“The pictures speak for themselves… the only living beings that were enjoying themselves during that event were human.”

“The horses were clearly there against their will, surely not with their consent, and the ambience was certainly not adequate – the heat, the decibels, the excessive manhandling.”

“I’m not a dreamer so I don’t believe that these events will not stop any time soon, because it takes a lot of guts for a politician to take such a decision, but until then, I will keep trying to make these events more bearable and less cruel on the animals involved example; by forcing the time to go later in the day when it is less hot,” Bezzina promised.

The photographs in question were captured on 15th August, during a race that took place at Gozo’s capital city of Rabat and published by the animal activist group Animal Liberation Malta. 

When apparent animal cruelty is pointed out, arguments relating to Malta’s traditions and heritage are often made, attempting to justify the true atrocities at hand.

What do you make of Bezzina’s reaction? 

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Sasha is a writer, creator, and podcast host interested in environmental matters, humans, and art. Some know her as Sasha tas-Sigar. Inspired by nature and the changing world. Follow her on Instagram at @saaxhaa and send her your stories at [email protected]

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