Watch: Dog Left With Broken Bone And Torn Muscle For 15 Days At Animal Welfare, NGO Claims
Cooper, a Pharaoh hound dog, endured fifteen days at Animal Welfare with a broken hind leg, without receiving necessary surgery, the Association for Abandoned Animals (AAA) has alleged.
On Sunday, AAA took to Facebook to unveil a heart-wrenching account of Cooper’s arrival at their animal sanctuary. They said that he arrived a mere “skeleton”, with a broken back leg, having been abandoned in this state on the streets. Additionally, they mentioned that he was scheduled for surgery the following day.
The NGO said it retrieved Cooper from Animal Welfare on Sunday to facilitate his operation, a customary practice among animal sanctuaries to aid animals at Animal Welfare.
After AAA published a video depicting a visibly malnourished and injured Cooper and announcing an impending operation, the NGO received a noteworthy message from an individual questioning the delay in seeking veterinary care for the dog.
The individual claimed to have discovered the injured dog abandoned on a street in Siġġiewi on 19th February and contacted Animal Welfare who picked him up the same day.
“Despite initial skepticism, the individual had captured photos of the dog on the very day he found him,” disclosed Sanctuary Manager Rosalind Agius to Lovin Malta.“If you put Cooper and the photos side by side, you realise that they are 100% the same dog,” she continued.
The individual informed AAA that, desperate for updates on Cooper’s condition, he contacted Animal Welfare and subsequently the social services when he received no information. Although an unconventional approach, the individual provided a screenshot as evidence of his efforts.
“Animal Welfare left this dog for two whole weeks without taking him for the much-needed immediate orthopaedic surgery,” lamented AAA in an impassioned Facebook post. They asserted that this neglect was likely why the individual never received updates despite numerous calls.
Subsequently, AAA endeavoured to confirm the individual’s account with Animal Welfare, only to encounter bureaucratic obstacles. Frustrated and incensed, AAA decided to publicise Cooper’s story.
They revealed that despite successful orthopaedic surgery, the procedure proved more intricate due to Cooper’s bones fusing incorrectly, intensifying his pain and impeding his recovery.
AAA clarified that they cover all veterinary and medical expenses from their donations, receiving no complimentary medical care, even for animals acquired from Animal Welfare.
“Unfortunately, once again, the Director of Animal Welfare has failed to give an explanation of why Cooper was left for 15 days with a broken bone. The blame is all on him and the one big failure of a system in that department,” AAA stated.
In the meantime, Lovin Malta has reached out to Animal Welfare to get their version of events but has yet to receive a response.
The newsroom also reached out to the Commissioner for Animal Welfare Alison Bezzina who said that she “is aware of the case” and “will open an investigation into the matter if necessary”.
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