Pyjama-wearing animal activists are laying down outside the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Division (VRD) offices in Marsa to mark the authority’s inaction over a new “circus act”.

“VRD wake up! Enforce the Law,” “VRD whilst you are snoozing animals are suffering,” and “Żomm kwiet – hawn in-nies reqdin hawnhekk” emblazoned placards as activists sat and lay on the stairs outside the authority’s offices.

The protest comes ahead of Cleopatra’s Horse Show, scheduled for the Montekristo estates later this month.

“The Cleopatra Horse Show clearly falls under the definition of a circus and cannot be allowed under the current legislation. This circus act will have horses performing for three days in a row. We contacted VRD and informed them of this circus act just in case they were not aware,” protestors said.

“Apart from not answering our communication, it seems no action has been taken to stop this from happening as the show is still being promoted to date.”

Members of Animal Liberation Malta, Real Animal Rights Foundation, Association for Abandoned Animals AAA, and Vuċi Għall-Annimali attended the protest.

They called out the law meant to protect animals from circus abuse – the Animal Welfare Act – as “weak” and not much more than an administrative fine.

“That means the organisers will be fined €666 per day for each of the three days that the show will take place,” they said. “Are we going to allow big business to continue uncontrolled to the detriment of Animal Welfare as well?”