Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1501675
(if nothing else, because they constitute an obvious – and somewhat glaring – waste of the law-courts precious time, and resources). But in these cases in particu- lar: there is yet another rea- son for both the police, and the law-courts, to have sim- ply 'send Pastor Gordon-John Manche packing', once and for all. And this time, it concerns not the police; nor the law- courts; but... ...the law itself. And this is where we are forced to return, once more, to Bumble the Bea- dle, and his reverberating 'crie- de-couer' about the asinine nature of the entire legal pro- fession. Because on one hand, we have an article of Maltese law - Criminal Code Art. 339, to be precise - which holds that: "any person who UTTERS INSULTS or threats [my emphasis: and please note that the words 'ut- ters' actually implies a 'spoken' insult, more than a written one] is guilty of a contravention"... ... and on the other, we have the Constitution of the Re- public of Malta (which, by the way, enshrines the entire Universal Charter of Human Rights: including the one about 'freedom of expression') which holds that it is actually 'illegal', for anyone to try to stifle – as Manche is so clearly doing - other people's right to 'freely express their own opinion'. Not only that: but there is al- so an abundance of European Court of Human Rights case law, which establishes that (to quote 'Handyside vs the UK', for the umpteenth time this week): 'freedom of expres- sion' also includes 'the right to shock, offend, disturb' (and yes, folks: even to 'INSULT'). So to sum all that up for you, in a nutshell: we now have a sit- uation where, a) the police; b) the law-courts, and; c) Maltese law, in its entirety, all seem to be entirely oblivious to this tee- nie-weenie little contradiction, between their own actions, and ... um... the Universal Charter of Human Rights. Which also means that – in the (admittedly unlikely) event of an actual conviction, in any of those three trials – Malta can expect to face yet another wave of expensive ECHR cas- es... which, I need hardly add, we would not stand an ice- cube's chance in Hell, of actu- ally winning. And the reason for this state of affairs, if you ask me, has a good deal less to do with the 'hyper-sensitivity of Pastor Gordon-John Manche', him- self; than with the fact that all three major components of Malta's legal system, are quite clearly 'ignorant' – in the lit- eral sense of the word – of the 'law' that they themselves are supposed to be enforcing. Or to put it Bumble the Bea- dle's way: the law really is an 'ass', after all (and let's face it" at times, it can be a bit of an 'asshole', too...) IN Malta, it is a legal obligation to microchip dogs, but for the time being the same require- ment does not extend to cats. However, cats are not to be considered less- er animals or deserving of any less protec- tion, and cat owners who truly care about the well-being of their feline companions should still prioritise microchipping. By microchip- ping cats, we ensure their safety, facilitate their identification if lost or stolen, and in- crease the chances of a happy reunion. Reliable identification One of the foremost advantages of micro- chipping your cat is the ability to provide re- liable identification. Collars and tags can be lost or removed, leaving a lost or stray cat without any visible means of identification. However, a microchip—a small, rice-sized electronic device—implanted beneath your cat's skin, carries a unique identification number. This number is linked to your con- tact information and can be read by a scanner commonly found in veterinary clinics, shel- ters, and with animal welfare officials. Thus, microchipping offers a permanent and tam- per-proof method of identifying your pet. Peace of mind Cats are renowned for their independent nature and some owners may find that their homes and gardens are impossible to be fully cat-proofed. In circumstances where private- ly owned cats are likely to stray outdoors, it is always advisable to ensure that your cat wears a tag. However, this can inadvertently lead well-intentioned individuals to mistake your cat as lost and continually reach out to you by calling the number on the cat's tag. To tackle this challenge, a practical solution is to microchip your cat and to opt for a tag that bears the inscription "I'm chipped" in- stead of including your phone number. This approach offers multiple advantages, primar- ily providing reassurance that your cat is mi- crochipped and has a reliable means of iden- tification. Decreased risk of theft Microchipping your cat can act as a deter- rent to potential thieves. Stolen pets are un- fortunately a reality, and cats are not exempt from such incidents. However, thieves are less likely to target microchipped cats, as the presence of a microchip serves as evidence of ownership. Moreover, if your microchipped cat is stolen and later found, the unique iden- tification number can be used to establish ownership, facilitating the return of your be- loved pet. While it is not currently a legal obligation, microchipping your pet cat is a small invest- ment that pays off in numerous ways. From reliable identification to increased chances of reunion, microchips offer peace of mind and heightened security for your beloved feline companion. Remember, the benefits of mi- crochipping your cat far outweigh any con- cerns, making it a wise choice for every cat lover. The Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare was set up by Chapter 439, the Animal Welfare Act, with the task towards projecting a higher deserved status to Animal Welfare issues and matters related there to. The ulti- mate mission of the Commissioner's office is to promote and advocate for the animal welfare and the highest standards of health, keeping and treatment of animals. The promotion of compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, enhancement of cooperation between entities and persons advocating for animal welfare and the formulation of recommendations for the implementation of matters touching upon animal welfare. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 JUNE 2023 OPINION 11 Benefits of microchipping your pet cats: A wise choice, even without legal obligation Unlike the police – where there is still room to argue (however unconvincingly) that their precise responsibilities are at best 'unclear' – the law-courts certainly DO have the right to decide, at their own discretion, whether or not a case actually warrants being tried, at all Alison Bezzina is Commissioner for Animal Welfare Alison Bezzina There is no legal obligation to microchip cats