Animal welfare czar investigating directorate over deteriorating facilities

Commissioner for Animal Welfare Fleur Abela is investigating the Animal Welfare Directorate and its director Joseph John Vella amid concerns over deteriorating conditions at its Luqa facilities.

Central to the investigation are the facilities housing dogs and an apparent breakdown in the directorate’s operations. The probe is also looking into allegations that the dog section has fallen into serious disrepair.

According to sources familiar with the situation, blood was found on the floor of the facility and a number of dogs were seen defecating blood.

The sources said several animals were found in very poor condition and dogs requiring specialised medical diets were not being given the prescribed food. Evidence submitted to the commissioner allegedly indicates that the medical condition of some animals had been deteriorating over time.

The commissioner was also informed the facilities available for dogs at the directorate were not adequate, according to sources.

Complaints were not limited to activists. Sources said adopters and members of the public who visited the facility had also raised concerns about the worsening conditions.

The investigation is also examining the functioning of the directorate itself, with sources claiming communication with the public and stakeholders had broken down in recent months. A number of emails sent to director Joseph John Vella remained unanswered for a number of weeks.

Fleur Abela formally assumed the role of commissioner in November 2025. In December she had intervened to stop the transfer of dogs to a shelter in Italy. Abela had intervened and the dogs were instead rehomed in Malta. This incident gave her insight into the conditions of the directorate’s facilities.

Sources said that conditions at the Luqa compound had temporarily started to improve but by January the directorate had allegedly stopped responding to emails from members of the public seeking assistance or services.

Sources said in recent months the directorate had also ceased communicating with animal activists and NGOs. This breakdown in communication allegedly led to a halt in several operational activities, including on-site inspections, investigations and registration processes.

One source described the situation as “a total collapse of the animal welfare system”.

Sources said politicians had attempted to intervene to improve the situation but their efforts were not successful due to what they described as persistent mismanagement within the directorate.

A spokesperson for Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said confirmed the investigation is underway.

“The secretariat has been informed that the Commissioner for Animal Welfare has initiated an investigation into the Animal Welfare Directorate. The secretariat respects this decision and the autonomy of the office, which is fully entitled to undertake such action within the scope of its mandate,” a spokesperson said. “The secretariat has neither intervened in nor influenced this decision and will await the findings and recommendations resulting from the investigation. These will guide any necessary steps that may be taken within the directorate.”

Questions sent to Joseph John Vella remained unanswered.