Let's get some perspective...

First it was Star. Now it's the pharaoh hounds found off the Marsalforn coast.

I am as shock-horrified as the next man about the wanton and sadistic cruelty inflicted in these cases. However, I am also shocked at the public reaction. Don't get me wrong: I do expect, and understand, that people exclaim in horror and demand that justice be done. What I fail to understand is the lack of proportionality of the punishments demanded, when taken in the context of the whole spectrum of criminal behaviour. This is independent of what the law says.

Most of those commenting would, at the very least, lock up these people and throw away the key - a punishment which is very often not even awarded for homicide in our country. Others would actually have the perpetrator of this animal cruelty executed - capital punishment does not even exist in Malta and I, for one, would be loathe to see it reintroduced. The more imaginative would inflict torture on the perpetator - cruel and inhuman punishment in terms of local and international law. So these people are all bound to be disappointed because if - and it's a BIG if - the perpetrators are ever caught, they are not going to be punished anywhere as severely as this.

If you would execute, torture or jail an animal abuser for life, what, pray, would you do to someone who commits murder? Please don't tell me that there is always a reason for killing another human. We have all heard about the likes of Ted Bundy and Fred West. They're sadistic killers who kill for kicks. Very much like the filth who killed these dogs. However, isn't human life worth more? And even if you are stuck on the idea that there is always a reason for murder, what about someone who bashes a child to death? What about someone who abuses of a child and robs them of their childhood, sanity and peace of mind for ever after? What would you do to these criminals? What about someone who engages in the business of child pornography - for sheer gain? And the drug barons? And those who commit genocide? And please don't tell me that these things don't happen in our country - we can't be insular. And these crimes happen here too.

What irks me is that despite the public outcry - nobody - nobody seems to have seen or heard anything. Now maybe one can kill a dog in god-forsaken Ghar Hasan without being seen or heard firing the shot. But how can one take three dogs off the shore (presumably in a boat) in the middle of June, without anyone seeing anything? So let's get some perspective. This is not about torturing the monster who killed these dogs, nor is it about executing him, or locking him up in jail for life. This should be about finding him and punishing him in a manner which is proportionate to the crime committed. But - and it's a BIG but - if we hope to find these criminals (and others who commit other crimes) what is needed is a change in the Maltese mentality of omerta` - of rajt ma rajtx u smajt ma smajtx. Otherwise, we can all just beat our own chests and shout mea culpa.

Here is one last thought to ponder: why do you think that this killing of the three dogs followed so quickly upon the Star drama? Because sadists love to shock - they get a kick out of the outcry and the public expressions of horror. Believe you me, whoever killed these three dogs is preying on the tears of all the Star-lovers. So maybe, just maybe, we should restrain ourselves somewhat from all these shows of public emotion - and concentrate instead on vigilance, and putting our money where our mouths are - reporting crime when we see it.