A new fund has been announced by the government with an investment of € 120,000 in projects and initiatives related to “proper animal protection in local communities.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Clint Camilleri said that the government has set up a fund so that local councils can apply directly to carry out projects and initiatives for the protection of animals in their locality, with grants of up to €8,000 available.

He explained that the fund will be led by a specially created committee, which comprises representatives from the field of animal welfare as well as local councils.

This will be place in the coming days to begin catering for the project requests and initiatives that can range from dog parks and cat cafes, neutering programmes for stray animals in the localities, as well as various information programmes for the proper protection of animals, Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri said.

“This fund will continue to directly help the animals, but this time those who are in the communities. We will also continue to invest in the management of animal welfare and helping the various animal sanctuaries,” he added.

However, now we’re addressing the situations of those animals in the localities where they often are being given this needed attention by the residents,” said Parliamentary Secretary Camilleri.

Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government and Communities Silvio Parnis, said that this is an important initiative in which local councils will help those animals that do not have shelter, while also promoting animal welfare.

The Parliamentary Secretary also said that it will improve the lives of many animals. This goes hand in hand with the local government reform which will ensure by law any local council must appoint a councillor responsible for animal welfare.

During the past week, Parliament has also discussed a draft law which will see fines against animal cruelty double over those of 2014.