Disgust as accused in shocking animal cruelty case gets slap on the wrist

A ‘disgustingly’ light sentence handed down to one of two men charged over a horrendous animal abuse case has left animal activists and individuals involved in the investigation fuming.

Earlier this week, Carmel Pace was handed a one-year prison term, which was suspended for two years, after he admitted to multiple animal cruelty charges.

The case dates back to December 2017, when Pace and his son were evicted from government land they had been squatting on. When officials entered the Beżbiżija farm the men were occupying, they found well over 100 animals being kept in conditions described as ‘horrendous’.

In all, officials removed 16 horses, 20 dogs, a number of cats as well as 60 chickens, 23 turkeys and 18 rabbits from the site. Most of the animals were extremely malnourished and were kept in inadequate and filthy conditions.

“The situation on the farm was disgusting. The animals were uncared for, in pain and hungry,” a source familiar with the court case told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

It also transpired that two of the dogs found on the site had been stolen from their owners two and three years prior. The owners were identified thanks to the dogs’ microchips and were eventually reunited with their pets.

All animals were moved to alternate accommodation, with the rest of the dogs and cats going to foster families and the horses taken in by the police cavalry section.

The son had resisted the police during the eviction operation, injuring four officers in the process.

Carmel Pace and his son, who is not named in the court judgment, were charged with keeping unregistered animals in inadequate conditions as well as causing them pain or suffering. They were also charged with failing to provide the necessary care to the animals under their responsibility.

The son alone was further charged with obstructing justice, assaulting and injuring four police officers and relapsing.

After considering the man’s admission as well as medical reports he had presented to the court, Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo handed down a suspended sentence.

The court said it did not feel a fine would be appropriate and that a suspended sentence would give the accused “time to reflect on his actions and the consequences that a repeat offence would have.”

It also said that the animals in question should never be left in the accused’s possession or any place belonging to him or his relatives.

Pace was ordered to pay €2,415 in court fees. The case against Pace’s son is still ongoing.

Sources who were part of the investigation and animal rights activists have told this newspaper that they are extremely disappointed by the sentence, especially given the gravity of the case and the fact that harsher penalties for animal abuse were recently introduced.

They also pointed out that the court had gone for the minimum sentence.

Following recent amendments to the Animal Welfare Act, first-time offenders are liable to a fine of between €2,000 and €65,000 or to a maximum of three years’ imprisonment, or both.

A source privy to the details of the case has described the sentence as ‘extremely light’, adding that it does not reflect the gravity of the case and the consequences of animal cruelty. “This was a case of extreme neglect and mistreatment. There should have been an effective prison term.”

“If we want to promote animal welfare and reduce animal cruelty, the courts have to mete out punishments that reflect the seriousness of the crime,” the source continued.

When contacted by this newspaper, Noel Montebello, the director of the Animal Welfare Directorate, said he could not comment about the judgment but said he was satisfied that the directorate had won the case in court and that the animals had found loving homes.

Montebello explained that all the dogs found on the farm had immediately been taken in by foster families, who can now formally adopt them. The directorate has also approached a number of individuals interested in fostering or adopting the rescued horses, he said.