Tinfetaħ skema għall-Kunsilli Lokali biex jimplimentaw proġetti ta’ Dog Parks u Cat Cafés fil-komunità
Mil-lum, il-Kunsilli Lokali jistgħu japplikaw għall-iskema biex jimplimentaw proġetti ta’ spazji miftuħa li jintegraw elementi dedikati għall-pets. Din l-iskema tħabbret mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent u l-Enerġija Miriam Dalli u mis-Segretarju Parlamentari għas-Sajd, l-Akwakultura u d-Drittijiet tal-Annimali Alicia Bugeja Said.
“Fil-proġetti li qed nagħmlu qed inkomplu ninvolvu lin-nies, il-komunità u diversi stakeholders. Permezz ta’ din l-iskema qed inħeġġu lill-Kunsilli Lokali jiġu bi proposti biex flimkien nimplimentaw proġetti ambjentali kemm fi spazji eżistenti li jkollhom bżonn riġenerazzjoni, u anke dawk kompletament ġodda. L-għan jibqa’ li noħolqu spazji differenti fil-lokalitajiet u anke nifirxu aktar l-ispazji miftuħa. F’dan il-każ qed naraw li, fejn possibbli, jinħolqu spazji fejn il-familji jistgħu jqattgħu l-ħin mal-pets tagħhom, f’ambjent sigur, aċċessibbli, u interessanti anke għall-annimali. Inħares ’il quddiem biex nara lill-Kunsilli Lokali jingħaqdu magħna f’din il-viżjoni,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
Is-Segretarju Parlamentari Alicia Bugeja Said spjegat kif “Permezz ta’ din l-iskema qed inkomplu ninvestu b’mod konkret fil-benesseri tal-annimali u fil-komunitajiet tagħna. Qed nagħtu lill-Kunsilli Lokali l-opportunità li jiżviluppaw spazji miftuħa dedikati għal ambjent sigur u sostenibbli għall-annimali. Ser inkunu qed nallokaw €50,000 għal kull proġett, b’investiment totali ta’ €750,000 allokat għal din l-iskema. Dan l-investiment huwa marbut ukoll mal-Viżjoni Malta 2050, b’mod partikolari mal-Pilastru 4 u speċifikament ma’ miżura makro 93 li tiffoka fuq ir-riġenerazzjoni ta’ spazji pubbliċi.” Hija rringrazzjat lill-Animal Welfare u l-Project Green tal-kollaborazzjoni tagħhom sabiex din l-iskema tkun ta’ suċċess.
Project Green tissuplixxi fondi għal dawn id-dog parks u cat cafès, filwaqt li l-Kunsilli Lokali se jieħdu ħsieb l-implimentazzjoni kif ukoll il-manteniment ta’ dawn il-parks hekk kif jitlestew. Kundizzjonijiet japplikaw, fosthom li ż-żona trid kun ta’ daqs mill-inqas ta’ 1500 metru kwadru, b’20% minnu ddedikat għall-annimali. Din l-iskema qed tiġi amministrata mid-Direttorat għall-Ħarsien tal-Annimali, fejn se jkunu qed jilqgħu l-applikazzjonijiet permezz ta’ sottomissjoni fuq https://ahwd.gov.mt/en/animal-welfare-directorate/schemes/ sat-30 ta’ April 2026.
A new scheme launched to support Local Councils in implementing Dog Parks and Cat Café projects within their communities
From today, Local Councils can apply for a scheme to implement open-space projects that integrate elements dedicated to pets. The scheme was announced by the Minister for the Environment and Energy Miriam Dalli and the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said.
“In the projects we are carrying out, we are continuing to involve people, communities, and various stakeholders. Through this scheme we are encouraging Local Councils to come forward with proposals so that together we can implement environmental projects both in existing spaces that need regeneration and in completely new ones. The aim remains to create different spaces within localities, and to further increase open spaces. In this case, we are looking to create areas where families can spend time with their pets in a safe, accessible environment that is also interesting for the animals. I look forward to seeing Local Councils join us in this vision,” said Minister Miriam Dalli.
Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said explained that “through this scheme we are continuing to invest concretely in animal welfare and in our communities. We are giving Local Councils the opportunity to develop open spaces dedicated to a safe and sustainable environment for animals. We will be allocating €50,000 for each project, with a total investment of €750,000 dedicated to this scheme. This investment is also linked to Malta Vision 2050, particularly Pillar 4 and specifically macro measure 93 which focuses on the regeneration of public spaces.” She thanked Animal Welfare and Project Green for their collaboration in ensuring the success of this scheme.
Project Green will provide the funds for these dog parks and cat cafés, while Local Councils will be responsible for implementing and maintaining these parks once they are completed. Conditions apply, including that the area must be at least 1,500 square metres in size, with 20% dedicated to animals. The scheme is being administered by the Animal Welfare Directorate, which will accept applications through submission on https://ahwd.gov.mt/en/animal-welfare-directorate/schemes/ until 30 April 2026.