Marika Azzopardi

For the past 18 months, the Għammieri Government Farm has seen a new director overseeing the Animal Welfare, Promotion & Services Directorate which is part of the Veterinary & Phyto-Sanitary Regulation Department.

Joseph John Vella is not your typical government department director who has been sitting behind a desk from day one. His story is a dynamic one which started out as a pharmacy student, several years ago.

“I started out studying pharmacy in order to follow up what has been my life-long passion – molecular genetics. My first research way back in 1995, was in molecular genetics and from then onwards I have kept up my research, albeit on the side, to this day. I am presently researching the regulation of a particular gene, CCR4, in asthma patients. Going back to my student years, I did the usual experiential stint as other pharmacy students do and in my case, worked at the government medical stores, the in-patients’ pharmacy, the out-patients’ dispensary …. This for two years until I decided to veer my studies and concentrate on medicinal plants. Then I proceeded to do a Master of Science in agriculture and veterinary pharmacy.”

His first indirect brush with animal welfare came in 2002 when he worked on medical residues and contaminants in meat at the Government Abattoir in Marsa. From then onwards, he proceeded to hold several posts which brought him into contact with the varied aspects in which animal and plant life interact with humans and their health. He worked at the Plant Health Department with responsibilities linked to the control of pesticides, collecting samples and analysing them in order to support legislative moves which needed to be concluded at a pre-EU-accession stage. “The studies that were being carried out at the time contributed to finally seeing several dangerous pesticides being withdrawn from local use, according to EU regulations. It was from there that I moved on to the Animal Nutrition Unit and started a process linked to HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points) guidelines.”

The work included checking feed additives, the withdrawal of growth promoters, the introduction of a ban on certain animal proteins, the analysis of fodder, labelling and more. Joseph John’s work took him on to start contributing to the registration of veterinary medicinals, pesticides and biocides. This saw him also being involved in several standing committees in Malta, the UK and in Brussels. “At a certain point, when things were especially hectic, I had to travel abroad twice a week. The work was intensive but my learning curve was huge and all the experience led me to eventually feel capable of taking on the post of principal, soon after becoming assistant director of veterinary operations.”

Responsibilities in this new role were even more intense and included the control on meat processing plants, border inspections, overseeing of abattoir operations, veterinary laboratory procedures, the twinning project, fisheries, fishing fleet register, and San Luċjan operations within the aquaculture sector …  amongst others. But this 35-year-old pharmacist felt extremely lucky to be touching on so many new sectors that were, finally, all linked and inter-twined in more ways than one.

“It was indeed a constant workload that required attention to detail. However, I am the kind of person who works with huge dedication and passion. Enthusiasm is constant and this, coupled with my great respect for animals and plant life, constantly urged me to do my best at all times. Even when I returned to an administrative role, I took on a work-load that involved HR, capacity building, management of cost centers, and the implementation of new procedures in the Public Administration.  It was a time when abattoirs were experiencing the regulator/operator divide and work was particularly intense, requiring great diplomacy. I found myself at the helm of operations that were changing the face of things to come.”

Joseph John’s career proceeded rapidly to an acting director’s post responsible for the civil abattoir, pitkali markets, the fish market, European Fisheries funds and fishing fleet facilities  which post lasted for four months.  He was eventually accepted for the post of Director of Animal Welfare and even whilst he is still presently overseeing ongoing projects from his last post, such as those linked to the European fisheries fund or the construction of the new fish market in Albert Town, Marsa, he is now fully immersed in the improved national spur towards better animal welfare all round.

“I had applied for the post of director of animal welfare and was accepted immediately. It was yet again a time to move on, always carrying with me this enormous baggage that I never imagined I would carry when I started out researching biochemistry. Animal welfare is a topic many people wrongly believed to be just about caring for stray cats and dogs. That is far from the case.  However we also manage the free ambulance service for stray animals, taking strays to the San Franġisk Centre for Stray Animals, giving them all necessary medical care and eventually possibly re-homing them.”

But animal welfare involves much more than that. The department is working on introducing a more inclusive vision of animal welfare which encompasses farm animals and exotic animals, as well as short distance transport of animals. “All animals should be housed, cared for and fed well. For instance, we check that sows are grouped together, and that slat widths are in line with the legislations. We inspect private homes where abuse may be occurring, as well as pet shops and anywhere exotic animals are kept … then there are the neutering schemes, as well as the construction of horse shelters and the dog park amongst others. The work involves full collaboration with animal sanctuaries and pro-animal groups, as well as with animal cooperatives.” The fight against animal neglect is a constant even whilst Joseph John admits the entire sector has gone through massive improvements.

Today he feels that much richer for all his experience around the care of animals. “Animals surprise me in more ways than one and one constant fascination is how much animals understand. I am impressed with the amazing bond animals form with their owners, whether animals are guide dogs or simply budgerigars. My own budgerigars are all finger tame, call me by name and know when I am out of the house or in it. Once you become acquainted with the behaviour of animals you cannot stop being amazed by them.”