Alison Bezzina

Name:

Alison Bezzina

Profession:

Commissioner for Animal Welfare / Marketeer

Industry:

Animal Welfare / Marketing

Adjectives to describe yourself:

Resourceful, Determined, Single-Minded

Favourite Quote:

“Well behaved women seldom make history” - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Favourite Food:

Salted edamame

Favourite Book:

The Women’s Room by Marilyn French

Favourite Series:

'The Golden Girls’

Having celebrated World’s Pet Day on April 11, it was natural for us this month, to reach out to Alison Bezzina, The Commissioner for Animal Welfare. Inspired by her passion and work, we were intrigued to learn more about her, her role and how can employers encourage the love for pets, even at the workplace. Can pet friendly policies at the workplace provide for a competitive advantage when it comes to employee retention? Are there any procedures to follow should an employer wish to have an animal friendly environment? Let’s explore without further ado.

How did this passion for animals came to be, and did you always dream to be a Commissioner for Animal Welfare?

I have loved animals ever since I can remember. It wasn’t something I grew into; it was a feeling that was always there and I could never understand those who did not feel the same way. But of course, love takes different forms, and as children, we love differently from adults – as children love is more about cuteness and cuddles and less about the responsibilities that come with truly loving an animal. With regards to the role of Commissioner for Animal Welfare - this has not existed long enough for me to have ever dreamed about it. The role has only been around for a few years, and as with most local Commissioner roles, it is not a very powerful one.

What does your role entail, and can you describe your typical day?

Despite the name ‘Commissioner’ which elicits connotations of executive powers and strength, the role is mostly a consultative one. As Commissioner for Animal Welfare, I get to make recommendations that other entities need to accept and execute (or not). I also get to investigate situations with the Government Directorates, but post-investigation, it is others who would need to rectify the situation. So, whilst I accepted the role to try to make a difference in the animal world, it is not something I ever aspired to become.

What part of this role do you love and you can’t stop doing? And what part do you least enjoy doing?

I wish that I could stop doing everything that comes with the role of Commissioner for Animal Welfare because if this were possible, it would mean that there is no animal cruelty, neglect and abuse, that people are educated and know how to take care of their pets, that the laws and their enforcement are up to the desired standard and that the state-run system is running smoothly. Unfortunately, this is not the case, far from it in fact, so I feel compelled to keep doing what I’m doing. Of course, it feels great when one of my recommendations gets accepted and implemented by the authorities because this means that one more issue is being addressed and we’re one step closer to our desired standard of care.

To many, pets are more than animals but they are considered as an important member of the family. Do you think that there could be the possibility of pet friendly policies at the work place? (such as, bereavement leave or the ability to take your pets to work?)

As with everything else, it is demand that creates supply. The more people give importance to their pets, and the more they make their voices heard, the bigger the chance that such policies are introduced in the workplace. With it being an employees’ market right now, and with employers across the board struggling with employee retention, a pet-friendly policy can be one of those perks that can be offered to make a place of work more attractive than another.

For employers who would like to have a pet friendly environment, what is the best way to go about it and are there any procedures to be aware of?

It depends on the space available whether it is; a private office, an open space, an indoor place and so on. It also depends on the nature of the work. Given the particular context, then employers would need to create clear rules for everybody to abide by. Once rules are set out and clear, they should make things easier to manage and handle. In short, there is no size fits all for this because it is very dependent on the workplace situation. However, one general rule of thumb is that pet owners are to remain fully responsible for their pets at all times.

One argument that commonly comes across is, “there are so many people who are suffering, why should we use resources on animals?” What’s your take on this statement?

As Animal Welfare Commissioner I am bound to take umbrage at this statement, however, as a human being, I have always been uncomfortable with giving more importance to my own species over other species. Humans enjoy absolute dominance on this planet, but this does not mean that we should take advantage of it at the cost of other species. Animals have been put on this planet in the same way that we were, and the right thing to do is to share it with them and not dominate.

At the time being there is an ongoing Petition for an EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare. Can you tell us more about it, why is it important, and how we can participate?

The proposal of having an EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare makes a lot of sense and I fully support it. People have long had a lot of empathy for domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and horses. However, recent increases in awareness about factory farming and other animal functions have drastically raised public concern across the EU. We can see this from all the surveys and research that is carried out by the EU itself and also from independent studies. Apart from increased empathy for animals, people are realising that animal welfare is an important part of sustainability. It has now become common knowledge that when the welfare of an animal is poor, there is an increased chance of disease and that therefore improving welfare generally improves health and reduces disease. Since EU Commissioners are given a specific portfolio with their area of responsibility, they focus entirely on that portfolio. Thus having a Commissioner focused on Animal Welfare would be the best chance of getting the ball rolling and seeing results as quickly as possible. To date, Animal Welfare issues across the EU have always fallen between the cracks so to speak. It has never been the direct and specific responsibility of a particular person, but just one thing out of many many things that someone had on their to-do list. And there has not been a Commissioner with Animal Welfare in their title, so there was no strong accountability or pressure in this area. It is high time that things change.

Is there anyone that inspires you in your career?

Contrary to popular belief, I do not consider my work with and for animals as a career. It’s a passion borne out of necessity. It’s not something I love doing, but something I can’t stop doing because there is such a need for it. Whilst there’s no one in particular who inspires me in this area, I do admire people who use their popularity and their other passions in life, to better the lives of animals. Locally for instance I am inspired by Moira Delia who uses her fame and popularity almost singularly to help animals. There’s also athlete Fabio Spiteri who uses his passion for sport to fundraise for animals in need. The list is endless really, and these are just two examples. I guess the people who inspire me the most are the many rescuers, fosterers, feeders, and carers, who go out of their way and pay out of pocket to save and rehome abandoned animals. Without these people, there would be so much more suffering.

If you had to take a different career path, what would it be?

Professionally I am a marketeer. I am specialised in online marketing and content writing. This is what I did before becoming Commissioner for Animal Welfare, and it is what I would undoubtedly choose to go back, should I vacate this role. Having said that, I will always be working to improve the lives of animals in our country, even if not in the role of Commissioner, I will find other ways to contribute because this is not something I feel that I can stop doing any time soon.

Alison Bezzina concluded with the message that animals are important and not just because of what they can do for us humans. This isn’t just our world, it is theirs too and whilst we can exercise our dominance and exploit animals in the process, it does not mean that we should. After all, what makes us truly human is kindness and fairness towards animals. So, let’s be human!