Dubai expats, influencers 'abandoning, euthanizing pets' to escape Iranian strikes
What's the story
As missile attacks from Iran continue to ravage neighboring Gulf countries, some pet owners in Dubai are abandoning their animals over travel restrictions or relocation costs. Veterinarians in the city said they are seeing a huge number of cats and dogs abandoned on the streets as their owners flee. Others say owners have inquired about euthanizing their healthy pets.
Shelter strain
Spike in pet abandonment cases
K9 Friends Dubai, an organization dedicated to rehoming dogs in the United Arab Emirates, said it has been "overwhelmed" with reports of pet abandonment. The Barking Lot, a pet boarding service in Dubai, is also struggling with overflowing shelters. Owner Aditi Gouri said volunteers at animal rescue centers have reported hundreds more abandoned pets than usual.
Disturbing trend
Euthanizing healthy pets
One volunteer, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph, "There is no proper, large-scale shelter system here that can handle this - the few places that exist are always full." "On average I personally receive around five messages a day from people saying that they're leaving and will put their pet on the street if no one takes it." Photos of dogs tied to lamp posts and left without food or water have been circulating on social media.
Global issue
Pet abandonment during conflict not new
War Paws, a charity supporting animals during conflict, said pet abandonment isn't new during such crises. "It's happening across Iraq and Ukraine as well ...some people just don't see pets the way we do," War Paws CEO Louise Hastie said. "Abandoning pets at the border or on the streets... there's really no excuse for it. Dubai is an affluent country," Hastie added.
Pets
Animals being left to die in desert
Animals have reportedly been abandoned to DIE in the desert after owners who tried to flee the area through Oman were stopped from transporting them across the UAE border. One Al Ain resident discovered a cat and four kittens abandoned in a cage on her porch, along with a message from their owner saying that they were unable to take their pets with them when they left.