Pet owners fleeing Dubai to escape the growing crisis in the Middle East are hastily abandoning their pets on the street. Veterinarians in Dubai shared that they have seen an increase in inquiries about euthanizing pets as the conflict continues, with other owners abandoning their cats and dogs on the streets. There are over 2 million pets throughout the UAE. Specifically in Dubai and the region as a whole, cats outnumber dogs by a two-to-one margin, with 64.98% of pet owners owning cats. However, now, according to K9 Friends Dubai, which works to re-home dogs in the UAE, reports of abandonment have become very high. Speaking with The Telegraph, The Barking Lot, a pet boarding service in Dubai, shared that they are trying to be as flexible as possible, but the shelters are ‘full’.
left and left behind
Volunteers at animal rescue shelters have reported hundreds more abandoned pets than usual, leaving shelters filled to capacity and some now unable to care for all the animals. A volunteer shared that heartbreaking pictures of dogs abandoned on the streets, tied to pillars with no owner, are being circulated on WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups, adding that he has seen 200 such posts. Other reports noted that pets were left stranded in the desert after residents attempting to leave the region via Oman were stopped from being taken to the UAE border. A resident in Al Ain found a cat with four kittens on her doorstep, with the owner leaving a note explaining that they were unable to take their pets with them because they had escaped. The note reads, “Kittens 4 and mama cat inside the box, I am going back to my country due to the ongoing situation here. I tried to call but no one picked up my phone, so I came to know about your location. I am very sorry for living in front of your gate.” Another owner left a rabbit in the park with its hutch, water bowl and a bag of feed.
Workers expressed concern
It seems beyond comprehension that a wealthy country like the UAE could experience this level of abandonment, said War Paws, a charity that supports animals in times of conflict. The organization’s CEO, Lewis Hastie, said, “It’s not just a problem there, it’s happening all over Iraq and Ukraine… Some people don’t see pets the same way we do.” Hastie is currently stuck in Iraq due to the ongoing conflict, but unlike the behavior observed by other pet owners, she will live with her rescued animals “until the roof falls in.” Enso Stander, who runs the Six Hounds animal sanctuary in Al Ain, described the pets as “selfish and heartless”. He also shared with The Sun that he heard two dogs being shot in the desert near the border of the site.
Outrage on social media
Many influential people head to Dubai, which has been called the ‘safest city in the world’ by people moving to the region in search of a luxury, tax-free lifestyle. However, at a time when pets require maximum protection, leaving them in harmful conditions has left many on the internet angry with Dubai expats. “Many people living in Dubai are dull and tasteless prostitutes,” wrote one user on X. Another said, “People who abandon their pets are the most vile and disgusting creatures on earth.” “I can never and will never leave my best friend,” one claimed. “This is so disgusting. I feel like they get animals because it’s cool, not because they love animals and want to take care of them forever,” decried another.
avoiding paperwork
Some migrants are abandoning their pets because of difficulty booking air travel or covering relocation costs. Kirsty Kavanagh, founder of Dubai-based pet rehabilitation company Possum Pets, said inquiries have increased sharply in recent days. “In the last three days we have experienced a 2,000 percent increase in submitted inquiries,” he shared with Condé Nast Traveler Middle East. Every country has different rules and some processes can take weeks or even months. However, in most cases pets preparing for travel need:
- A microchip registered with the relevant municipality
- Latest vaccinations including rabies
- A vaccination booklet or pet passport listing the pet’s microchip number, breed, age and medical history
- A veterinary health certificate, issued shortly before departure, confirming that the animal is fit to travel
- An import permit for the destination country
- Rabies titer blood test (RNATT), for some destinations, confirms immunity after vaccination
For people who want to travel by road in Oman with a pet, these are the rules:
- Only two pets per person are allowed to cross.
- Pets must be microchipped.
- Dogs must have valid rabies and DHPPI vaccinations. If rabies vaccination is the primary vaccination rather than a booster, it should be administered at least 30 days before travel.
- Cats must have valid rabies and tricat vaccinations. Like dogs, the rabies vaccination must be at least 30 days old if it is the primary vaccination.
- Rabies titre blood test (RNATT) is required to confirm immunity after vaccination.
- An import permit from Oman must be obtained for each pet prior to arrival.
- The UAE Veterinary Health Certificate, confirming that the pet is fit to travel, must be issued within 10 days of departure.
Dubai Municipality to rescue
Dubai Municipality recently launched an AI-powered smart device to feed stray animals. The first-of-its-kind initiative, known as ‘Ehsan Station’, will involve the installation of 12 devices at key locations, including ten units in public parks and two units within facilities operated by Dubai Holding. The stations will use technology to identify stray animals, collect relevant data and distribute food accordingly. Dubai Municipality said it “supports a more organized and sustainable approach to feeding stray animals.”While it is unclear whether this project has been launched in response to the current pet abandonment crisis, it will certainly help feed animals abandoned on the streets.