According to information published in The Guardian, many pets have been left behind in Dubai. This is due to expats leaving the region because of the conflict with Iran.
Animal protection organizations report thousands of abandoned pets in Dubai as their owners seek to leave the Middle East due to military actions.
Representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) note that unattended pets may become "hidden victims" of this conflict. People who moved to this city on the Persian Gulf are trying to find ways to evacuate and often face difficulties transporting their beloved animals.
Last week, the UK government organized an emergency return of its citizens leaving the Middle East in light of the ongoing war. Since early March, about 45,000 Britons have left the region.
Hannah Maynds, director of the RSPCA branch in Blackpool and North Lancashire, who previously lived in Dubai, spoke about her assistance in caring for animals left by their owners.
“Some of these animals were microchipped and clearly loved their owners, but now they have been abandoned. This is terrible for rescuers and frightening for the animals themselves,” she shared.
“We urge people leaving the country to remember their pets and come up with a plan to avoid leaving them in distress. These animals are completely dependent on their owners and cannot understand why their families have disappeared,” Maynds added.
Animal shelters in the United Arab Emirates are seeing an increase in the number of abandoned pets as people leave due to the conflict.
The charity K9 Friends, which rescues abandoned dogs, reported: “Some people are forced to leave the UAE abruptly, and unfortunately, many pets are left uncared for.”
“We are doing everything we can to care for the abandoned animals while continuing to support the dogs that are already in our care,” they added.
The organization Dubai Street Kitties posted a message on Instagram highlighting that the situation is becoming critical: “We are overwhelmed. All spots are filled, and calls keep coming in. Injured and abandoned cats, as well as kittens, are in desperate need of help.”
The Six Hounds shelter also noted: “We receive new applications daily. We are short on resources and staff.”
K9 Friends stated that they can provide information and assistance to people leaving the country. The RSPCA added that there is an agreement between the UK and the UAE that pets do not need to be quarantined upon return.
In response to the increase in homeless animals, the municipal authorities of Dubai have launched 12 feeding stations using artificial intelligence technology throughout the city. There is a law in the UAE prohibiting leaving pets unattended, with significant fines for violations.
The post Thousands of pets abandoned in Dubai. Owners flee due to the war in Iran first appeared on K-News.
