According to The Guardian, thousands of pets in Dubai are left unattended as their expat owners flee the region amid the conflict with Iran.
Charity organizations focused on animal protection report that many pets are abandoned as their owners rush to leave the Middle East due to the war.
Representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) stated that the pets of British citizens leaving Dubai may become "invisible victims" of the current conflict, as owners try to find ways to evacuate their pets.
Last week, the UK organized an urgent evacuation of its citizens, and since March 1, around 45,000 people have left the Middle East.
Hannah Maynds, director of the RSPCA in Blackpool and North Lancashire, who previously lived in Dubai, is helping to care for the abandoned animals left behind after their owners' sudden departure.
“Some of these animals were microchipped and clearly were beloved pets, but their families have vanished. This causes horror and grief among rescuers, and of course, it is terrifying for the animals themselves,” Maynds noted.
“Animals should not become forgotten victims of the crisis. They are completely dependent on people. They do not understand why their owners have suddenly disappeared, so we urge anyone facing uncertainty to remember their pets and make a plan,” she added.
Animal shelters in the United Arab Emirates report a significant increase in the number of abandoned pets left by those fleeing due to the war.
The charity K9 Friends, which rescues dogs, stated: “Due to the current situation, many people are forced to leave the UAE in a hurry, and unfortunately, this leads to many pets being left unattended.”
“We are doing everything possible to care for the animals left in shelters and continue to look after those already under our care,” they added.
The organization Dubai Street Kitties posted on Instagram that their work is overwhelmed: “We have no available spots, we are full. We are constantly receiving calls about injured and abandoned cats, as well as kittens left to fend for themselves.”
Representatives of the Six Hounds shelter reported: “We receive applications daily, and we are experiencing a shortage of resources and staff.”
K9 Friends can also provide assistance and contact details for those trying to leave the country. The RSPCA added that the UK has an agreement with the UAE that pets do not require quarantine when returning home.
In response to the growing number of stray animals, the authorities in Dubai have opened 12 feeding stations using artificial intelligence technology. In the UAE, abandoning pets is illegal, with fines reaching tens of thousands of pounds sterling.
The post Thousands of pets abandoned in Dubai. Owners flee due to the war in Iran first appeared on K-News.
