Animal shelters in Dubai are struggling as pets are being abandoned by people leaving the country during the current crisis.
“Only messages I’m receiving is people asking me to help sick cats or to help rehome their rescues or take their cats because they are leaving the country,” Dina Sari Taji, director of Dubai Street Kitties, said on Instagram, adding that she was overwhelmed.
“As much as i would love to help every person and animal in need I’m broken. I really am,” Taji said.
Animal charities say thousands of cats and dogs are being abandoned in Dubai as people leave the region during the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The dog rescue organization K9 Friends said it has seen more animals arriving at shelters as people leave the country.
The sanctuary Six Hounds also reported a growing number of requests for help while operating with limited staff and funding.
Pets left behind during evacuations
Many foreign nationals have left the region in recent weeks. The United Kingdom government recently organised an emergency evacuation flight, and about 45,000 British citizens have left the Middle East since early March.
Animal welfare groups say some pets being found in shelters are microchipped, showing they once had owners who may have left the country quickly.
Abandoning pets is illegal in the United Arab Emirates and can lead to large fines. Authorities in Dubai have also introduced AI-powered feeding stations around the city to help manage and feed stray animals.
Animal charities are urging people who may need to leave the region to make plans for their pets so they do not become victims of the crisis.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
