Animal charities in Dubai have faced an influx of pets ditched as expats flee the Middle East, with some vets reportedly being asked to euthanise healthy animals
Expats have ditched their pets as they flee attacks on Dubai to dodge attacks on the state from Iran.
People had packed up their belongings and sorted out their families as thousands of Brits leave their lives behind in the Middle East, as well as their animal best friends. Vets in Dubai have reported a wave of inquiries from expats about putting down pets and a dog re-homing group had been left overwhelmed by the number of people ditching their animals.
The internet has also seen an influx of posts about deserted pets in the region, as some vets admit they have been made to put down healthy animals by owners who didn’t want to deal with relocations fees and paperwork.
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Local dog re-housing group K9 Friends Dubai said it has been overwhelmed by the rising number of call it has had about abandoned puppies and from owners looking to give up their animals.
Claire Hopkins, 53, a Dubai resident who volunteers with animal charities, said these groups were under major financial stress with the influx of new animals and work. Hopkins added that fundraising pages like GoFundMe are banned in Dubai, making it more difficult to carry on their work amid the Middle East war.
Hopkins said: “Some pet owners are stressed and panicking. It’s right across the board, and I think the Brits are better than most, but you’re talking about 200 different nationalities here in the UAE. Some people want to give back their adoptive pets. There are dogs starting to be abandoned.”
She added that the flight chaos across the region, with missile and drone strikes still being launched by Iran and Israel, has impacted the abandoned pet crisis. Hopkins added: “The airlines aren’t taking animals at the moment anyway as the flights are operating a very reduced service. If you wanted to get a rabies jab, then you have to delay your travel by a further three weeks.
“I’m sorry to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting. Most vets would pass them on to the shelters, but we’re already full.”
Disturbing images online have been shared which appear to show dogs tied to lamp posts and without any food or drink. A volunteer at a Dubai dog day care company, The Barking Lot, said: “Some vets have even confirmed that owners are coming in to euthanise healthy pets because they don’t want to deal with relocation costs or paperwork.”
War Paws, a charity which works to help animals during conflict, said ditched pets is unfortunately not a new issue, with CEO Louise Hastie saying: “It’s happening across Iraq and Ukraine as well …some people just don’t see pets the way we do. Abandoning pets at the border or on the streets, not even leaving them with the vet – there’s really no excuse for it. Dubai is an affluent country.”
Thousands of Brits remain stranded across the Middle East with over 100,000 people having registered their presence with the UK government.
