Influencer Maddy Burciaga has been criticised by an animal rights group for reportedly ‘abandoning’ her pet in Dubai after leaving the country following missile and drone strikes
An influencer has been slammed by an animal rights group after reportedly revealing she left her pet dog behind while fleeing Dubai. After missiles and drones began striking the UAE, Maddy Burciaga packed up and relocated with her family to Mauritius.
The 32-year-old French influencer later told her 2.7 million Instagram followers that her dog had been left behind with the family’s nanny. She said: “It was too complicated because there’s too much paperwork.” However, the decision quickly sparked backlash online, with animal welfare group La Ligue Des Animaux publicly condemning her actions. In a post, the organisation wrote: “Influencer Maddy Burciaga says she left Dubai for Mauritius due to tensions in the region… leaving her dog behind with the nanny on the pretext that it was ‘too complicated because there’s too much paperwork.’
“A dog, for its part, would never leave its human to save its own skin. Dogs are ready to go through a war just to stay with their humans. That’s the difference between loyalty… and comfort.
“Even if she wanted to ‘protect’ her family by taking refuge elsewhere, she could at least have begun preparing to bring her dog back. She has done no such thing.
“Try asking someone this superficial for strategy or deep reflection… it’s a lost cause. Shame on her.”
Maddy – whose real name is Maddy Samat, née Scheidler – is originally from Pont‑à‑Mousson and runs her own cosmetics company, Mlips Cosmetics.
She first rose to fame in 2015 after appearing on the French reality dating show Qui veut épouser mon fils? (Who Wants to Marry My Son?).
It is not the first time the influencer has faced controversy.
Several years ago, she was criticised for promoting her brand as if it were partnered with the animal welfare organisation Fondation Brigitte Bardot.
At the time, she shared posts suggesting that 25% of profits from her products would be donated to the foundation and even posed with a lion cub.
However, the organisation later denied ever approving a partnership or agreeing to receive money from her sales.
Social media users have been divided over the latest row.
One person wrote: “If she abandoned her dog, it means she never loved it in the first place. Sadly, it was only used to get ‘views’.”
Another user commented: “I don’t care about her, but let’s not go overboard – she went on holiday, she didn’t leave for good!”
A third added: “It’s her husband’s dog too – he’s a well-known influencer as well. Shining all the spotlight solely on her just so she can get torn apart isn’t very fair.”
Since the start of the 2026 Iran war on 28 February, around 1,700 missiles and drones have reportedly been fired at the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, said online that some expats are becoming increasingly worried about the situation.
Writing on Saturday, she said: “Expats and investors are increasingly worried about a downturn in Dubai as war fears and censorship warnings collide.
“The 2009 crash saw residents flee leaving luxury cars at the airport. Today some are leaving their pets behind.”
Maddy has been approached for a comment.
