Pet abandonment is surging in Dubai and other Gulf countries as residents rush to leave amid intensifying regional hostilities and mounting travel hurdles, according to Daily Mail. Owners cite restrictions and costs as reasons for leaving animals behind. In Dubai, pets have been left at shelters or tied to poles on the street before departures.
K9 Friends Dubai has faced a wave of requests from people seeking to give their pets and a jump in alerts about abandoned puppies. Veterinary clinics have noted a marked rise in euthanasia inquiries, according to the Daily Mail.
Higher costs, limited routes
Pet owners face higher costs, limited routes, and bureaucratic hurdles tied to health regulations and vaccination timelines, including the three-week wait tied to rabies vaccinations for pets entering the UK.
In one case, a rescuer discovered a cat and four kittens left outside a home with a note on the crate that read, “I’m travelling back to my country because of the situation here,” The Sun reported. The front-line pressures are not confined to urban neighborhoods. Along overland routes out of the UAE, cases of abandonment have been reported as families move toward border crossings and struggle to secure air transport for animals.
Anso Stander, who runs the Six Hounds sanctuary in Al Ain, said people dumping pets were “selfish and heartless.” She said she had heard of two dogs shot in the desert near the Oman border and that some animals were left tied to poles, The Sun reported.
“We understand the situation is tense and that there are families trying to return to their home countries for safety reasons. We implore you to take your pets with you,” K9 Friends Dubai said, adding that it is offering assistance to help people travel with their animals.