Dubai animal welfare groups are raising an alarm. During the recent weeks, shelters and rescue volunteers have stated that the number of abandoned pets increased drastically as some locals hurried to evacuate the area because of increased tensions. Dogs tied to poles. cats roam the desolate streets, and pets are abandoned in the parks in cages across Dubai. These are no longer isolated cases, but rather, they are becoming frighteningly frequent.
An Increase In The Number Of Abandoned Pets Is Reported In Dubai
The unexpected surge of abandonment has swamped animal shelters, and volunteers have been scurrying to save animals abandoned.
Shelters Are Facing Increasing Numbers
According to rescue organisations, the situation got out of hand. As per the report by Wion News and Economic Times, the number of animals being discarded or found in shelters has tremendously increased in the UAE.
According to the rescue group K9 Friends, with its headquarters in Dubai, it has had a lot of animals than normal over the past few weeks. The Barking Lot pet boarding facility also stated to Economic Times that it has almost full occupancy of kennels, as it accepts animals rescued on the streets.
There are over two million pets in the UAE, the majority of them being cats. Indeed, there are almost twice as many cats as dogs in the country.
These days, a lot of those animals are being abandoned as travel plans are being upended.
The Rationale Behind Some Owners Abandoning Pets
The relocation of animals is not that easy. According to experts, it is a tedious process that requires paperwork, time and money.
Pets should be microchipped, vaccinated, certified by a veterinarian, and the country where they are going should issue an import permit. Rabies antibody blood tests are also necessary in some countries.
As Dubai Dubai-based relocation company, Pawsome Pets indicates that the demand for pet relocation services increased drastically during the recent tensions. The company claimed that there were 2,000 per cent more enquiries in a span of three days.
Nevertheless, these processes can usually take weeks or even months, so last-minute travel is a challenge for the owners of pets.
Also Read: Indian Embassy In Qatar Urges Citizens To Stay Indoors Amid Security Situation
Activists Demand Accountability
Animal welfare organisations believe that it is unacceptable to leave pets behind in case of a crisis.
Rescue organisations are already recommending that people should find refuge in shelters or relocation programmes instead of abandoning animals.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/Yaroslav Martseniyk from Getty Images
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