Amid the war between Iran and the United States and Israel, the expats in Dubai are fleeing and leaving behind a distressing trail of abandoned pets, some of them even trying to euthanise healthy animals, The Metro has reported.
The United Arab Emirates has been repeatedly targeted by Iran, with drones and missiles being shot at some vital installations, including the Dubai International Airport, and at least one desalination plant.
With diminishing supplies, including food, closure of airspace in most of the Gulf countries and businesses being hit severely, many are choosing to flee the city. As the expats leave, veterinarians and shelters have reported a surge in residents "attempting to euthanise healthy animals or simply releasing them onto the streets".
The Metro has reported that local rescue groups, including K9 Friends Dubai, say they have been "overwhelmed" with a spate of reports about pets being deserted by their owners.
"From dogs tied to lamp posts, to cats left in crates with handwritten notes explaining their owners' abrupt departure," Aditi Gouri, founder of the pet boarding service at The Barking Lot, has told The Telegraph, adding that the shelters are now at breaking point, unable to accommodate the surge.
Also Read: Dubai May Have Only 10 Days Of Fresh Food Left As Iran War Threatens To Choke Supplies: Report
Calls are coming in more than hundreds than usual, the Barking Lot has told The Telegraph.
Reports suggest that the municipality in Dubai has also set up an initiative called Ihsan-smart feeding stations for cats that have been abandoned. The situation, however, remains alarming.
UAE, as per GlobalPETS, has more than 2 million residents, with 1.5 million residents being pet owners. As the war has now entered day 10 and the situation gets dire every passing day, the abandonment of pets in Dubai has left animal activists and shelters overwhelmed.
Louise Hastie, CEO of War Paws, a non-profit that works for animals forgotten during conflicts, noted, "It's not just a problem there; 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," she added as quoted by The Metro.
Also Read: Gold Stuck In Dubai Is Being Sold At Discount As War Widens
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