Thousands of pets are being abandoned in Dubai as their owners flee the Middle East because of the Iran war, animal charities have said. The RSPCA said pets of fleeing UK nationals could become ‘hidden victims’ of the conflict as people who had relocated to the Gulf city scramble for an exit and struggle to bring their animals.
Last week, the UK government operated an emergency evacuation flight for people leaving the Middle East as the war continued. About 45,000 British nationals have left the Middle East since 1 March. Hannah Mainds, the chief executive of the RSPCA Blackpool and north Lancashire branch, previously lived in Dubai and helped care for pets left behind after their owners suddenly left the country.
Animal shelters in the United Arab Emirates have reported an increase in pets being left by people leaving because of war. K9 Friends, a charity that rescues abandoned dogs, said: ‘Due to the current situation, some people are being forced to leave the UAE suddenly, and sadly many pets are being left behind.’ Dubai Street Kitties posted on Instagram that the situation was overwhelming the charity: ‘We are at full capacity. Every room is full. Every space is taken.’
The Dubai Municipality has reacted to the rise in stray cats and dogs by launching 12 AI-powered feeding stations across the city. It is illegal to abandon pets in the UAE and if caught the offence is punishable by fines of up to tens of thousands of pounds.
