Animal shelters in Dubai report a surge in abandoned pets as wealthy residents flee Middle East tensions, leaving cats and dogs behind.
Wars are a catastrophe not only for civilian populations, the environment and economies (with the exception of arms manufacturers), but also for animals. Missiles and bombs spare no one. It is often a silent massacre, largely overlooked by the media, which understandably focuses on the course of conflicts and the human toll.
In the case of the conflict in the Middle East, however, a new and particularly troubling phenomenon has emerged: the abandonment of large numbers of pets by people fleeing Gulf countries in haste.
As is well known, since Israel and the United States attacked Iran, the Islamic Republic has retaliated not only against Israel but also against countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which host US military bases and maintain close economic ties with Washington. This has triggered a wave of departures by foreign nationals living in the region, particularly in wealthy Dubai.
Many of those leaving are VIPs, influencers and affluent individuals, who had moved to the Middle East attracted by a luxurious lifestyle and highly favourable tax conditions. With war escalating, tens of thousands have tried to board the increasingly scarce outbound flights. Numerous media outlets have pointed out how people were careful not to forget jewellery, watches and other valuables, while showing far less concern for their pets.
The Australian outlet News.com.au reports widespread evidence circulating on social media. One example shows a cage left outside a house in Dubai, containing a cat and her five kittens, along with a note from the owner: “Four kittens and their mother are inside the box. I am returning to my country due to the situation. I tried calling but couldn’t reach anyone, so I found your address. I’m sorry for leaving them at your gate.”
Local animal welfare organisations report a surge in cases and say they are “overwhelmed with calls about dogs abandoned by owners who have returned to their home countries,” according to the K9 Friends shelter.
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The association Six Hounds has also issued an appeal: “We are overloaded, with limited financial resources and staff. If anyone can help, please send us a message.”
Abandoning pets in Dubai is illegal under UAE law, punishable by imprisonment or fines ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 dirhams, depending on severity and risk posed by the animals. In practice, however, fines may be minimal — around €2,375 in some cases — a negligible amount for many of Dubai’s wealthy residents.
The magazine India Today reports even more disturbing cases: “Some owners, faced with costly bureaucratic procedures required to transport their pets, have allegedly asked private clinics to euthanise them, even though they were in good health.” Veterinarians have confirmed receiving such requests.
Reports also describe dogs tied to lampposts without food or water, and others wandering the streets under the scorching sun, where temperatures in Dubai already approach 30°C in the shade.
The French weekly Courrier International quotes Louise Hastie, director of the organisation War Paws, who acknowledges that some people may have panicked, but adds: “There are no excuses for this behaviour. Dubai is an extremely wealthy city.” The means to save these animals, she stresses, were certainly not lacking.
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