During the summer months in the UAE, an increasing number of pets are being left behind as families travel abroad to escape the heat. Pet care experts have expressed concern over this growing trend of pet abandonment. Some pet owners leave their animals at clinics or shelters before their trips, while others abandon them on the streets. Souheil Abdulla, managing partner at Pure Life Veterinarian Treatment, told Khaleej Times: "When people travel, they unfortunately abandon their pets, often cats because they're easier to dispose of." He added that this behavior "shows a lack of responsibility." Abdulla noted that some people view pets as accessories rather than family members.
Abdulla explained that owners often abandon their pets instead of arranging for their care. "Some people contact clinics and say they are travelling and don't want their cats. They want to surrender them," he added. Sometimes, clinics refuse to accept surrendered pets due to lack of space, especially during the summer season. When this happens, Abdulla said owners would simply release the animals on the street or leave them at the nearest restaurant. "This is unacceptable, but it happens daily at an alarming rate."
Andrea Petrovic, a Serbian expat living in the UAE for eight years, has noticed an increase in the number of abandoned pets. "People who abandon their pets are careless. They don't even hire a pet sitter. The most awful thing is when they leave pets locked in an apartment and move out, leaving them without water or food for days," she said. Petrovic believes that stricter laws are needed to hold owners accountable. "Pets are microchipped, but some vet clinics don't update Dubai Municipality information. I think every pet should be linked to the owner's Emirates ID, so they can be tracked if they abandon the animal." Petrovic has already reached out to the Ministry of Climate Change about dumped pets.
Another Dubai resident, Ahmed M, noticed many stray cats in the Nad al Hamar neighborhood, especially during the hot summer season. He observed that some of the animals wore collars, suggesting they once belonged to their owners. Moved by the cats' suffering, Ahmed felt compelled to act. "I couldn't just stand by and watch these poor animals struggle. They needed help, so I fed them regularly," he explained. Ahmed even tried to look for their homes to determine if they were neglected or just lost. "It was very clear that they were abandoned pets. They were not stray cats and could not fetch food. People should think about how the pet is weak before abandoning it," he shared.
While showing compassion to stray cats by feeding them is noble, it is a punishable offense according to UAE law. In Abu Dhabi, residents are advised to contact the Centre of Waste Management Abu Dhabi on their hotline 800555 and inform them about the location and number of stray cats or dogs. Dubai Municipality runs veterinary clinics where strays can be taken to. Officials have previously confirmed to Khaleej Times that those who feed stray animals can be fined for doing so.
