Abandoned Pets in the UAE
www.petsinthecity.me

A Saluki was found tied to a lamppost in Dubai so tightly that the collar had sliced into the animal's neck. Nearby, boxes of kittens had been left at the gates of an already overcrowded shelter. In the desert between the UAE and Oman, two dogs were shot dead after border authorities refused to let them through.

These are among the scenes reported by rescue workers since Iranian missile and drone strikes began hitting the UAE on 1 March 2026. Veterinary clinics across Dubai say requests to euthanise healthy pets have surged as fleeing owners choose to leave their animals behind.

'27 Messages In One Day': Pet Abandonment Floods Dubai Rescues

Claire Hopkins, a British volunteer from Newport, Wales, who runs a dog rescue network in the UAE, told LBC that abandonment accelerated the moment airspace closures began trapping residents. Many pet owners had never prepared the paperwork required for international travel with animals. A dog being taken to the UK, for instance, needs a rabies vaccination followed by a three-week minimum wait.

'I'm sad to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting,' Hopkins said. 'Most vets would pass them on to us, but we're already full.'

Anso Stander, a South African national who operates the Six Hounds animal sanctuary in the UAE, described receiving 27 messages in a single day from pet owners looking to surrender animals. Some told her directly that if no one could take them, the pets would be left on the street. 'We're talking about some people with 20 cats who are trying to leave the country,' Stander told LBC.

An anonymous volunteer told The Telegraph they had tracked roughly 200 posts across WhatsApp and Facebook groups showing dogs abandoned and tied to poles. The volunteer said some vets had confirmed owners were requesting euthanasia for healthy animals to avoid relocation costs.

K9 Friends Dubai, one of the emirate's best-known dog rehoming organisations, said on social media that it had been 'overwhelmed with the number of calls for abandoned puppies or owners wanting to leave behind pets.'

The Barking Lot, a pet boarding service, reported hundreds more animals than usual being left in its care.

Dubai Responds With AI Feeding Stations As Euthanasia Requests Climb

The logistical barriers to pet relocation have contributed to the crisis. Kirsty Kavanagh, founder of Dubai-based relocation service Pawsome Pets, told TFI Post that enquiries had jumped 2,000 per cent. Moving a pet out of the UAE requires microchip registration, current vaccinations, a health certificate, a rabies titre blood test, and an import permit from the destination country.

In Al Ain, a resident discovered a cat and four kittens in a cage left on her doorstep with a handwritten note from the owner apologising and explaining they could not take the animals when they fled. The cats were healthy and later offered for fostering locally.

War Paws, a charity that supports animals in conflict zones, said there was no excuse for the abandonment. Chief executive Louise Hastie, herself stranded in Iraq, told The Telegraph the pattern mirrored what her organisation had seen in other warzones. 'It's happening across Iraq and Ukraine as well. Some people just don't see pets the way we do,' Hastie said.

On 8 March, Dubai Municipality launched what it called 'Ehsan Stations'. Twelve AI-powered smart feeding devices are being installed across public parks and Dubai Holding facilities. The stations can identify stray animals, collect data and dispense food automatically, according to Gulf News.

More than 100,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the Gulf region with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper estimated that 300,000 Britons in total remain across Gulf countries. Rescue workers warned the pet crisis could deepen as commercial flights gradually resume, giving more owners a way out but leaving the question of their animals unresolved.

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