Dubai: A petition addressed to the Ministry of Environment and Water is being compiled by Friends of Animals, an animal re-homing group, and Dubai Municipality to help the enforcement of animal welfare laws in the UAE.
Montserrat Martin, an animal lover from Spain running Friends of Animals is looking for 1,000 signatures, and so far has more than 800, before she presents the federal authorities with her plea: enforce the laws established to look after all animals and protect their wellbeing.
Her petition includes veterinary doctors from the municipality, housewives and young professionals from all walks of life.
"There are so many cases of abuse, neglect and cruelty but still nothing gets done. Friends of Animals is working with Dubai Municipality, and helping out with the overflow of animals that they receive that have suffered cruelty in some way," said Martin.
"Animal welfare is not a government issue it is a community issue, we simply have to follow the ruler's laws."
On seeing the footage available on www.gulfnews.com/gntv of two lion cubs, victims of the illegal animals trade were afflicted by a calcium deficiency and unable to stand, Martin described the harrowing clips as ‘shocking'.
Modern era
"We are in the 21st century, why do people need animals to make money? How can this be happening in the modern era? Wildlife belongs to wildlife," she said.
Friends of Animals is working towards having Federal Law No. 16 of the year 2007 Respecting Animal Welfare being observed by all communities in the UAE.
"As we are constantly rescuing animals we have come to experience that many of these cases are abuse, cruelty and neglect related.
"There are hundreds of abandonment cases, which leads these animals to a long agonising suffering before being found. Many other healthy and friendly animals sadly end up euthanised with no fault of their own," reads the petition.
"Despite the law clearly mentioned that unauthorised and unregistered animals selling activities are not permitted, we encounter people advertising daily to manipulate animal trading with a lucrative targets."
To support animal welfare, visit www.friendsofanimalsdxb.com
