Dubai: Dozens of abandoned dogs will be transported down Shaikh Zayed Road this morning as one of Dubai's most popular charities moves to new premises.
K9 Friends, a non-profit dog rescue organisation, is moving out of its Al Quoz base after nine years to a new purpose-built facility in the Jebel Ali Industrial Area.
Over 100 UAE residents have volunteered to help move the 64 dogs and 10 puppies to their new home and a convoy of 4x4 vehicles will leave Al Quoz in blocks of three or four at 10am with two dogs travelling per car.
Jackie Ratcliffe, Chairperson of K9 Dogs, said: "I just want to warn people in advance that dozens of dogs will be heading south down Shaikh Zayed Road this morning! It's going to be absolute chaos moving them all; I'll be shouting instructions all day and there will be people and dogs everywhere. I think we'll be fine once we get them to the new kennels; it's getting them out of the old premises at Al Quoz that's going to be the real headache."
The new facility has been built on land donated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
It has 40 main kennels in four blocks of 10 and can accommodate 110 dogs. Each block has its own kitchen for food preparation and every kennel has a flap providing easy access to an outdoor run.
There is also a reception, shop, staff kitchen and several offices so that volunteers can conduct interviews with possible fosterers. An education arena will provide seating for around 30 adults and children and an assessment centre will allow K9 staff to better analyse every dog as they arrive.
Ratcliffe, who has been at K9 Friends for 14 years and served as chairperson for the last 10, added: "I must stress that even though we have moved to larger premises we are still completely full as we have already allocated the remaining spaces in accordance with our priority list. Over the last nine years, we've held over 3,000 dogs in the Al Quoz kennels. I really don't know how we coped but this new facility will make life easier for everybody.
"It's also a much nicer environment for the dogs as they will be accommodated in insulated, air-conditioned kennels with 24-hour access to outdoor areas, which they never had before.
"One of the most important things from my point of view is the new education arena. In September, we plan to invite pupils from schools across Dubai to come and learn about animal care.
"It was difficult for us going into the schools so to have our own educational facility is a great opportunity."
Your comments
Well done K9, over the years we've all read the newspaper stories of the excellent work your staff have done.
Abdulelah Dandachi
Doha,Qatar
Posted: June 04, 2009, 16:18
this is the best news ive read so far in today's paper, i am really happy for k9friends.. will keep extending my support.
A. S.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 04, 2009, 15:40
It is nice what K9 has done all these years for the dogs in the UAE. And also to H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for donating the place for K9. All is good but lets not forget about Sammy the whale shark which is still suffering at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. Why is no one doing anything for him? It has been said that he will be freed but that was ages ago and since that no one has done anything. Shame!
Mike R.
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 04, 2009, 15:33
Good wishes for them ! God bless all those who put their hard work and effort to saves these dogs.
Sruthy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 04, 2009, 15:17
Well done Jackie and all K9 volunteers! For three years many of us donated money.
Jessica H.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 04, 2009, 13:20
Many thanks for His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai for this decent intiative. it really shows how civilized Dubai is and how protective to all living things .
Aline Mansour
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 04, 2009, 12:40
