Update 3:
Dubai: The Emirati man who uploaded a video showing a live cat being fed to his pet dogs that went viral on social media has been arrested, police said on Tuesday.
Dubai Police said that along with the Emirati man, they also arrested two Asian men inside a farm in a neighbouring city.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said the men were referred to the relevant authorities to take legal action.
“After orders from Dubai Police Chief, we identified the man behind this horrible act and arrested him for torturing the cat. The Emirati man was the one who fed the cat to the dog while the other two recorded the incident on video. It’s a savage behaviour and a strange behaviour in our society,” Major-General Al Mansouri said.
He said that Cyber Crimes Department watched the video on social media and Dubai Police decided to assist in catching the men behind the video after it went viral.
The shocking video, that shows a man holding a live cat in a cage and feeding it to two dogs, outraged residents and officials from different departments have reacted with horror and launched a hashtag, condemning the incident.
'Cat punished'
In the video, the man is heard saying that he fed the cat to the dogs because the cat attacked pigeons and hens at his farm.
The incident occurred two days ago.
“We arrested the men at a farm in another city after following all the legal procedures. It’s a gruesome video and it’s not part of our morals and traditions. It’s no part of Islam as Quranic verses make it very clear that animals must be treated kindly. [This act] of torturing an animal is the furthermost from humane behaviour,” General Al Mansouri added.
Dubai Police warned people with a penchant for troubling animals to desist from such behaviour emphasising that the authorities will take an uncompromising stance against anyone committing such barbaric acts.
Dh10,000 fine
Gen Al Marri said that article 432 of the Federal Punishment Law states that anyone torturing or abusing an animal can be fined Dh10,000.
Dr Manal Al Mansouri of UAE Animal Welfare Group condemned the incident, saying, “This is a horrific crime of intentional, barbaric killing. The act showed in the video is completely unacceptable and is inhuman. We hold our environment in high esteem and have special love for animals in general and pets in particular,” she told Gulf News.
Dr Al Mansouri added, “I also hope that new federal law to protect animals applied in this incident.”
She expressed concern that such acts may lead to negative impression on teenage minds who may be tempted to emulate such barbaric acts.
Update 2:
Abu Dhabi: Animal abusers in UAE will face the full force of law, and a man charged with animal cruelty after letting his fierce dog eat a cat locked in a cage will be the first to be brought to justice under a new animal welfare law, a top official said on Tuesday.
“Animal cruelty is against our traditions and values in caring for animals and the man charged with abusing a cat will be brought to justice under the new animal welfare law,” Dr Thani Bin Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, told reporters on the sidelines of a session of the Federal National Council.
The minister was commenting on a man filmed as he locked a cat in a cage and let his dog eat it.
Individuals who are found guilty of abusing or the illegal hunting, buying or selling of animals face a one-year prison term and a fine of Dh200,000 under Federal Law 18, which was issued late last year.
The use of an animal for scientific experiment without an official permit is subject to a fine of between Dh50,000 and Dh200,000 and a one-year prison sentence.
Animal welfare activists said more education and tougher enforcement of laws would help to ensure there is no repeat of cruelty cases.
In September last year, a teenager was filmed in Ajman throwing a cat against a wall. He was arrested after the video was posted online but later released without charge. His parents pledged that he would not repeat the incident.
In November last year, a five-month-old kitten was found in Dubai with its ears and tail cut off. The cat was found in a pool of blood by a woman after she heard the animal crying in pain.
Update 1:
Dubai: Dubai Police arrested a man behind a video that went viral on social media showing a live cat being fed to dogs, police said on Tuesday.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said the man was referred to the specialized authority to take necessary legal actions.
"After orders from Dubai Police Chief, we identified the man behind this horrible act and arrested him for torturing the cat. It's a savage behaviour and strange behaviour in our society," Major-General Al Mansouri said.
The man will be charged with abusing an animal.
Earlier report
Police officials in the UAE are hunting for a man who fed a cat to his dogs and circulated a video of this gruesome act on social media, Gulf News has learnt.
The grusesome video shows a man holding a live cat in a cage and feeding it to two dogs. The man is heard saying that he fed the cat to the dogs because the cat attacked pigeons and hens at his farm.
Residents and officials from different departments have reacted with horror and launched a hashtag, condemning the incident.
The video, which has gine viral, has provoked outrage among animal welfare workers and social media users.
It has been viewed and shared countless times since the incident two days ago with many people voicing their disgust.
Dr Manal Al Mansouri of UAE Animal Welfare Group told Gulf News: “This is a horrific crime of intentional, barbaric killing.”
“The act showed in the video is completely unacceptable and is inhuman,” he added.
“We hold our environment in high esteem and have special love for animals in general and pets in particular,” he said.
“I also hope that new federal law to protect animals is applied in this incident,” Dr Al Mansouri said.
Mistreatment of animals can result in a one year imprisonment and a Dh200,000 fine.
Dr. Al Mansouri said his act leaves a negative impression on teenagers who may repeate the act.
“The man should not blame the cat for the loss of his hens and pigeons because the cat is following its instinct, he is the one who should be blamed because he should protect his farm well. How the cat entered the farm if he keep dogs there,” she asked.
