Dubai: Injuries caused by animal attacks increased by 39 per cent last year in Dubai as more people are adopting pets, a report by the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services revealed.
Most of the accidents were caused by home pets, farm animals or poisonous reptiles the victims came across while camping in the desert.
The Corporation registered a total of 170 accidents caused by animal attacks in 2014 in Dubai. This shows a 39 per cent increase in comparison with the 122 accidents registered in 2013.
Dr Omar Al Sakaf, Technical Support Director at Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, said there is an urgency to approach animals carefully even if they are tame animals brought up in homes or farms.
Among the cases the paramedics treated were injuries caused by bites from dogs, scorpions and reptiles.
Al Sakaf also said many of the cases included injuries caused by pets that were treated violently in homes and farms such as dogs, cats, horses and camels.
“If a tame animal attacks, it is his way of saying that he is in pain, to alert you that you are hurting them, just like humans,” Al Sakaf said.
As for residents who like to camp in the desert, Al Sakaf said they should also take protective precautions in case of attacks from reptiles or insects by taking a first aid course.
“If they get bitten by a scorpion for example, they should remove the sting, which is usually left in the skin by the scorpion and then sterilise the area. If that is not possible then they should wrap it with a bandage or cloth until they get help. They should also have creams and oils to protect them against mosquito bites,” he said.
Al Sakaf attributed the increase in attacks to more residents opting to adopt or purchase pets in the last few years.
Veterinarian Dr Chenjerai Sigauke, from Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Centre, said provocation is the main reason that causes animals to attack.
“If it is a lizard or a street cat they feel threatened if they are suddenly approached, which can cause them to attack to protect their territory.”
As for tame pets, Dr Sigauke said the only reason that may cause them to attack is provocation.
“If the owner plays rough with them, for example, by pulling their tail or forcing them to play when they don’t want to. My advice to people is to take time to learn about their pet or farm animal’s body language and always take precautions when dealing with a wild animal,” he said.
Dr Sigauke said he personally had not noticed an increase in animal attacks.
Animal advocate Daad Nasif, who is the founder of Wags and Purrs rescue group, said people should learn about the requirements and needs of the pet before bringing them home.
“When it comes to stray animals, they are scared of humans more than humans are scared of them, so they would not even go close to a human unless its security is threatened,” she said.
Daad said owners should learn about the needs of their pets and how they should be treated before bringing them home in order to have a safe and healthy relationship with the animals.
To deal with calls related to animal attacks, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services has designated vehicles that can easily and promptly reach mountainous and desert areas in remote locations.
Al Sakaf said the paramedics also undergo extensive training to treat different types of injuries and accidents so that they are always ready to promptly deal with urgent situations.
