Dubai: What started off as a home for two happy dogs has now turned into a small space for 30 pups who are not neutered, never vaccinated and have nowhere to go.
A family in Umm Al Quwain brought home two dogs seven years ago for the children, but never thought about getting them neutered. The male and female pair started breeding and before they knew it, the family was housing 30 dogs.
M. A. A., a member of the family whose identity has been withheld by request, told Gulf News: “We did think about neutering them, but in Umm Al Quwain there is only one place that we know of that does the procedure. A few years ago, we took the dogs there, but they were extremely scared and didn’t want to be touched by any strangers. So, we decided to take them home.”
Some of the pups don’t even recognise the family members, and M. A. A. said that they are usually very “afraid and scared of us”. They are currently living in their villa’s garden, which is an open yard, without any shade or cover. She said: “Even the food isn’t enough for all of them now. We tried to contact the Stray Dogs Centre UAQ, but they informed us that they couldn’t help.”
The centre did not have any space for the 30 dogs as they were already housing a large number of strays.
“I even offered to make a space in the centre for them, but they didn’t accept. We have been trying to find a solution for at least two years now. But, nobody is willing to help us.”
The 30 dogs are not vaccinated or microchipped. When M. A. A. contacted a centre in Sharjah for assistance, she was turned away. She finally turned to social media, hoping that somebody would help. But, the only response she has gotten so far is from a centre in Dubai, which was willing to take all the dogs in, but at a cost of Dh20 per dog, per day.
“That would mean Dh18,000 per month and that is a lot of money! Some people wanted to adopt the dogs, but have not gotten back to me either. My sister and I are taking care of them now, but it is becoming very difficult for us,” she added.
Fiona Myers-Watson, a volunteer and coordinator working with Stray Dogs Centre UAQ, confirmed that M. A. A. did try to reach out to them for help. But, it was very difficult for them to take on the responsibility of 30 dogs.
She said: “There were two rescue organisations that were ready to take action and help them a few years ago. But, at the last minute, they pulled back and said they didn’t need outside help. Now, it seems like she is desperate.”
The Stray Dogs Centre UAQ is completely reliant on donations and to take on the case of 30 extra dogs would mean a big burden on them. However, they have arranged for a veterinarian who works with the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality to meet her and independently assess the situation.
Myers-Watson said: “The dogs were never neutered or vaccinated. They’re covered in ticks. A lot of them would be sick. So, the veterinarian will assess the situation and let her know how much it would cost to get them in shape.”
She stressed on the importance of getting your pets neutered. In this case, she states that there was a “lot of naivety and ignorance involved”, which lead to the irresponsible breeding.
She said: “It seems like once the first litter was born, she buried her head in the sand and thought the situation would go away. You have to get your pets neutered and be responsible!”
When the Stray Dogs Centre UAQ was unable to help take in the dogs, Myers-Watson states that M. A. A.’s solution was to drop off the dogs at an industrial area, which in her opinion is completely “unacceptable”. The centre works in that area specifically, helping stray dogs and neutering them.
Myers-Watson said: “We have spent a lot of time and money trying to track these stray dogs and neuter them. It costs about Dh700 to neuter one dog and in the past 12 months, we’ve gotten at least 50 dogs in that area neutered. We have an obligation to the dogs that we have saved and help them get through summer.”
Shana Sebban-Mannarini, a member of the Middle East Animal Foundation (MEAF), a nonprofit animal welfare organisation in Dubai, agrees that there is a lot of ignorance among pet owners in the UAE. But, at the same time, she is convinced that most people are not getting their pets neutered because it is a costly procedure.
She said: “It is very easy to get your pets neutered. But, most people don’t know about it and it can cost up to Dh2,000 for a procedure.”
However, despite that, she wants people to understand that it is extremely important for them to find out about the procedure before getting a pet home. “It will cost more if you’re not neutering, because they could have a litter and you’re then responsible for them, too.”
She is working on an awareness campaign with Pearls of the Emirates, an educational animal welfare organisation, to help people understand the need for spaying your pets. According to an official leaflet published by them, spaying or neutering your pet can increase their lifespan by one to three years. Additionally, it also makes your pet less aggressive, which results in lesser fights or accidents. It also decreases the chances of them running away, as it reduces their urge to roam.
The pets that are spayed are said to be friendlier, as their hostile behaviour is greatly reduced.
Sebban-Mannarini said: “As there are not enough homes available, each year many pets are ending up in shelters or on the streets after immense suffering. To neuter or spay them prevents death of unwanted pets.”
According to a study published by the US-based Brown University, spaying a female dog or cat eliminates its heat cycle, which can last up to 21 days and occurs twice a year in dogs and can last up to 15 days, three or more times a year, in cats. Female dogs or cats in heat often “cry incessantly, show nervous behaviour and attract unwanted male animals”. Additionally, spaying female dogs and cats eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer. In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer.
