Animal welfare envoy set to begin awareness mission in UAE

Dubai: Finding kittens in dumpsters and stray dogs beaten and abandoned will be a thing of the past in the UAE, hopes the newly crowned Miss AVA, ambassador with a voice for animals.

Radhika Chandran, 30, a project manager from India, was voted Miss Ambassador with a Voice for Animals (AVA) on Friday night after some gruelling interviews in front of a panel of six judges, who are animal experts.

Chandran will act as a spokesperson for animal welfare, paving the way for better understanding of proper animal treatment in the UAE. She will eventually have to carry out her duties that involve meeting with schoolchildren and visiting pet shops.

"I really believe that it starts with educating children and teaching them about animals and how to treat them. I think treating animals in the proper way can preserve the goodness in all of us," said Chandran.

The gala dinner and pageant pitted 22 participants against each other and tested their knowledge about animals. Singers and bands performed in the evening.

"Awareness is much needed here and this was the aim, aside from raising money for the shelter, but also to have an ambassador now who can go out and speak out about the issue of animal cruelty," said Janice Shaw, one of the organisers.

"Radhika is very confident, she's a good speaker and she's been keen to take part in this event since we first mentioned it. She certainly knows what she's talking about when it comes to animals," said Shaw. "She has a great knowledge of animal welfare. She's calm and confident and really stood out."

Miss AVA will be involved in several activities during her one-year reign, including the re-opening of K9 Friends' animal shelter in the next few weeks.

A committee will also be formed allowing contest participants and supporters of the cause to get together on a monthly basis to brainstorm ways of spreading awareness in schools and pet shops.

"The whole aim of this is to educate the public. The AVA Dubai Committee will meet a few times a month and we have offered all participants …[the opportunity] to be part of this committee because they all did so well, but there could only be one winner," said Shaw.

Do you think there is enough awareness regarding animal welfare in the UAE? What initiatives can be taken to keep animals safe in the country?