UAE: Animal welfare legislation

Dubai: The UAE has taken several steps to protect animals from abuse and neglect. Federal Law No 16 of the year 2007 deals specifically with respecting animal welfare in the country.

It highlights the need to provide animals with adequate diet, safe transport and medical treatment.

Additionally, animals are protected from sexual and other forms of abuse such as being used in scientific experiments and unauthorised exhibitions or fairs.

The Ministerial Decision No 384 of the year 2008, made by the Ministry of Environment and Water, followed with a detailed guide to animal welfare.

We look at the rules related to abandonment and abuse:

• Exposing animals to negligence, cruelty or malnourishment is punishable by law (chapter 10, article 17)

• The owner of an animal, which does not receive proper care, suffers from pain, or requires but does not receive veterinary care, will be given written instructions on animal welfare which require specific procedures to be carried out.

The owner is obliged to comply (article 7).

• Those who abandon an animal or leave it without care for a long and unspecified period, are violating the rule (chapter 3, article 4).

• Stray animals, once found by the authorities, may be detained in a suitable, healthy place and given veterinary care.

Euthanasia is carried out should the need arise — if the owner does not appear within 14 days, or if the animal requires it (chapter 13, article 20).

• Animals that are detained or isolated are returned to their owner after recovering. The owner must comply with two conditions thereafter — firstly, a pledge, assuring that negligence will not recur.

If it does reoccur, the owner will be penalised. Secondly, the owner is held responsible for all expenses including transport and treatment costs for the animal (chapter 9, article 16).

Penalties for violations

• Sexual abuse of animals — imprisonment lasting at least one month and a fine of at least Dh5,000.

• Deliberate release of infected animals — imprisonment with a maximum duration of one year and a fine of at least Dh5,000 or one of the two penalties.

• Violating other regulations can warrant a fine of maximum Dh20,000.

People in Dubai can dial 800 900 to report animal cruelty to the Municipality Veterinary Services department.

Those who find lost or abused animals can notify their city's municipal authorities. Source: Ministry of Environment and Water