Sharjah: An Indian woman is looking after dozens of dogs “abandoned” on the streets of Sharjah and is urging residents to home them before they are put down.
Amanda Stevens, 28, said the dogs are “definitely abandoned pets” due to their tame, friendly nature and interaction with people. She fears they will be put down if rounded up by authorities.
Stevens said she tried to put them up at animal shelters but found them full, with a waiting list of 60-70 dogs.
“I was told this is the worst year for adoptions, none of the dogs are going. I would like to urge people: ‘don’t shop, please adopt’. Every time a dog is bought it means one less home for the ones who really need it,” she added.
Stevens suspects the dogs have been abandoned by people who have grown weary of looking after them. “When the puppies grow up, or the neighbours or the landlord complain, they have to give up the dog or move. In most cases, they give up the dog because it’s not easy to move.”
In the last few months Stevens has managed to “rehome roughly 15 dogs” found languishing in the industrials areas between Sharjah and Dubai. Before handing them over, she makes adopters sign an undertaking the dogs will be treated well. Stevens also has the dogs vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, tagged, groomed and spayed or neutered “depending on the urgency”.
“I have a strict adoption procedure. Sometimes I make surprise checks at homes to see the dogs are not being mistreated … I’ve never got a problem from the owners. It’s always the same words everyone’s telling me: the dogs are so laid back, gentle, tame and calm, and good around kids.”
Stevens finds adopters by placing ads online and urging friends to ask around. Once potential homers get in touch with her, she takes them to the places where the dogs are found, hoping one will be adopted.
For the ones still homeless, Stevens visits them daily. “Jamie, Kyle, Ice!” she calls each one by name as they come running to her, seemingly out of nowhere from the maze of alleys. There are breeds such as “terriers, chihuahua mixes, huskies, German Shepherd mixes, and Doberman.”
“They all know me, they’re so attached. I feel they are so protective about me now, they follow me everywhere,” she said. “I’m doing this because I love dogs and animals. I can’t see them in pain. These pets have been abandoned and living in an environment that is not theirs.”
Out on the streets there are dangers for these “domesticated pets”, Stevens added. “Some of them get forced into packs, bitten or killed. They are submissive, so they have to give in.”
Stevens said she has been helping abandoned dogs — and cats — over the years, but she previously would only come across isolated cases. A few months ago she found herself in the network of lanes in the industrial areas after making a wrong turn. There she encountered a few puppies and, when she looked around, she found more dogs.
“There’s only so much I can do for them myself. I hope the community can also come to their help,” said Stevens.
