Supporting animal welfare during a time of uncertainty in the UAE

Animal welfare organisations across the UAE are facing increased demand as some residents prepare to leave the country. While there is no official count of abandoned pets, multiple rescue organisations and shelters report a significant rise in cases in recent weeks, with facilities operating near or beyond capacity as volunteers respond to calls for help. Shelters are stretched, and rescue teams are working under considerable pressure to ensure animals receive care.

For Yvonne Senden, founder of Doggie Adventures UAE, the impact is tangible. “Rescue groups in Dubai are overwhelmed with abandoned pets and shelters are reaching capacity. We have seen a massive increase in messages of people wanting to leave their pet behind as they want to get out of the country and find it too difficult or too expensive to take their pet with them. We also see the rescue organisations we regularly work with struggling even more than they already used to struggle. It’s really stressful as there’s very little we can do apart from giving one-on-one information as much as we can and guiding people in the right direction, hoping they will do the needful to make sure they don’t abandon their pet.”

Doggie Adventures UAE collaborates with licensed rescue organisations across the country, including Second Wags, Furrballs, House of Hounds, Bubbles, RAKAWC, The Woofhouse, Al Mayya, and Sahara Kennel Rescue. Their support includes food donations, assistance with veterinary bills, hosting adoption events, and raising awareness through social media. Despite these efforts, the demand for help often exceeds capacity.

“The most urgent need is foster homes and funding for boarding facilities,” Senden explains. “Not all rescue organisations have a shelter and the ones that do have a shelter are over capacity. Homes where the dogs can stay until they find a forever home would help a lot. People can also help by paying for space in one of the many boarding facilities that assist licensed rescue organisations at reduced rates.” She stresses that education is equally important. “Talking about the fact that having a pet is a responsibility for life and that you cannot abandon them in difficult times when they need you the most is vital. The more people spread awareness and help with education, the less animals find themselves on the street.”

Senden emphasises practical action. “When you see an animal in need, I’d like to stress to not just take a picture and post it on social media for someone else to jump in, but to go to a veterinary clinic nearby to have the microchip scanned and foster until the owner is found or a new owner via one of the licensed rescue organisations.”

Coordination between organisations continues to be a challenge. “I have to say that I think most rescue organisations are too overwhelmed. There are not enough volunteers to help with responding to messages, to help pick up an animal in need, the stress of not having enough funds and so on. There are a lot of individuals that are helping as well as communities and everyone is doing their best. But there’s not a centralised system in place unfortunately, so everybody just tries to do the best thing in their own way and capacity. However, there are a lot of amazing people out there helping each other. Just not enough.”

Senden is clear about responsible ownership. “For me, euthanising a healthy pet or leaving them behind would never be an option and I honestly can’t believe people do this. Being a pet parent of a dog and two cats, I have made the choice to take care of them for the rest of their lives. We should always have a backup plan in case we need to relocate for whatever reason and relocation doesn’t have to be too expensive, especially if you arrange things yourself.” She notes that relocation services are under pressure but helpful guidance exists. “Currently relocation companies are also very overwhelmed but accounts like Furry Travel have a lot of information of what kind of documents are needed to travel abroad with your pet at various destinations.”

Looking ahead, Senden highlights potential long-term solutions. “A centralised system where all pets are mandatorily registered in all Emirates would help a lot, that is linked to their owner’s passports. Additionally I think we need to focus a lot on education and make people understand that pets are a responsibility for life.” She emphasises that responsible ownership extends beyond daily care. “A lot of rescue organisations luckily do this, and that is what makes adoption procedures sometimes difficult, as they want to make sure a pet really goes to a forever home. People need to realise pets are not an accessory or something fun for now. Pets are also there when you get children, move house, or relocate out of the country. You not only have your day-to-day expenses like food but also veterinary costs when your pet gets sick, pet sitting, or boarding costs when you go on a holiday. It takes a lot of time and effort to take care of a pet and I think people don’t always think about that. So the more we talk about it, hopefully more people realise it and fewer animals have to suffer.”

As the UAE navigates a period of uncertainty, the message from animal welfare advocates is clear: animals are not optional, and responsible stewardship is essential. Rescue networks, volunteers, and pet owners all have a role to play. “While the challenges are real, so too is the ongoing commitment from individuals and organisations working to ensure that animals across the country are cared for and protected,” Senden concludes.