Free vet care offered to pets rescued from Dubai Marina tower fire

Dubai: Local veterinary clinics in Dubai are stepping forward to provide care and temporary shelter for pets rescued from the recent fire at a 67-storey high-rise in Dubai Marina on June 13. Dubai Civil Defence saved the lives of 3,820 residents, and firefighters also bravely rescued some of the pets from the burning building and reunited them with their owners.

However, as a result of the fire, many of the animals now require professional care and boarding due to smoke inhalation and breathing difficulties.

Two veterinary clinics – Mike’s Veterinary Clinic and Vets for Pets have offered their support, sharing online that they will be providing free care for the affected pets.

Gulf News contacted one of the clinics – Mike’s Vet, located on Hessa Street in Al Barsha – which is currently caring for seven animals, including six cats and a bird.

“We are not just providing boarding; we are offering end-to-end care. We begin with a full consultation, assess the animal, and place them in ICU if needed, as some experienced breathing issues due to the fire. We also conducted x-rays of the lungs and chest to check for smoke inhalation. We have done all this free of charge. The owners have visited and checked on their animals,” Camelia O’Hara told Gulf News.

At present, a WhatsApp group has been created for pet owners from the affected building and surrounding residences in Dubai Marina to coordinate care for the rescued animals.

O’Hara explained that while her clinic does not usually operate 24/7, she made an exception for the residents affected by the tower fire. She called in her staff after hours and paid them overtime to receive the animals.

“It’s been quite intense for a few cases, but none of the animals’ health is deteriorating in our care – they are improving. Even the bird is doing well and is currently flying around our clinic,” she said.

Among the most common symptoms observed are open-mouth breathing and animals covered in grey ash. However, O’Hara reassured that nothing more serious has been detected so far.

In light of the incident, O’Hara has urged pet owners to microchip their animals and ensure they are registered in the Dubai Municipality database via their local vet.

“We had microchip scanners at the scene, but we were unable to identify many pets or link them to their owners. In the case of an emergency, this would greatly help reunite pets with their families,” she said.

She also appealed to fellow pet owners, animal lovers, and rescuers to come forward and foster the pets from the building.

“We need fosters. We need people to step up and help some of the families. Not all temporary accommodation being provided to residents is pet-friendly,” she added.

Another clinic that has stepped in is Vets of Pets, located in the Onyx Tower, Greens. The clinic is offering free veterinary check-ups and boarding for pets rescued from the tower.

Dr Sudhakar Savaram, director of House Call Vet, was alerted about the incident by Vets of Pets and immediately went to the scene to assist the rescued animals.

“I rushed to the site and saw firefighters bringing out many pets from the building. Some of the animals were struggling to breathe, but many have since received treatment and are now back with their owners. I worked until 3am that night, coordinating with other veterinary clinics to arrange oxygen supplies, and they were quick to offer their support,” he said.

At the moment, several of the rescued pets, particularly cats, are still being monitored for smoke inhalation. “They may appear fine externally, but X-rays reveal lung damage caused by the smoke. They are now receiving oxygen therapy,” he added.