Через війну з Іраном у Дубаї масово кидають домашніх тварин

This was reported by The Guardian.

In Dubai, thousands of pets are left without owners as expats leave the Middle East en masse due to the war with Iran.

This was stated by animal welfare organisations working in the city.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has warned that the pets of people rushing to leave the region could become "hidden victims" of the war.

The organisation noted that British citizens who moved to Dubai are now trying to leave urgently and at the same time are facing difficulties in transporting their animals.

Last week, the British government organised an emergency evacuation flight for people leaving the Middle East amid the ongoing war.

Since 1 March, around 45,000 British citizens have left the region.

Hannah Minds, head of the RSPCA branch in Blackpool and North Lancashire, who previously lived in Dubai and helped care for abandoned animals, said that many of them were microchipped and clearly had owners.

"Some of them were microchipped and you could tell they had been loved, but their families had already left. It's painful for the rescuers and scary for the animals themselves," she said.

According to her, animals should not become forgotten victims of the crisis when people leave the country.

She stressed that pets are completely dependent on their owners and cannot understand why their family has suddenly disappeared.

That is why, according to Meinds, people who find themselves in uncertain circumstances should make plans for their animals in advance.

Animal shelters in the United Arab Emirates have also reported an increase in the number of abandoned pets.

The charity K9 Friends, which rescues abandoned dogs, reported that due to the current situation, some people are forced to leave the UAE urgently, and many animals are unfortunately left without owners.

The shelter said it is doing everything possible to care for the animals left at the shelter, while continuing to care for the dogs already under their supervision.

The Dubai Street Kitties organisation wrote on Instagram that the situation has already overwhelmed its resources.

The post notes that the shelter is overcrowded, all rooms are occupied, there is no free space, but the calls keep coming.

They said that they are constantly being contacted about injured cats, abandoned cats and kittens that have been left to fend for themselves.

The Six Hounds shelter also said that they receive new requests for help every day.

They emphasised that all organisations are overloaded, underfunded and understaffed.

K9 Friends added that they can provide contacts, assistance and information to people trying to leave.

The RSPCA, in turn, reminded that there is an agreement between the UK and the UAE whereby pets do not need to undergo quarantine when returning to Britain.

The Dubai authorities have also responded to the increase in the number of stray cats and dogs.

The city council has launched 12 AI-powered animal feeding stations.

At the same time, it is prohibited to abandon pets in the UAE.

If a person is caught committing such a violation, they face fines of up to tens of thousands of pounds.