Madison Burgess
Pets in Dubai are being abandoned as people are fleeing the conflict in the Middle East.
It's been over a week now since US President Donald Trump and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu launched a missile attack on Iran, killing the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In response, the country fired missiles and drones of their own at Gulf states and US assets and allies, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Cyprus.
And now, with more explosions being reported in the United Arab Emirates, people are attempting to flee.
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As per The Express, the Emirati military confirmed on Monday (9 March) that 'air defences successfully intercepted Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones'.
The Mirror also reports that on Saturday (7 March) a driver was killed by falling debris in the Al Barsha area of the city, while drone debris hit a residential tower in Dubai Marina.
Around 14,000 Brits have already contacted the Foreign Office hoping to leave the country.
Now, heartbreakingly, vets in Dubai said they’ve seen an influx of questions about euthanising pets, while other owners have simply abandoned their animals to flee.
One dog rehoming group, K9 Friends Dubai, said on social media that it had been 'overwhelmed with the number of calls for abandoned puppies or owners wanting to leave behind pets'.
They wrote on Instagram: "Due to the current situation, some people are being forced to leave the UAE suddenly, and sadly many pets are being left behind.
"At K9 Friends, we are doing everything we can to care for animals that have been left at the shelter while continuing to support the dogs already in our care."
The group added: "During times like this, it is extremely important to support verified and registered animal welfare organisations. If you would like to help, please do so by becoming a member, or supporter of recognised institutions."
They also warned against donating to or relying on WhatsApp groups or GoFundMe pages that are not registered with the CDA or relevant UAE authorities, as they can't be verified.
Meanwhile, Aditi Gouri, owner of The Barking Lot, a pet boarding service in Dubai, told The Telegraph: “Shelters are overcrowded right now and are doing the best they can - we are doing our best to stay as flexible as possible because we understand these are trying times."
There are also horrific reports of people leaving their animals to to die in the desert after attempting to leave via Oman and being prevented from taking them over the UAE border.
A volunteer at another animal rescue centre, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the publication: “I’ve seen around 200 posts now, on WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups – dogs have been found abandoned on the streets, tied to poles and left behind with no owners found.
“Some vets have even confirmed that owners are coming in to euthanise healthy pets because they don’t want to deal with relocation costs or paperwork.
“There is no proper, large-scale shelter system here that can handle this – the few places that exist are always full … on average I personally receive around five messages a day from people saying that they’re leaving, and will put their pet on the street if no one takes it."