Dubai — Animal welfare groups in Dubai are raising alarm over a sharp rise in abandoned pets as growing tensions in West Asia prompt many residents to leave the region in a hurry.
Rescue organisations say they are seeing an increasing number of dogs, cats and other small animals being deserted as families scramble to relocate following fears triggered by the ongoing conflict and missile threats across parts of the Middle East.
Shelters across the city report that they are struggling to cope with the sudden surge in animals left behind. Groups such as K9 Friends say they have been overwhelmed with requests from pet owners seeking to surrender their animals or asking for help finding them new homes before leaving the country.
Animal welfare workers believe the spike is closely linked to residents making hurried exit plans amid regional uncertainty. Many owners reportedly find it difficult to complete the complicated procedures required to transport pets internationally.
Experts from rescue groups have urged people not to abandon their animals and instead use commercial pet boarding facilities available across the United Arab Emirates until they are able to arrange travel for them.
Veterinarians in Dubai have also reported a worrying trend — an increase in inquiries about euthanising pets. According to some clinics, a few owners have asked about putting down even healthy animals because of the high costs, paperwork and limited pet-friendly flight options associated with relocation.
Images circulating on X appear to highlight the scale of the problem. Some photographs show dogs tied to lamp posts without food or water, while others show animals abandoned on streets under the intense desert heat.
Rescue volunteers say they have also found cats and puppies left in crates outside homes or near shelters. In one particularly distressing case reported by The Sun, a rescuer discovered a cat and four kittens abandoned in a crate outside a residence.
With the number of deserted pets continuing to grow, rescue organisations are urgently seeking foster homes and temporary shelters. Social media groups in Dubai are now flooded with posts where volunteers share pictures of the animals and appeal to residents to adopt or temporarily care for them.
Some reports also suggest that pets have been left along desert routes toward the Oman border as people attempt to exit the region by road during the current tensions.
Animal welfare advocates say the situation highlights the vulnerability of domestic animals during times of conflict and displacement. For shelters that were already operating at full capacity, the sudden influx has created an overwhelming challenge and a stark reminder that in moments of panic, the most helpless companions are often left behind.
With inputs from IANS