A new animal rights group is hard at work in the nation’s capital. Wags and Purrs, which was launched this August, have a unique agenda. There are many other animal activist groups around the city, some of which have been established for over a decade, but Wags is the first to install a no-kill policy. And Time Out Abu Dhabi caught up with them to talk about the obstacles they face and how you can get involved.
The group was set up by two Lebanese ladies, Ghada Bashoun and Daad Nassif, who have lived in the nation’s capital for more than 10 years. The primary mission of the group is to, ‘dedicate all of our resources to saving strays and previous pets and re-home them whether in the United Arab Emirates or across the globe,’ says Ghada. In addition to reaching out across borders, the group regularly feeds established cat colonies around the city. They currently feed over 1,500 cats and provide care for them on a regular basis. The group employs a vigorous TNR (trap, neuter, release) policy and this is done to keep feline populations from rising unchecked.
In a city that does have some established animal organisations, Wags and Purrs has to follow a specific mission to stand apart from the crowd. ‘A lot of groups are active in animal rescuing, however as we follow a no-kill policy, we have no cap for the value of the medical care needed to cure and rehabilitate a rescued animal. We then proceed by securing a home for them to lead a normal and healthy life.’
The group is also extremely committed to their TNR policy and regularly surveys areas to ensure that animal populations are looked after and checked. ‘We are the only group that has established clear colonies that are vaccinated, micro chipped, neutered or spayed and fed daily at the expense of our founders and supporters,’ says Ghada.
One of the more interesting facts about the group is their re-homing efforts, which go beyond national borders. To date, the group has sent over 40 cats to new and loving homes in Europe, Canada and the United States. They have also sent many dogs to new homes in various European countries. Not only do they find accommodation for healthy pets, but they make it a special point to re-home animals with special needs who might require extra care. ‘We spare no effort to rescue a mistreated cat or dog and we are always one phone call away,’ Ghada tells us.
Members of the group can regularly be seen around Abu Dhabi, even at odd hours of the day or night. Happily though, the response from the Arab and expat communities has been overwhelmingly positive.
Wags and Purrs is always on the lookout for people willing to foster animals until they can find new homes. ‘When people foster, we can rescue more animals and that is the main challenge we face and the main area of support that we look for in the community,’ said Ghada. However, they emphasise that no costs are incurred by the foster home owners, because all expenses are covered entirely by the group.
They are also always willing to accept donations, since this is the primary means of funding their veterinary costs. So if you have some spare time on your hands, or a spare bed at home for someone furry, give
the girls at Wags and Purrs a call.
You can find our more information about the group via their Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Wags-and-Purrs (050 915 7878 or 050 550 1651).
