In dog years, Strays Of Abu Dhabi (or SAD for short) is just a puppy. The organisation was founded by vets Lissie Conroy and Kim Dumas two years ago as a non-profit making organisation operating out of the American Veterinary Clinic (AVC). Prior to SAD, nothing had been done to rehabilitate and re-home the stray dogs brought into the surgery. ‘For anyone working with animals it was a dire, depressing situation,’ recalls vet Rachel Shaw, who is also the homing and fostering coordinator for SAD. ‘During my first six months of working at the AVC, I euthanised more healthy young dogs than I did in my entire five years previously working in the UK.’
But in 2006 the AVC agreed to provide five kennel spaces and 50 per cent off any treatment needed, and SAD was born. By the time Rachel joined them as a volunteer in 2007, the kennels were full and fundraising was well underway.
The dogs (and many other animals) arrive in a variety of ways, she explains. Many are simply abandoned in the street – as yet, the UAE has no dog wardens or pound to take care of them – some are surrendered by expats going home, and others are confiscated from pet shops and souks. Surprisingly, the majority of stray puppies and adult dogs are in good health, I’m told. Ticks and malnourishment are the main troubles, but there are some horrific exceptions. ‘We recently had a German Shepherd brought to us that was found tied to a lamppost by Spinneys,’ Rachel explains. ‘He had outgrown his collar and it was embedded three inches deep into his neck.’
The worst case she can remember is that of a Dalmatian (christened DotCom) who was confiscated by a SAD volunteer at a local souk. ‘He was half his bodyweight, covered in skin sores, ticks, and close to death,’ she recalls with a shake of her head.
Ignorance rather than cruelty is the problem, Rachel tells me. ‘People here will buy animals without any knowledge of how to care for them or their basic needs. Employees in the pet shops and souks also have no idea of the husbandry requirements of any of the animals they are selling, or indeed any empathy or affinity with them, and as such they simply stand by and let the animals suffer in the most appalling conditions.’
The psychological effects of this are the biggest challenge. Once the dogs have been treated, wormed and assessed for re-homing, the AVC dog trainer Nikki Gammans gets to work. ‘We also have volunteers who walk the dogs in their free time (but not enough!), and a couple of “foster families” who take the dogs into a home environment for the weekend to give them a break from the monotony of kennels, as well as help assess their potential for re-homing.’
Rachel is quick to welcome reports of the new animal laws and the fines the UAE will bring in, but warns that education is the challenge. ‘Children are the next generation and need to be educated to respect animals and treat them as companions,’ she says.
SAD attends many school fetes in Abu Dhabi to promote the plight of stray animals. ‘Adults also need to be educated with regards to the sterilisation of companion animals, especially dogs,’ Rachel advises. ‘Most of the stray puppies found on the street are crossbreeds, and 80 per cent are saluki crossbred dogs.’ Neuter and eliminate the problem, she advises.
SAD has successfully re-homed 40 dogs in the past year, all of which were sterilised. Potential owners also have to go through a pre-adoption trial before taking full care of the animal, whereupon a donation of Dhs500 helps with the re-homing of future animals.
As to the reported new laws, Rachel is hopeful, but admits that certain things need to be clarified. Welfare inspectors are needed, she warns, to inspect the pet shops, souks and reports of abuse. A total, rather than temporary, ownership ban of those convicted of animal cruelty would also prove advisable, she argues – moreso than prison deterrents. But if it means that she will see fewer dogs brought in such as the state in which the Dalmatian DotCom was found, then she certainly won’t be sad.
Animal cruelty – how can you help?
1. Report any incidences of animal cruelty. Don’t turn a blind eye!
2. Don’t purchase or ‘rescue’ pets from either the souk or from pet shops keeping animals in unfavourable conditions. If you pay money for an animal at the souk, you permit them to buy another 10 to replace it and hence imprison 10 animals for the one you rescued. Report these establishments.
3. Volunteer to help organisations like SAD or make a donation to them. SAD is always in need of volunteers to help with the dogs, fundraising and advertising.
Strays Of Abu Dhabi (050 130 7392), or email straysofabudhabi@gmail.com
