Thousands of pets are being abandoned in Dubai as their owners flee the Middle East because of the Iran war, animal charities have said.
The RSPCA said pets of fleeing UK nationals could become “hidden victims” of the conflict as people who had relocated to the Gulf city scramble for an exit and struggle to bring their animals.
Last week, the UK government operated an emergency evacuation flight for people leaving the Middle East as the war continued. About 45,000 British nationals have left the Middle East since 1 March.
Hannah Mainds, the chief executive of the RSPCA Blackpool and north Lancashire branch, previously lived in Dubai and helped care for pets left behind after their owners suddenly left the country.
“Some [pets] were microchipped and clearly once loved, but their families had gone. It’s heartbreaking for rescuers and frightening for the animals,” Mainds said.
Anyone who gets a pet and then abandons it should be tossed feet-first into a wood chipper
The article doesn’t specify if they’re not able to bring them with them or why… :( 🐈 🐈⬛ 🐕 🐩
Reading between the lines, the article mentioning an agreement between the UK and UAE not requiring animals to be quarantined suggests other countries have no such agreement. Priorities change when fleeing bombings.
I was worried that might be the case.
I would bring them with me or fight somebody. It would be like abandoning your child
Ignore the troll. You’re right and the refusal to take pets along with evacuees has lead to many deaths.
https://www.npr.org/2025/08/26/nx-s1-5467727/hurricane-katrina-pets-animal-rescue-disaster
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/hurricane-katrina-change-way-evacuate-pets-devastation
https://www.drc.udel.edu/cint-deyoung-pet-evacuation-atmos-august-2025/
Yeah what the heck was that lol. I was stun locked by the…whatever that was.
It was a series of words without empathy or accuracy. You were comparing 2 things, not even equating them. Seemed to be implicitly gatekeeping loss as well.
They probably just have some unhealed damage.
. It would be like abandoning your child
that’s the most repugnant thing I’ve read today equating a human child to a cat … this is precisely the sort of thinking that allows atrocities to occur :(
but, on the upside, the day is still young so you’ll probably be outdone in terms of terrific statements.
Who knew that the people living in Dubai could be really materialistic and only care about themselves
That applies to any country. It’s a bit racist to single out Dubai.
The article is literally about Dubai.
The article you posted
And your take was “Dubai is unique in having people who don’t give a shit,” which is racist.
So commenting on something an article is talking about is racist now?
Stop clutching your pearls
I’m not convinced you’ve read the spirit of the instance you’re posting on. That was unacceptable. I’m not clutching pearls, just trying to keep Beehaw a nice place for people to interact. If you don’t like that, easy enough to go elsewhere.
