A growing trend in Abu Dhabi sees residents opting to purchase pets rather than adopt, prompting a newly formed non-profit group to take action.
The Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi (AWAD) group, launched in the capital on Friday, aims to shift public perception around pet adoption and offer support to families in need.
“Many believe that pets from breeders are superior to those from shelters and view rescued animals as ‘secondhand,’” said Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Vice-President of the AWAD Board of Directors. “However, every animal has its own personality, whether adopted or bought from a breeder. The key is finding the right fit for your family.”
Dr. Al Qasimi made these remarks during a panel discussion at the launch event held at Gracia Farm in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Rachel J. Shaw, the group’s leader, emphasized that AWAD’s core mission is to engage the community in protecting animals in the emirate. “We want to empower the community to actively contribute to solving the problems we face,” she stated.
One of AWAD’s primary initiatives is a community cat care program aimed at stabilizing stray cat populations in gated communities. The program involves trapping cats at feeding stations to neuter, vaccinate, and microchip them before returning them to their original location. This strategy aims to reduce the number of stray cats across the UAE.
Dr. Martin Wyness, CEO of The British Veterinary Centre, warned that feeding stations without a structured Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program do more harm than good. “Feeding animals without controlling their population only exacerbates the issue, as it leads to unchecked breeding,” he explained.
Dr. Shaw further emphasized the importance of “feeding to control the population, not to breed,” ensuring that efforts to feed cats are part of the TNR process to keep the animal population manageable.
AWAD is also launching a hotline to assist pet owners and the public, and is working to encourage pet shops to adopt higher animal welfare standards. Additionally, the group is helping streamline the adoption of dogs and cats to homes abroad while providing support to owners navigating the export process.
Dr. Martin highlighted another common issue: the trend of “impulse buying” pets without proper consideration. Dr. Neha Vora, a professor at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) researching the effects of stray cats in the UAE, noted that many people don’t plan adequately when getting pets.
“We have a transient population here, and many people acquire pets to enhance their lives, but fail to think about what happens when they leave,” Dr. Vora said. “This leads to high abandonment rates. A safety net that helps people take their pets with them when leaving the country could significantly reduce this problem.”
Dr. Majid stressed the importance of ensuring a pet is a good fit for a family before adoption. “There needs to be education on which pets are suitable for different owners,” he said. “Households should be assessed for allergies and readiness to care for the pet, rather than choosing based on cuteness alone.”
Dr. Majid shared an example from his own family’s adoption process, where they prepared a detailed checklist and even required his children to sign a contract to ensure they would take responsibility for their new cat. “When we adopted a kitten from my wife’s cousin, who rescues cats, he made my children sign a contract committing to feeding, cleaning, and overall care,” he said. “That’s what responsible ownership looks like.”
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