Fish market strays find new home
dubai — Over 80 stray cats rendered homeless with the relocation of the old fish market in Dubai have found a new home, thanks to the Dubai Municipality. After receiving reports about the strays not receiving sufficient food or care, the civic body sent three trucks and 15 specialists from the veterinary service section to rescue them.
Hashim Mohammed Al Awadhi, head of the veterinary service section, said the cats had been struggling to find food and basic necessities after the fish market was relocated.
However, they are being given the necessary care and will be given for adoption through the Aleef app. “The app has a record of potential owners and a record of lost and found, and stray cats. So it helps us reach out to those interested in adoption,” said Al Awadhi.
The unhealthy or ill cats caught in the market will be euthanised.
Since the start of 2017, the veterinary services section was able to detect about 5,230 stray cats, an almost 100 per cent increase from 2,664 cats found in the same period last year.
The civic body follows the TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release) programme to control the number of stray cats. This year, the section treated 3,663 stray cats.
Faisal Ibrahim Almuammari, head of veterinary control unit, attributed the high number of cats found to the city’s growth and rise of more population areas.
“We receive reports from all areas across Dubai, including Jebel Ali and beyond. Our team has also become bigger to enable us to cover the emirate thoroughly,” said Almuammari.
“Wherever there’s population or residential areas, we will find presence of stray cats.”
After being neutered, the cats are released back to the localities from where they had been netted in efforts to control the environmental balance that prevents the presence of rats and insects on the streets. However, if the animal was seriously ill or wild, it is euthanised.
“Cats have a territorial behaviour, which is why we release it in the same area it came from as they are already familiar with it,” said Almuammari.
During the first half of 2017, the municipality received over 3,730 reports on stray cats. Unlike the usual perception, officials say reports increase during winter, which is the mating season for stray animals.
Meanwhile, Al Awadhi warned pet owners from abandoning their pets to avoid a Dh500 fine.
“If a pet is registered under an owner’s name and is found abandoned in the streets, the owner is subject to Dh500 fine,” said Al Awadhi.
It’s mandatory for pet owners to register their pet. Not registering and micro-chipping a pet calls for a fine of Dh500 from Dubai Municipality and a permanent confiscation if owners did not comply.
When the municipality finds a pet without a tag number, the pet is considered stray and given up for adoption later on.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com