Owners who abandon pets are now punishable under new laws

Residents who abandon their pets face punishment under regulations announced by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment yesterday.

The regulations outline the responsibilities of animal owners and standards of centres where animals are kept.

They state that animals should not be abandoned under any circumstances, and any act regarded as cruelty could be met with a fine or jail sentence.

“The UAE is strongly committed to animal welfare, which holds significant value in our Islamic beliefs and culture,” said Saif Al Shara, an assistant undersecretary at the ministry.

“Our role is to develop a legislative framework for animal protection and biodiversity preservation in line with global animal welfare standards.”

Susan Aylott, founder of Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi, said abandoning animals should be classified as animal abuse and prosecuted in the same manner.

“We have had a lot of new cases recently concerning animal welfare issues,” Ms Aylott

said. “There needs to be proper action and enforcement on these new standards so people are made accountable.

“A licensing body needs to be established and put in place to complement these new regulations.”

Ms Aylott said more awareness was needed of what to do if people learnt that someone is mistreating an animal.

“Residents need to know how they can report abandonment and abuse of animals safely, so it is acknowledged and followed up on,” she said. “All these practices need to be transparent so we know the topic is being taken seriously.”

A ministry circular offers regulatory standards on animal nutrition and guidelines for loading, transporting and unloading animals.

Restaurant owner Lisa Knight, who has lived in Dubai for more than 10 years and volunteers to help abandoned cats, said the law was a positive step as long as it was effectively enforced.

“Stray cats have only become problematic in Dubai because of irresponsible owners, particularly in Barsha where I lived for nine years,” Ms Knight said. “Volunteers do as much as we can to try to help with trap, neuter and release programmes, but it is never enough.”

Amendments to Federal Law No 16 of 2007 on animal welfare and No 18 of 2016 allows prosecution for overworking animals. Animal owners are also considered in breach of the law if they neglect to follow the rules of humane slaughter, or if they use animals in a way that goes against their nature in art and entertainment performances, in pranks or in staged animal fights.

The law banned giving animals growth hormones, steroids or other illegal additives. Electroshock devices such as cattle prods have been banned, as has the use of sharp tools to handle animals.

Sarah Alzaki, founder of the Protection of Animal Rights Association in the UAE, said pets should be recorded on an Emirates ID card to monitor animal ownership.

“This is a good starting point but it needs work as it is very vague,” Ms Alzaki said. “Is it going to be 100 per cent compulsory that every pet is registered and microchipped, and if they aren’t, will the owner be fined?

“We are in the right place but we have to act further on animal welfare so we know where animals are and who they belong to.”

Ms Alzaki said more education was needed to show people how to care for pets because “they don’t come with a manual”.

Campaigners also called for a crackdown on illegally selling animals on social media. They have also backed fines for irresponsible pet owners to cover food, board and vaccinations.

Volunteers do as much as we can to try to help with trap, neuter and release programmes, but it is never enough LISA KNIGHT Dubai resident