Abandoned-pet law only ‘part of solution’

A government bid to crack down on UAE residents who abandon their pets is being praised.

But supporters say more needs to be done to deal with the increasing stray animal population.

Owners who dump their pets will face fines or even jail under strict new regulations announced by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment last week.

Animal lovers believe the legislation solves “part of the problem”, but controlling the number of stray animals on the streets remains a concern.

Trap, neuter and release programmes provided by community volunteers to reduce feral cat populations are under threat from changes to the way charities operate.

Unregistered and unlicensed groups are no longer allowed to receive donations or public funding, so many have stopped activities until the paperwork is in place.

More than 6,500 cats have been taken off the streets of Abu Dhabi this yar as part of the TNR initiative operated by Tadweer, the emirate’s waste management authority – a sharp rise on the 3,206 captured in 2016.

The latest figures prompted calls for a 24-hour neutering campaign to be launched.

Experts estimate that there are about 100,000 stray cats in the UAE capital alone.

Since April, legislation to oversee voluntary work made it illegal to call for, promote and collect donations online without a licence.

Anyone found breaking the law faces a prison term of up to three years, or a fine of between Dh250,000 and Dh500,000. Several volunteer groups have scaled back their work until they have the correct registration documents.

Setting up a charity can be costly. Expatriates need to apply to the Community Development Authority via their respective embassy or consulate. Once approved, volunteers must carry ID cards at all times, and specify the nature of the volunteering activity.

Training must be given to volunteers where required, and groups must maintain a record of volunteer names, personal information, and the nature of work done.

All information must be registered with the CDA and insurance provided to cover against injuries.

“This is great, but the government should also make it easier to take our pets back home with us,” said Elizabeta Dejan Bozinovski. “It is so complicated and difficult to do that at the moment.”

One of nine new articles outlining the responsibilities of animal owners announced by the ministry said animals should not be abandoned under any circumstances.

Sarah Bartlett, from Animal Action UAE and a former Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officer, said the new regulations are a positive step.

“Enforcement has previously been an issue, but these changes show how seriously that is being taken,” she said.

“We want to support this in any way possible, but there will be challenges. To penalise someone, they need to be traceable to the animal.

“In my time here I’ve seen a huge number of dumped animals, much more than in other countries where I have worked.

“Abandoned animals are rarely microchipped, so their owners can be almost impossible to find.”