Exotic pet owners given 30 days to free animals – Yahoo Maktoob News

Sharjah Ruler bans breeding of exotic animals, reptiles at home and farms

Gulf News – Tue, Nov 25, 2014

A cheetah was found in front of the mosque near Radisson SAS Hotel in Sharjah. The decision to ban keeping wild …

 

Exotic pet owners have one month to hand over their so-called pets to authorities under a newly announced ban on breeding and possession of wild animals smuggled into the emirate at homes and farms.

Those who fail to surrender their exotic pets will be slapped with a Dh100,000 fine in addition to confiscation of the species.

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued the decision on Sunday but public and private zoos, scientific and research centres and universities which obtained licences from the Environment and Natural Reserves Agency in Sharjah are exempted.

Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of Sharjah Environment and Natural Reserves Authority, told Gulf News that the Environment authority is working on a draft law to explain and clarify the tasks of each department in carrying out the decision.

The decision gave offenders a one-month grace period to amend their position.

The decision was praised by those who said they are being placed in danger by these animals.

Others who own exotic pets are upset they have to surrender their animals, Hana said.

“Yesterday, we received many calls from people … they want to hand over their animals to us,” she said. “This week we will count the number of people who obtained these dangerous animals either in their houses or farms … we know those people … and we will speak to them before implementing the decision next month.”

https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/video/lion-spotted-backseat-car-dubai-081812854.html?format=embed&player_autoplay=false

Hana said that the UAE has signed an international memorandum banning the trade of animals and plants that are threatened with extinction.

“We received a number of complaints from residents about a lion’s roar which came from a house in a residential area and could be heard from a distance away. Children were scared to hear such a sound, especially during night time. How will it be inside the house? It’s very dangerous,” she said.

Every month, the environment authority in Sharjah confiscated around 25 wild animals and reptiles, she said.

This work exhausted the budget of the environment authority and the staff.

People buy these animals when they are small as they look nice but when they grow up they need to be returned to the wild and they need special care that normal people cannot offer.

People were even attacked by exotic pets in some cases and received injuries and permanent disabilities, she said.

Quarantine

Confiscated animals were kept in quarantine for 40 days and later the department contacted zoos in the UAE, GCC and Europe asking them if they wished to obtain these animals, she said.

The Sharjah Environment and Natural Reserves Authority will launch an awareness campaign through audio and visual media to make people aware about the new ban, Hana said.

Meanwhile, residents can report any wild animals to 8003722745 or Arabia’s Wildlife Centre at 06-5311999.

Exotic pet owners can call the same numbers for inquiries or to hand over their animals.

via Exotic pet owners given 30 days to free animals – Yahoo Maktoob News.

 

Persian Film Shows Animal Rights Abuses in United Arab Emirates ▪ Iranian.com

November 30, 2014

Step by step, this observational and almost wordless documentary takes us through every aspect of falconry as practiced in some of Middle Eastern countries: all the way from the catching of field mice in a fishing village in Iran to competitive falcon shows in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Each step is a new chapter marked by a title and poetic instruction. The long scenes underline the level of patience and knowledge necessary for each stage in the process. Take for example the old man on windswept sands calmly digging an underground trap connected to his own camouflaged hiding place. Two boys help him with this time-consuming task, while a bird tied to the car roof (bait for the falcon they intend to capture) stares at them. Although the much-prized predators this enterprise provides will certainly live in captivity, their precise fate is as yet undetermined. Blindfolded and feet bound, the animals are taken to various dealers who measure them and negotiate heatedly. Each of the falcons has its own destination: a busy city square as a tourist attraction, a falconry center as an object of study alongside stuffed companions, or the world of falconry, where it will undergo a period of remarkable training to reach competition form. — The film which has directed by Maziar Moshtagh Gohari, was among the official selections of IDFA (International Documentary Film festival of Amsterdam) in 2014.

via Persian Film Shows Animal Rights Abuses in United Arab Emirates ▪ Iranian.com.

 

Five-month-old dog dies after tail is hacked off | GulfNews.com

Calls for strict enforcement of pet laws gain ground after puppy’s killing

• By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
• Published: 17:24 November 12, 2014

ABU DHABI A pet dog has died after its tail was hacked off in the latest incident of animal cruelty in the UAE.

Kleidi, a brown Rottweiller, was bleeding profusely when he was found by a couple near Al Gadheer on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border on October 30.

They took the puppy to Animal Action Abu Dhabi which rushed the animal to the Australian Veterinary Clinic in Abu Dhabi, but the five-month-old died on Sunday, after battling high fever and severe infection.

Deliberate attack

“The puppy was in a very bad shape when it was brought to us. Its tail had been sliced off and there was a lot of blood. It looked like someone had deliberately hacked off the tail with a blunt garden tool,” recalled Natalie Stones from Animal Action Abu Dhabi, a voluntary organisation that rescues and shelters abused and abandoned animals.

Kleidi’s death has evoked a sharp reaction from animal lovers and activists.

“This is so horrifying. I am aghast,” said Mel Stones, Founder Animal Action – Abu Dhabi. The group has since launched a Facebook campaign “I am standing up for Kleidi. Say No to Animal Abuse. Enforce Federal Law No: 16’ calling for stricter enforcement of animal welfare laws in the country.

“Acts like this bring me to tears. Monsters who do this to a puppy don’t deserve to live,” wrote Nina Marie on the Facebook page. “Why aren’t people responsible for this being punished?” asked animal lover Shirien Al Hazmiver

“News laws are welcome. But what we need is stricter implementation of existing laws,” said Mel. “The trail of animal abuse is never ending. Just 10 days ago, we found a cat which had been blinded in both eyes. It also died.”

“We ask people not to walk away when they see an injured or abandoned animal thinking that someone else will raise the alarm because chances are, the next few people too will think the same,” said Stones.

via Five-month-old dog dies after tail is hacked off | GulfNews.com.

 

Areas in Abu Dhabi to walk pets | GulfNews.com

By Binsal Abdul Kader

Staff Reporter

Published: 07:00 November 9, 2014

Abu Dhabi:

In January 2011, Abu Dhabi banned the entry of all types of dogs to beaches, swimming pools, closed or open family parks, shopping centres, restaurants, etc.

The civic authority also warned against leaving dogs uncontrolled, which risks their life by being exposed to traffic while crossing the road and to other road users.

The municipality was planning to promulgate the rules and regulations related to ownership and housing of pets, and enforce a compulsory immunisation and numbering system of pets, including cats, through the microchip system. The civic body also planned to designate certain areas at parks for dogs, addressing all requirements of safety and prevention of cruelty to animals.

A request from Gulf News for an updated status on all these rules and regulations was not answered by an official spokesperson of the municipality for this report.

Meanwhile, a voluntary organisation that runs the website http://www.adopt-me.ae has identified dog-friendly places in Abu Dhabi with the help of its volunteers. However, it has cautioned that all official signboards stating rules on restriction of pets at the site must be respected.

Dog-friendly places

1) Yas Island, Kite Beach

2) Open beach opposite Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre, Al Safarat

3) Le Boulanger Beach on Khaleej Al Arabi Street.

4) Al Muneera Beach Plaza

Dogs are strictly not allowed on the beach. however we have been told by dog owners they have been allowed to sit at some of the cafes along the beach plaza. However, it is always good to ask the cafe management before you take your pet there. Al Muneera is a pet-friendly community.

5) Café Firenze Al Zeina, Al Raha Beach.

The owner of this cafe has confirmed it is for pet owners to bring their pet on the premises. Al Zeina is a pet-friendly community.

6) Al Reef Community

Lots of great pathways in this gated community. Al Reef is a pet-friendly community. There are also some areas behind the villa areas (in the desert) where dog owners walk their dogs.

7) Falcon Hospital Dog Agility Park

Open 8am – 4pm. Fee: Dh20 per hour. Bookings a must.

Click to access Dog-Agility-Park.pdf

via Areas in Abu Dhabi to walk pets | GulfNews.com.

 

Attitudes towards pets in UAE on the mend | GulfNews.com

Still room for improvement with harsher penalties needed to prevent animal abuse

Dubai: The majority of Dubai residents who responded to a Gulf News poll said the emirate ihas plenty of room for improvement when it come being pet-friendly.

With the recent clamour for more public space in Dubai to allow pets in, Gulf News surveyed pet owners and lovers residing in Dubai to assess how pet-friendly the emirate is in terms of meeting the needs of their pets as well as protecting them against abuse.

Gulf News teamed up with animal welfare groups to reach some 750 residents who keep pets, once had pets, or are planning to have pets in the future.

Internationally, various organisations annually assess the pet-friendliness of European and US cities annually using a set criteria since it is a big consideration for many residents in choosing where to live.

For the Gulf News poll, we asked residents about the policies in the emirate that cover pets, the spaces or areas they are allowed in, the availability of pet groomers and caretakers, and the general attitude of humans to pets.

When asked how pet-friendly Dubai is, one in two respondents or some 53.29 per cent said the emirate is not at all that friendly to their furry friends. Some 41.48 per cent said the emirate is a bit pet-friendly, and only one out of the 750 respondents said Dubai is “very pet-friendly”.

Lesley Muncey, chairwoman of Feline Friends, said that in comparison with other cosmopolitan cities, Dubai is below average when it comes to pet-friendliness.

Animal welfare advocates said the results came as no surprise.

“If you’re in the UK, in the US, or in most cities in Europe, if a cat or a pet is trapped in a tree or somewhere else, the fire brigade would immediately come to their rescue, whereas here I don’t think you’d get the same [response],” Muncey told Gulf News.

Hayley Strifler, founder of the Dubai Senior Dogs Project, gave Dubai a rating of ‘unsatisfactory to poor.’ “But it is getting better because more and more businesses are becoming aware and becoming more pet-friendly,” Strifler told Gulf News.

Based on the responses, here’s a list of the main issues pets and those who keep them face:

1) Space available – public space and living quarters

Dogs are not allowed on public beaches and in parks in the emirate according to Dubai Municipality rules. Most residents live in high-rise buildings and have very limited greenery where pets, especially big dogs, can walk and be with other dogs.

A British expatriate who has two dogs said she spends Dh1,200 monthly to get her dogs to socialise with other dogs twice a week at a local pet park. This is despite having a small garden at home.

“Apart from the money, there is also the time factor to consider. I need to leave the house at least an hour earlier than normal on dog day care days, and don’t get back until about an hour later than I normally would due to traffic. Day care is great for them as they get to run around and socialise with other dogs. However, in an ideal world, there would be an official dog park/beach etc to take them to.”

2) Commercial space

In cities like Paris and New York, pets are allowed in hotels and restaurants which is not the case in Dubai. When asked to rate the number of commercial establishments or areas that allow pets in Dubai, some 85.09 per cent gave an “unsatisfactory rating.”

3) Grooming, medical costs

Muncey said there are those who don’t sterilise their pets, mainly due to high medical costs. Neutering dogs in Dubai could cost between Dh490 and Dh700 while spaying could range between Dh560 and Dh800. In the US, the average cost for neutering from a low-cost clinic is between $45 (Dh165) and $135 (Dh490) depending on the weight of the dog. Spaying usually ranges from about $50 to $175.

If pets aren’t sterilised, there is the problem of unwanted litters that often end up as strays, which compounds the problem of stray animals in the emirate. Muncey said planning and saving for your pets can help. In some instances, connecting with the community and the developer of the area is key as well.

Muncey said: “Feline Friends would like to commend developer, Emaar, for working with us in reducing the number of strays or abandoned pets in their areas by covering the costs of neutering or spaying them.”

4) Travelling

The transient population of residents adds to the burden of stray or abandoned animals because there are those residents who think taking their pets with them abroad is a massive and expensive undertaking.

But just like Muncey’s point above, she stressed that pet owners can save make a monthly saving for their pets to cover future costs of travel. If you can take your important piece of furniture with you, why not your pets?

5) Attitude towards pets

Some 32.84 per cent of respondents said pet owners in Dubai are “quite responsible” while 23.96 per cent believe those with pets are “very irresponsible”. This could be because of the growing number of strays, which animal welfare advocates say is due to irresponsible residents who don’t treat their pets as family members but as property.

In order to be a genuinely pet-friendly city, harsher penalties for people who abuse or neglect their animals are needed, Strifler said.

via Attitudes towards pets in UAE on the mend | GulfNews.com.

 

UAE animal lover given land to build new shelter for abandoned dogs | The National

Rezan Oueiti

November 4, 2014 Updated: November 4, 2014 05:46 PM

UMM AL QUWAIN // Animal lover Amirah William, who shares her home with more than 130 abused and abandoned dogs, has been given a plot of land from the municipality to build a shelter for her canine friends.

The 47-year-old was last month told to move the dogs out of her villa in a residential area after her neighbours complained about the noise and smell. She was given two weeks to find the animals a more suitable home.

However, after meeting with municipality officials, she has been given the land she desperately needs in an industrial area.

“I had a meeting last Sunday with Obaid Sultan Towarish, the acting general director of UAQ Municipality, and he told me that Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, the Ruler of UAQ, approved my proposal.

“The municipality wants to create an official name for the shelter and change the name of our group from SOS Animal Rescue Umm Al Quwain to UAQ Centre for Stray Dogs and Cats because it is starting to help with our group.”

Ms William, who moved to the UAE six years ago after converting to Islam in her home country of New Zealand, has been taking in stray animals for the 15 years. She helped to set up SOS Animal Rescue with two other volunteers last year to help rehome the growing number of stray dogs found in the emirate.

Even though she has the land, Ms William’s problems are not over just yet. She still needs Dh100,000 for building works and is hoping for donations from the community.

“Building the centre needs at least Dh100,000 and the thing that will help is the fundraising from donations through our Facebook page,” said Ms William.

Thankfully, Ms William has a few less dogs to worry about after 25 animals were recently found new homes. “Adopters from Dubai and UAQ came and adopted dogs and some fostered dogs for a temporary period until I solve the problem.”

Members of the public who want to adopt a dog or contact Ms William should visit this website.

roueiti@thenational.ae

via UAE animal lover given land to build new shelter for abandoned dogs | The National.

 

Pet Festival 2014 to feature birds, reptiles too | GulfNews.com

Published: 16:31 October 8, 2014

• Image Credit:
• Best paw forward: There will be a two-day competition for dogs

Dubai: Nine months after the popular Pedigree & Whiskas Dog Show was cancelled in Dubai, animal lovers in the UAE are now gearing up for another pet fair.

Organised by PETME, the Pet Festival 2014 will be held at the Rugby Stadium in Dubai Sports City on November 7 and 8. According to Shree Nair of PETME, the three-year-old festival will host the first international dog show and the 10th international cat show, besides featuring birds and reptiles.

Nair said: “This is the first time that all these categories are coming together in one show. People not only keep dogs and cats as pets, but birds and reptiles too. So we didn’t want to exclude them.”

He said extra care will be taken to avoid any untoward incident. “The festival is three years old. We haven’t had any incidents in the past but are leaving nothing to chance. A thorough assessments of the pets will be conducted at the entrance and the pets classified into different categories. For instance, an aggressive dog will be given a red ribbon, a moody pet a green ribbon and friendly creature a yellow ribbon, so visitors know what to expect when they interact with these pets.”

Nair said long leashes will be banned during the show. “Pet owners will have to use short leashes for their dogs. We will also make sure that the groomed competition dogs are segregated from the guest dogs, so they do not lose focus,” he added.

The festival is expected to attract hundreds of pets across different categories. It will feature a two-day competition for dogs that will be judged by an international panel, a demonstration by a police and military dog squad and a fancy fashion show for dogs.

Nair said: “The 10th International Cat Show organised by the Middle East Cat Society in association with the World Cat Federation will also be judged by international judges. There will be presentations and demonstrations by pet experts and animal welfare groups.”

via Pet Festival 2014 to feature birds, reptiles too | GulfNews.com.

 

 

Dark side of UAE’s exotic animal fascination | The National

August 26, 2014

DUBAI // Dr Ulrich Wernery has seen the dark side of the fascination with keeping exotic wildlife as pets.

When wealthy people pay thousands of dirhams for rare animals such as big cats, birds and even apes without knowing how to care for them, he sees the consequences.

By the time the animals reach the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Dubai, where Dr Wernery is the scientific director, they are beyond help.

At least once a month, he and his colleagues receive dead creatures, mostly big cats, hyenas and birds.

Investigations into the cause of death usually yield the same answer – diseases or problems caused by poor diet or other forms of mistreatment by the owner.

This month a cheetah was taken to Dr Wernery’s lab. A post-mortem examination found pieces of carpet in the animal’s stomach.

It had probably been kept in an enclosure with carpeting and had been ripping it apart when hungry, said the doctor.

“People think it is nice if they keep an animal on carpet,” said Dr Wernery, who has seen similar problems in captive Gordon’s wild cats, a rare local species.

“It is not intentional, they do not want to kill these animals but it is all wrong what they do.”

The trade in wild animals is regulated by Cites, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which has procedures in place to protect rare species.

The UAE is a signatory to the convention, which means rare animals may be traded only with the appropriate paperwork.

Anyone convicted of smuggling endangered wildlife into the UAE can be jailed for up to six months and fined between Dh10,000 to Dh50,000.

But a conservation professional said more needed to be done to enforce the law.

“If you are a rich man with connections and ‘wasta’, you can do what you want,” he said. “No one will inspect what is behind your walls.”

While keeping animals such as primates and big cats in a flat or a garden is already illegal, the Government should regulate private zoos, he said.

“Most of the private zoos are set up on a whim by a very wealthy person and most of those animals are not contributing to conservation,” he said.

“They are basically there to provide entertainment for a family or one person.”

Stricter licensing, regulations and standards would ensure animals are kept in good condition and traded legally, he said.

“The reality is there needs to be more Emiratis getting involved who are well trained, motivated and want to move things forward.”

Despite the laws, wild, exotic animals are still sold relatively openly.

The website souq.dubaimoon.com has a host of wild animals for sale including Arabian oryx, slow lorises and cheetahs, which are all listed as vulnerable to extinction on the Red List of Threatened Species published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The trade of rare animals has serious implications on wild populations that are already under stress, said Dr Elsayed Mohamed, regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

“There is no doubt that the continuous harvest of the animals from the wild by humans is leading certain species to extinction. This is happening to many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and even amphibians,” he said.

Another issue Dr Werney regularly encounters – particularly with big cats – is bad diet, with their owners simply not satisfying the animals’ need for red meat, causing them to suffer from malnutrition.

“What they mainly give is chicken but have you seen a lion in the savannah flying after chicken?” he asked. “This is, especially for young animals, not sufficient.”

Malnutrition causes a host of health problems – hind-leg paralysis and trouble with the development of nerves, the spinal cord and the brain.

Dr Werney saw this in three African lions during a chance visit to a veterinary centre in Dubai this month.

“They cried in pain because all the nerves were damaged because of wrong diet,” he said.

“The worst part is this is irreversible. Even if the animals are now fed the right food, they will suffer like this all their lives.”

Corina Berners, a taxidermist at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, said the worst example of maltreatment was declawing big cats to make them easier to handle.

The procedure alters the way the animals walk, causing chronic back and joint pain, and is illegal in some countries.

“Over the years, we got three or four animals for postmortem that were declawed, mostly lions,” said Ms Berners, who has practised in Dubai for eight years.

“So there must be someone who does it.”

vtodorova@thenational.ae

via Dark side of UAE’s exotic animal fascination | The National.

 

Animal cruelty leaves residents helpless | GulfNews.com

August 22, 2014

Image Credit: Montserrat Martin The x-ray shows a broken bone in the leg and a pellet.

Alba is yet another case of animal abuse. This young cat is part of a healthy and sterilised cat colony located in Mirdif, Dubai, posing no harm to anyone.For many years now we have heard of terrible cases; cats being shot or tied up by ropes and dragged along the asphalt behind cars or puppies being hanged in packs… the list goes on.

Are we simply at the cusp of another horrible social phenomenon yet to happen?

The UAE has an incredible Animal Welfare Law in place, created since 1972. So why are we accepting escalating violence towards animals?In Alba’s case, we are left with three issues. We have the responsibility to raise Dh3,000 to treat an innocent animal that did no wrong to anyone, we have to make a huge effort to find her a home and worst of all, the community is once again left feeling hopeless and frustrated for having to accept yet another abuse case.

Alba was lucky that we found her when she was left abandoned behind bushes, weak, dehydrated and in severe, unnecessary pain. A quick x-ray at the veterinary clinic found a pellet and a very nasty fracture in a large area of the leg that contains nerves and blood vessels.

A long surgical procedure took place to save Alba’s leg, which was an absolute challenge if we see the damage caused by the pellet’s impact.Perhaps the cheapest option would have been to euthanise her. But why should we terminate her life just because she was a victim of humans’ uncaring attitude, or for a complicated fracture?

We made the harder decision of giving Alba a second chance. Raising enough money and finding her a home is a challenge that we were ready to take.Alba is in urgent need of a loving home where she could have a dignified life for the rest of her days.We also would like to warn people about similar cases of cruelty in their residential areas.

Please keep your pets indoors and supervised. If you see something suspicious, please call the authorities. We can only make changes if we do something about it. Our cities are peaceful ones, and we want to keep it that way.

If you wish to help Alba financially or offer her a forever home, please contact us by email at info@friendsofanimalsdxb.com or call us at 0507887025. The reader is the founder of The Animal Project, based in Dubai.

via Animal cruelty leaves residents helpless | GulfNews.com.

 

Sharjah Bird and Animal Market investigated | GulfNews.com

• 
• Image Credit: Sankha Kar/Gulf News archive
• Sharjah Bird and Animal Market has come under the microscope following an undercover investigation by Gulf News. The picture is used for illustrative purposes only.

Dubai: Animal rights are a sensitive issue, especially as it raises very strong reactions. Gulf News has always championed the cause of animals and their need to be treated fairly, ethically and with respect.

However, our community of readers has been repeatedly raising the issue of the Sharjah Bird and Animal Market with us through emails, comments and social media posts, with many complaining about the poor conditions. We decided to follow up and seek some answers to the issues raised.

The Sharjah Bird and Animal Market has a rather notorious reputation. More than 500 Facebook users comprise the online group ‘Shut Down Sharjah Animal Market’ that protests against instances of animal cruelty there, and many UAE residents continue to express anger towards the facility’s callous actions after Gulf News published reports on the market readily selling illegal animals, a few months’ ago.

To examine whether the premises have undergone an overhaul, we went undercover to scout the facility.

Walking into the market’s building, we were hit with an acrid stench of animal waste, which instantly lowered our hopes of finding the center in a better state. The visit was at around 10am on a Ramadan week day, which explained the lack of visitors and few closed stores. A peek into these stores showed the animals residing in cages in dimly-lit rooms, with neither an open window for ventilation nor an air conditioner for cooling.

At the sight of visitors, several shop owners jumped up to usher us into their respective stores. A majority of the animals first presented were birds.

The same store displayed a falcon perched by the window.We asked a shopkeeper where we may be able to find something special to gift a friend for her upcoming birthday. He steered us into his store and pointed towards a pair of parrots. One, native to the Amazon, and the other, brought in from Nepal, appeared fit. The shop owner had even taught the Nepali parrot a few phrases in Hindi. He was frank about the origin of the birds and informed us that he has an agent that sources him these birds – we soon found out that every shopkeeper had their own agent whom they worked closely with.

“On sale for 5000 [dirhams],” said the owner.

After attempting to bargain with him, he explained that his agent, who brought the bird in from Pakistan, guaranteed him several more to come this season. He gestured to the breadth of the store and said in Urdu: “There will soon be a line of them. Come then. Maybe it’ll be less.”

As he grew more acquainted with us, he admitted that he didn’t want to sell us the bird as his leg was fractured.

To even present an unfit animal for a probable sale is a legal offence, according to Federal Law No. 16 of year 2007 ‘Respecting Animal Welfare’, Chapter 3, Article 4, Section 7.

Other shops were also less than attentive to the upkeep of their birds. While looking through a window of a store that was closed at the time, we observed a cage – no larger than a 30 gallon aquarium tank – that housed two grown male peacocks and three hens. This cramped situation caused visible discomfort, and is in clear violation of UAE law, which is the shop owner’s duty to ensure comfortable movement of animals. This is according to Federal Law No 16. Chapter 5, Article 4: ‘Free Movement of Animals’.

Wandering around another store, we found a cage of pigeons. Filled with several of them, the cage was evidently unclean as two dead pigeons lay in a corner, as the other pigeons moved around the cage. When this was brought to the shop owner’s attention, he remained fairly indifferent stating that, although he presented us animals from all ends of the store, he owns the right half of it and so was not responsible for disposing of the dead birds in the far left cage.

Animals of other species were found closer to the central courtyard of the facility. Domestic pets like dogs and cats were kept in cages here. Kittens appeared malnourished and scruffy, while dogs looked drowsy and ill. One particular store sold a husky. Although the canine can survive outside its familiar cold weather, adequate care is needed to ensure their wellbeing. Like the other shops, this, too, had no ventilation but had one fan, which was aimed directly at the store owner.

Continue reading….

via Sharjah Bird and Animal Market investigated | GulfNews.com.