iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Toomaj Salehi risks being hanged after the conviction on the Shariah charge of "corruption on Earth" by a Revolutionary Court
KT APPDOWNLOAD
80 cats rescued from Dubai's old fish market
Three trucks and 15 specialists from the veterinary service section were part of the rescue operation
The civic body sent three trucks and 15 specialists from the Veterinary Service Section to save about 80 cats that haven't been receiving sufficient food and care.
Hashim Mohammed Al Awadhi, Head of Dubai Municipality's Veterinary Services Section, said ever since the fish market was recently relocated, the cats have been struggling to find food and basic necessities.
He noted that the cats will receive necessary care and treatment before giving them up for adoption through 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 adopting cats," said Al Awadhi.
The unhealthy or ill cats caught in the market will be euthanized.
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 unite, 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, they are euthanized.
"Cats have a territorial behavior, 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
Aleef app to manage pet ownership
More news from
Aid groups warn any invasion would add to already-catastrophic conditions for Gaza's 2.4 million people
The American they will face Australia and Serbia on July 15 and July 17 as part of their preparation for the Paris Olympic Games
The leaders emphasise that the deal to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza
Dubai-based Sumit Augustine has had a philosophical approach towards spending
The regional upswing also defies oil production cutbacks
It's a treatise that would determine the course of your life, not just academically, but as a person too
A US-based company is developing an eVTOL aircraft for commercial passenger service and is expected to start operations by 2025 or early 2026
