Enforcement of animal welfare laws discussed at Abu Dhabi conference

Participants of the first National Conference on Animal Welfare discussed legislation and enforcement procedures to better safeguard animal welfare both in the UAE and the region on Wednesday.

ABU DHABI // Participants of the first National Conference on Animal Welfare discussed legislation and enforcement procedures to better safeguard animal welfare both in the UAE and across the region on Wednesday.

“The conference is expected to come up with clear national laws to tackle current challenges in the UAE in the field of implementing globally accepted animal welfare principles,” said Dr Al Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, while inaugurating the two-day conference, organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment at the World Trade Centre.

The meeting also aims to analyse the requirements for developing a national policy, identify its effect on economic growth, health and environment, and reach an agreement on the measures to be implemented, reported state news agency Wam.

“The conference is the first of its kind in the region and it underlines the UAE’s special attention on the constant follow-up of animal welfare procedures and its development in accordance with the best international standards and practices to build an integrated platform for animal welfare,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said.

The conference follows a string of cases of animal cruelty.

In September, an Emirati teenager was filmed throwing a cat against a wall before leaving it to die, provoking outrage from animal welfare worker and social media users.

The boy was released by Ajman Police without charge.

A month later, a housewife in Dubai saw a kitten thrown from a taxi window while driving and on Wednesday a cat was found with its ears and tail cut off.

Fawaz Kanaan, an animal welfare volunteer, said he had also dealt with 12 cats poisoned in Jumeirah and one shot in the face.

The participants at the conference will also discuss global practices, including those in Australia, the role of civil organisations as well as the principles of animal care, and international terms and conditions for animal transportation and slaughterhouses.

A number of workshops will be held to discuss legislation, mechanisms of cooperation, monitoring, law enforcement and other issues of animal welfare.

Among those present on the opening day were Dr Matthew Stone, deputy director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health; representatives and experts from the International Fund for Animal Welfare; representatives of the Australian Cattle Programme; local, regional and global authorities, and students of the Veterinary Medicine Department at the UAE University.