The pain when puppy love ends

A record number of pets have been abandoned by their owners over the summer, an animal rescue group says.

Fadi Daoud, the head veterinarian, with Whistler, an abandoned husky, at the Australian Veterinary Clinic in Abu Dhabi. He is one of 130 animals awaiting permanent homes through Animal Action. ChristoShow more

ABU DHABI // Whistler was sold to a family by a trader who claimed he was a puppy.

Not long after, the small, scared, two-year-old husky, was taken to a vet in a large cat basket when his new family changed their mind about keeping him.

Now, the basket is the only place where he feels safe.

Whistler is one of 130 animals, abandoned, waiting for permanent homes through Animal Action – Abu Dhabi after what the group said has been the “worst summer” for pet abandonment in the capital.

“When they got him [Whistler] home they realised that he was not exhibiting the kind of behaviour they wanted as he was very frightened and pacing up and down all the time,” said Sarah Bartlett, a volunteer with Animal Action – Abu Dhabi.

The organisation has appealed for help as the number of animals turned over to the group has increased at least threefold.

Animal Action has been receiving about three calls a day from people whose pets need new homes, compared with the normal rate of one every other day, said Ms Bartlett.

Some calls have been for more than one animal – at times, litters of up to 12 puppies, she said.

“The situation is that bad,” said Ms Bartlett, who has volunteered with the organisation for more than a year. “We work very closely with other animal rescue organisations in the UAE and everyone is saying the same.”

The group is pleading for more volunteers to provide care or adopt the pets.

“Saying no is a death sentence to many of these poor creatures,” said Mel Stones, the group’s founder.

Ms Bartlett attributed the rise to factors including increasing population, rising pet ownership, limited kennel and boarding facilities, and the organisation becoming more well-known.

Animal Action takes abandoned pets and houses them in volunteer foster homes that offer to temporarily take care of the animals. It also seeks permanent homes.

Other abandoned pets require medical attention because of abuse or injuries. One dog given to Animal Action had a leg broken so badly that the bones were protruding through the skin, said Ms Bartlett.

While some pet owners have legitimate reasons for needing another home for their pets, such as medical issues, most cases could have been prevented, the group said.

Some pet owners abandon their animals because they had made no plans for their care when they left for holidays or over the summer, while other owners are not prepared for the costs. Some even travel for the summer and then come back only to take a new pet, Ms Bartlett said.

One man called the organisation two days before he was leaving the country and said that if they did not collect his cat the next day, he would put it in the street. “He didn’t make plans for boarding or to re-home the cat with anybody,” said Ms Bartlett.

Others abandon their pets after realising they cannot handle the responsibility – one reason why most of the pets Animal Action has rescued are dogs, which account for 110 out of the 130 animals the group is seeking homes for, said Ms Bartlett.

Potential owners should consider their lifestyle, such as the amount of time they spend travelling, the limited boarding options and the cost of training or arranging care for the animals, before adopting a pet, she said.

Animal Action said it had found new homes for about 700 animals in the four years since it was established.

For more information on how to help the homeless pets, email [e-mail] or visit the group's Facebook page.

The group also takes donations, which can be made in person or via bank transfer to the Australian Veterinary Hospital in Khalifa City.

All of the proceeds go towards paying medical bills for pets taken by Animal Action, the group said.