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Abandoned pets await new home


Dubai: Over 200 animals were abandoned by residents moving out of Jebel Ali Village.

The development is slated for demolition this year.

Thirty-three cats are waiting for a home. Seventy-five have already been adopted. Forty are too unwell to even hope of finding a home.

Bandit walks up to strangers and curls around their legs. Tina holds back, mewing in her big cage. Her timidity may pose a problem in her quest for a new owner.

This is a quest she shares with the other animals rescued by Dubai-based Indian expatriate, Ursula Manvatkar. Along with three other friends, she set up the voluntary Jebel Ali Village Rescue Abandoned Animals Mission in 2008.

She said: "It took us a while to get some structure into the rescue mission. Firstly, we needed to get an estimate of how many animals had been abandoned.


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"We then contacted various veterinary clinics to get a quote on sterilisation, vaccination and micro-chipping. Once we found sponsors, the rescue mission started."

Capturing the abandoned cats was not easy.

"We went out to feed the cats, but it took a long time for them to be familiarised with us," Natalie Jeynes, a volunteer with the mission, said.

Once the cats were comfortable with the volunteers, they were taken to veterinary clinics for health checks and sterilisation or neutering.

They are being kept in a villa provided by Nakheel, waiting to be re-homed. When contacted, the company declined to comment.

More than a dozen terrapins (freshwater turtles) from a pond were rescued and taken in by the Dubai Aquarium in Dubai Mall, while 10 ducks are now residents of the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.

Manvatkar took in four abandoned puppies and is currently homing two of them, having already re-homed two others.

"It was initially quite difficult to keep four puppies as I have two dogs of my own. Training them was quite a task, and their constant barking was bringing in a lot of complaints from neighbours," she said.

The rescue mission faced a crisis when sponsorship ended in November. However, Manvatkar has tried to manage the finances, aided by other volunteers and donors.

But now, the availability of space to shelter the remaining cats may soon be coming to an end.

The lucky few who have found owners seem to have brought joy to their new homes.

Lauren Colton, a 22-year-old British expatriate found out about the Jebel Ali Village Animal Rescue Mission through their Facebook group. She then went with her three-year-old son Ashley to pick out a cat.

"We went to a veterinary clinic, where they had brought the cats. Ashley chose the cat he liked the most and named her Ms Bean," Colton said.

Colton feels the cat has taught her son Ashley an important lesson on how to interact with animals.

"Initially, Ashley was a little harsh with his movements and used to push the cat away. Now, he realises that it will hurt her and holds her more softly," she said.

30-year-old expatriate Andy Fatoush is another happy cat owner.

"Lily has turned out to be a wonderful cat always wanting to be loved and cuddled. It is rare not to see her running around the house," she said.

She encouraged residents to adopt the cats if they had some space at home.

Ways to help

The Jebel Ali Village Rescue Abandoned Animals Mission is currently looking for volunteers for: Fundraising, Veterinary support.
Adoption queries can be directed to Donna Youard 050 2891810

Healthy cats for adoption

Dr Monique Strange, a veterinarian with Al Safa Vet Clinic, said that most of the cats being kept at the villa are healthy and safe for adoption.

"Some of these cats were already neutered and were quite timid, which means that they were somebody's pet," she said.

"They do not have the same survival instincts as a street cat. The volunteers are very careful with the cats they offer for adoption and would not give a pet, which may pass on diseases to the owner."