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Dubai expats ‘killing wholesome pets’ to allow them to escape Iranian missile hazard extra simply

Frustrated vets in Dubai are getting inundated with ‘euthanasia’ requests, while many of the country’s animal charities are reportedly ‘overflowing’ with animals which were left to die

Pet owners in Dubai are abandoning their hapless animals in the streets to run away from Iranian missiles, while vets are being bombarded with “euthanasia” requests.

Dog rehoming charity K9 Friends Dubai have said they’ve been “overwhelmed” with reports of abandoned animals. Speaking to the Telegraph, Dubai-based pet boarding service The Barking Lot said their shelters are “overflowing”. Owner Aditi Gouri said: “Volunteers at animal rescue centres have reported hundreds more abandoned pets than usual, which is leaving shelters at breaking point with some now unable to care for all the animals.”

Unsettling photos of dogs tied to lamp posts and left without any food or drink have been circulating on social media.

A volunteer at The Barking Lot added: “Some vets have even confirmed that owners are coming in to euthanise healthy pets because they don’t want to deal with relocation costs or paperwork.”

War Paws, a charity which supports animals during times of conflict, said animal abandonment during conflict isn’t a new issue.

CEO Louise Hastie said: “It’s happening across Iraq and Ukraine as well …some people just don’t see pets the way we do.

“Abandoning pets at the border or on the streets, not even leaving them with the vet – there’s really no excuse for it. Dubai is an affluent country.”

Many pet owners who are trying to flee the country have said they cannot take their pets across the borders with them, meaning many animals are simply left to fend for themselves in the desert.

There are still thousands of Brits stranded throughout the Middle East, with more than 100,000 having registered their presence with the Foreign Office amid evacuation planning.

Over the weekend a major airline grounded all flights from Dubai airport, with Emirates revealing on Saturday morning that all departures had been suspended.

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In a statement, the carrier said the safety of passengers and crew remains its “highest priority ” and would not be compromised. On X, the airline posted: “Please do not go to the airport. Emirates will share updates when available. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience.”

This follows the announcement from the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence that they are addressing missile and drone threats emanating from Iran.

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