Tortured, dead dog in UAE stirs outrage

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Tortured, dead dog in UAE stirs outrage
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Umm Al Quwain - Police in Umm Al Quwain said they were unaware of the incident.

by

Bernd Debusmann Jr.

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Published: Wed 7 Dec 2016, 4:25 PM

Last updated: Fri 9 Dec 2016, 9:04 AM

 Animal welfare activists are calling for harsh punishment and greater awareness of the need to combat animal cruelty following the discovery of a dog that had been tortured and shot dead in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain.
On December 2, the 'Stray Dogs Centre UAQ' Facebook page posted five images of the dog, showing serious wounds on various parts of his body. "On a routine visit to our centre this morning, we found a doggy dumped metres away from our centre who died the most horrible death," read the message on the Facebook page. "His body still warm, his legs tied with barb wire, he had a single gunshot wound to the head. Injuries around his front paws appear to have been caused because of being tied-up, and blood seeping from his swollen eyes.
"We can only imagine the pain that this poor boy suffered and the pain of seeing him in this state has reduced our faith once again that the changes that so desperately need to happen to prevent this type of cruelty is years away," the statement added. "It is time for the government to support rescue efforts and animal welfare in a meaningful way."
Police in Umm Al Quwain said they were unaware of the incident.
Noel Balani, a longtime UAE resident and independent animal welfare volunteer - who has re-homed 12 stray dogs over the years - said he had never seen such a horrific case of animal abuse. "I've never seen anything at this level," he noted. "But I've seen a video of people burning a puppy alive with petrol. Not sure where... it seemed to be somewhere in the GCC."
While the recent incident is an extreme case, Balani believes many residents do not care for dogs or their welfare. "It is sad, but it's also quite common. There is just a general perception that it's just a dog," he said. "But what people fail to see is that dogs feel and suffer the same way we do." He partly attributed animal mistreatment to owners who haphazardly give away their pets when they are no longer wanted. "Many people want to get rid of a dog if they are leaving the country or can't cope with the finances. Then they don't do background checks, imperative to ensure a dog goes to a proper house that can care for them. They just post it on social media.
Balani added that it would "be appreciated if (the government) comes up with some regulations that are widely published, so everyone is aware of the consequences."
bernd@khaleejtimes.com


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