Adopt a cat or dog during ADIHEX awareness

A two-year-old saluki mix dog, raised since birth by one family, is suddenly left homeless. His owners decided to return to their home country, but did not want to take their pet along, even though Smiley was considered part of the family.

Sheba, a beautiful, quiet Persian cat, had it even worse. She was found abandoned on the streets of Abu Dhabi, dehydrated, hungry and dirty and too frightened to come out from under a parked car.

Stories such as these are in their hundreds here, and increasing. Some of these abandoned and rescued pets end up at the Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter (ADAS), where the staff takes care of them, treat them if they have an illness, vaccinate and sterilise them if needed and, put them up for adoption when ready. “At the moment we have about 230 dogs and 120 cats ready for adoption,” said Dr Margit Muller, director of ADAS.

To increase awareness about animal cruelty and adoption chances for these pets, ADAS will bring some of them along to this year’s Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), where visitors will be welcomed to adopt them. A selection of puppies and kittens has already been made for the first day of ADIHEX, which is September 5.

“For this first day we are planning to bring at least 15 dogs and 10 cats of different breeds, colours and personalities. We will see how it goes and, based on the visitors’ interest and number of adoptions, we will decide what type and how many other pets to bring on the next three days of the show,” explained Dr Muller. In order to find the perfect home for the perfect pet, ADAS will require every person who wants a cat or a dog to complete a questionnaire that will allow the shelter to suggest the right animal for the individual or family’s lifestyle.

“If, for example, we have a family that wants a dog for its farm, we will suggest a breed that loves playing outdoors and is used to this climate. Or, if there is a someone who wants a cat, but spends most of the day at work, we would suggest a Persian breed, as it is not too active and loves sleeping a lot,” said Dr. Muller.

The questionnaire also asks people to explain their holiday plans, trying to avoid future dumping of pets, as well as testing their knowledge and plans of feeding cats or dogs. ADAS will also encourage ADIHEX visitors to visit the shelter or its website, in case they cannot find the right cat or dog at its exhibition stand.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE