Dubai - Each year, an estimated 10 million cats and dogs are euthanised in shelters globally.

'Adopt, don't shop' is a phrase that can save thousands of pets' lives here. But potential pet owners need to be more open to the idea of taking in animals with disabilities or special needs too.
Each year, an estimated 10 million cats and dogs are euthanised in shelters globally.
The actual numbers are much higher as public data is not available in many countries. So in a bid to promote adopting pets from shelters rather than buying from stores and breeders, 'adopt, don't shop' has long been the campaign slogan for a growing number of animal rights proponents here.
But with stray animals often becoming the victims of cruelty at the hands of a small minority in the UAE, the challenge of re-homing those left permanently disabled is leaving more and more animals in limbo. And it's commitment that is putting them off.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Kay Ivanova, founder of 38smiles (an animal rescue organisation in the UAE) said pets that are considered by society as "less adoptable" are just as loving, sweet, and kind as all of the other pets.
"We have special needs foster animals and it's not easy re-homing them but we do not stray from a challenge."
As an organisation which doesn't believe in keeping animals in "shelter environments", all the animals rescued by 38smiles go to foster homes first, in order to get properly socialised. However, finding "permanent adoptive homes" for animals with special needs can be a lengthy process.
"We've had epileptic, diabetic, three-legged, blind and paralysed animals and now they all live happily with their families here in the UAE as well as UK, US and Germany. Every animal eventually finds a home, but for these it just takes time." Similar challenges are faced when re-homing non-breed animals, like desert dogs and Arabian Maus too, she said.
"Not everyone can focus on the beauty inside. Instead, they focus on the outer shell. That's the challenge."
At the 'Protection Of Animal Rights Association UAE', 40 rescue dogs are currently under its care, 12 of which are boarding and the rest with foster families.
Focusing mainly on caring for very sick animals, Sarah Alzaki from the association told Khaleej Times human interference or negligence is often to blame for the state some of these animals are in.
"We prioritise those that need intense medical care due to various factors. Some come to us because of pure neglect, some are sick or injured due to living on the streets, some due to bad genetics and breeding. We honestly have seen it all from missing eyes, deformed legs, bed sores from confinement, broken bones."

Following intense treatment and early stage rehabilitation under the association's care, Alzaki said the "challenge of finding adoptive families" for these animals then comes into play.
"They are always harder to re-home. We know it's a commitment and a liability, so this is where we try and show the pretty side of adopting a less adoptable animal."
In these circumstances, she said it "takes a lot longer" for the right family to come along, but the ideal would be for it to happen a lot quicker.
"No animal is broken, they just need help getting up again. Owning a pet isn't an easy job, but it's so rewarding."
With so much information available nowadays about puppy mills, bad breeding, and pets being left in shelters for long periods of time, both Ivanova and Alzaki agree that no one should be buying pets anymore.
"Adopt don't shop comes from a higher moral ground. In this day and age adopting is the only way forward," Ivanova said. But pushing the idea of adoption when it comes to the commitment associated with animals who are disabled is the challenge that remains.

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