Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Poor pets, just disposable to these Dubai residents

218 replies

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 16:38

Reflection of Dubai ' non national residents'. I judge you.

Fleeing and dumping cats and dogs. So basically pets left to die. Another character flaw to add to the vain, awful types that live there. Fake Dubai, modern day slavery loving, artificial, grim, and no conscience so animals are also disposable. 😢

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/pets-abandoned-dubai-expat-owners-flee-iran-war

Thousands of pets being abandoned in Dubai as owners flee over Iran war

RSPCA say animals could become ‘hidden victims’ of conflict as charities in Gulf city report being overwhelmed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/pets-abandoned-dubai-expat-owners-flee-iran-war

OP posts:
GladHedgehog · 12/03/2026 17:24

EvilNextDoor · 12/03/2026 17:21

In the highly unlikely event I am ever in the situation where I was being bombed - after my children I would be making sure I’d take my pets 🤷‍♀️ my dogs are highly trained and valuable.

But then that’s just me and I am not the kind of person who would abandon my animals.

And if there was little food to be had, would you feed them before your children?

Ladybyrd · 12/03/2026 17:23

Good point @NototerrorismIntheUK. These were cats. No an abandoned dog would not fare well - I hadn’t thought about that.

Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:23

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:21

Take animals with you?

There is no requirement for a pet passport currently. If coming back to Europe, then its quite safe to bring pets here. They aren't dashing off on little boats for their lives.

You clearly didn’t read what I posted.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:22

EvilNextDoor · 12/03/2026 17:21

In the highly unlikely event I am ever in the situation where I was being bombed - after my children I would be making sure I’d take my pets 🤷‍♀️ my dogs are highly trained and valuable.

But then that’s just me and I am not the kind of person who would abandon my animals.

I thought I was the only animal lover for a minute. I agree take them. Animal passports requirements have been relaxed.

OP posts:
Darker · 12/03/2026 17:22

MyOpalCat · 12/03/2026 16:51

The little-told story of the massive WWII pet cull

I wouldn't just leave my cats - if I couldn't take them with us I think horiribly I'd have them PTS -but much as I love them wouldn't put kids or DH life at risk for them.

Thanks for the link. I had no idea about this.
People were under a lot of pressure to do what the government said, including enlisting and sending the children away to stay with complete strangers.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:21

Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:17

I love my dog but if me and my kids had to flee for our lives the dog would have to take his chances. Either that or a bullet. Which is the more palatable option @NototerrorismIntheUK ?

Take animals with you?

There is no requirement for a pet passport currently. If coming back to Europe, then its quite safe to bring pets here. They aren't dashing off on little boats for their lives.

OP posts:
EvilNextDoor · 12/03/2026 17:21

In the highly unlikely event I am ever in the situation where I was being bombed - after my children I would be making sure I’d take my pets 🤷‍♀️ my dogs are highly trained and valuable.

But then that’s just me and I am not the kind of person who would abandon my animals.

Unpaidviewer · 12/03/2026 17:19

I would try to have our elderly dog put down if we were in a situation where we needed to flee. We have a child to keep safe. If it came down to it and I felt like our child was in danger I would leave our dog.

Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:17

I love my dog but if me and my kids had to flee for our lives the dog would have to take his chances. Either that or a bullet. Which is the more palatable option @NototerrorismIntheUK ?

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:17

Sesma · 12/03/2026 17:13

Some people would do the same here

Many of these people are from 'here'. Its not Dubai nationals doing this.

OP posts:
NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:16

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 12/03/2026 17:14

Anyone who has cheap maids basically forced to abandon their own families to care for theirs in order to make half a living doesn't really care much for human rights generally I'd think.

True.

So I shouldn't be surprised. My mistake, judging them by standards they don't have.

OP posts:
SaffronsMadAboutMe · 12/03/2026 17:15

So many MNetters eaten up with hatred for those who go to Dubai to improve their lives, that they sink so low as to use a WAR to spaff off on chat forums about it.

It's like they've never been so delighted to have this reason to do so.

Mind boggling and vile in equal measures.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:15

Peachii · 12/03/2026 17:14

A lot of these idiots will be from UK and USA, so I didn’t read this thread as OP attacking Dubai as a country. I wonder what will happen to the exotic ‘pets’ as well.

Correct, I wasn't attacking Dubai just the ex pats or whatever they call themselves.

OP posts:
Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 12/03/2026 17:14

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:07

So staff and pets are extendable. If 'fleeing for their lives' aren't staff accorded the same worry. Not too dangerous for staff then? Many maids are from the Philippines as slave labour.

Anyone who has cheap maids basically forced to abandon their own families to care for theirs in order to make half a living doesn't really care much for human rights generally I'd think.

Mmmchocolatebuttons · 12/03/2026 17:14

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:11

The maids stay behind to look after the pets according to some, other posters

Well, if I did have a maid, I would do my best to try and get her a flight out of there too. It's a lot easier to get short notice flights for people, providing they have passports, than pets.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:14

Ladybyrd · 12/03/2026 17:10

I got caught out in the Arab Spring (didn’t live there, I was on holiday). I wouldn’t be too cocky about it unless you’ve actually been in that position. I do know people who lived there who rehomed their pets before they left - they didn’t just abandon them.

That's great then. However, many Muslim people don't keep dogs.

Hopefully some will be looked after. Thousands have been abandoned to the people behind to sort.

They could bring them with them since no quarantine requirements.

"Dubai Street Kitties posted on Instagram that the situation was overwhelming the charity: “We are at full capacity. Every room is full. Every space is taken. And still, the calls do not stop. Injured cats. Abandoned cats. Kittens left to survive alone. There is always another life that needs help.”

The Six Hounds animal sanctuary added: “Daily requests are coming in. All of us are overloaded and underfunded and understaffed.”

K9 Friends said it could provide contacts, help and information for people trying to leave. The RSPCA added that the UK had an agreement with the UAE so that pets did not need quarantining when brought back home.

The Dubai Municipality has reacted to the rise in stray cats and dogs by launching 12 AI-powered feeding stations across the city. It is illegal to abandon pets in the UAE and if caught the offence is punishable by fines of up to tens of thousands of pounds."

OP posts:
Peachii · 12/03/2026 17:14

AllJoyAndNoFun · 12/03/2026 16:43

Because nobody in the uk ever does anything like that….. oh wait…. Yes they do.

A lot of these idiots will be from UK and USA, so I didn’t read this thread as OP attacking Dubai as a country. I wonder what will happen to the exotic ‘pets’ as well.

Sesma · 12/03/2026 17:13

Some people would do the same here

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 12/03/2026 17:12

Mmmchocolatebuttons · 12/03/2026 17:01

If I was fleeing a war, the cat would not be my top priority either.

Same. I don't really agree with the keeping of pets generally but if you do keep them, they're pets not babies and should be treated as such.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:11

Mmmchocolatebuttons · 12/03/2026 17:10

I don't have any maids. I thought this thread was specifically about pets.

The maids stay behind to look after the pets according to some, other posters

OP posts:
Darker · 12/03/2026 17:10

Dubai is not somewhere I’d be interested in visiting, let alone moving to, but I guess lots of people go for perfectly good reasons, not least the shitshow that is the UK at the moment.

From the article it sounds like people are trying to get their pets into shelters, which are unable to keep up with the demand. I can’t imagine it’s easy to get animals out so I’m not sure what the alternative is except euthanasia. It’s a horrible situation to be in.

Ladybyrd · 12/03/2026 17:10

I got caught out in the Arab Spring (didn’t live there, I was on holiday). I wouldn’t be too cocky about it unless you’ve actually been in that position. I do know people who lived there who rehomed their pets before they left - they didn’t just abandon them.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:10

Pollqueen · 12/03/2026 16:43

To be fair, they are fleeing war and Dubai is being hit quite badly

More than 90% of the 1,700 Iranian projectiles have been rebuffed by UAE's defence systems, but some have struck significant targets, including military bases, industrial complexes and Dubai airport, shutting down one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world.

OP posts:
Mmmchocolatebuttons · 12/03/2026 17:10

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:08

Many the maids might figure a little in the thought though 🤔 maybe not then

I don't have any maids. I thought this thread was specifically about pets.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:09

Wildgoat · 12/03/2026 17:01

Op, there is a war on, and Dubai is being hit quite hard. I appreciate you were not aware of this, but most of them have staff in Dubai and those staff are caring for them. But when fleeing a war zone sometimes you can’t do it with your pets sadly.

if you watch the news, or maybe google how hard Dubai is being hit, you’d understand there is a conflict in the Middle East right now. Maybe get this deleted and then you can post again when you get up to date if you still feel the same way?

Many the maids might figure a little in the thought though 🤔 maybe not then

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread