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AIBU?

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Original poster

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:
Original poster
NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:08

Mmmchocolatebuttons · 12/03/2026 17:01

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

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

OP posts:
Original poster
NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:07

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?

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.

OP posts:
Original poster
NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:05

itsthetea · 12/03/2026 16:39

I rather suspect that if bombs fell around here people would leave their pets easily - when you fear for your life many things change

They aren't actually falling around them though, are they. Naturally scared since it could continue to escalate, however, currently mainly airport drone attacks.

OP posts:
Mmmchocolatebuttons · 12/03/2026 17:01

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

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?

Domino211 · 12/03/2026 16:58

People abandoning their pets is not a new issue in Dubai unfortunately - I lived there 15 years ago and did some work with a cat charity helping to neuter and manage stray cat populations. We would frequently get dumped pets added to a colony and would have to take them to a rescue centre (if there was space……) as they’d never survive with the feral cats.

FasciolaHepatica · 12/03/2026 16:55

Having worked in the Balkans in the wake of the conflicts there, I can sadly confirm that when people flee for their lives, many will abandon their pets to take their own chances. This is not specific to arseholes in Dubai.

Palladin · 12/03/2026 16:54

Culling would be kinder than just abandoning these pets in Dubai, where they will suffer immensely before dying of thirst or hunger.

DurhamDurham · 12/03/2026 16:53

My family has dogs and cats and they are well loved. It would be heartbreaking but I absolutely would not risk the life of my children and grandchildren for them. It’s a horrible decision to take and I hope it wasn’t done lightly but it’s the one I would make.

Tableforjoan · 12/03/2026 16:51

It’s Dubai everything is disposable.

I wish I was joking.

Whosthetabbynow · 12/03/2026 16:51

WeepingAngelInTheTardis · 12/03/2026 16:47

Hardly a suprise is it? All this “we’re moving to Dubai, best place on earth” rubbish.. doesn’t look so great now does it?

Sold their souls to the devil for the flash Harry lifestyle. Abysmal

SerendipityJane · 12/03/2026 16:49

OP might want to look what happened in Britain in 1939 ....

WeepingAngelInTheTardis · 12/03/2026 16:47

Hardly a suprise is it? All this “we’re moving to Dubai, best place on earth” rubbish.. doesn’t look so great now does it?

AgnesX · 12/03/2026 16:45

itsthetea · 12/03/2026 16:39

I rather suspect that if bombs fell around here people would leave their pets easily - when you fear for your life many things change

There was loads of footage of Ukrainians taking their pets so I don't think that's fair. A lot of people are very invested in their animals.

I'm surprised that there are that many animals being abandoned as I didn't think that people from the Arab nations really kept pets but that's just an assumption.

Edit: just clocked that the article was about Brits.

Pollqueen · 12/03/2026 16:43

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

AllJoyAndNoFun · 12/03/2026 16:43

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

itsthetea · 12/03/2026 16:39

I rather suspect that if bombs fell around here people would leave their pets easily - when you fear for your life many things change

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