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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:
readforpleasure · 12/03/2026 17:28

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

This! They probably have no choice.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:29

Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:26

just to be clear. If I had to choose flee with my kids or flee with my kids and my dog, I know my limitations. If I was fleeing for my life - what I could Carry, no giaranteed food no where certain to go to, evacuation flight, im disabled physically so I’d already be at a disadvantage - the dog would either be humanely dispatched with a bullet or he would be turned out to take his chances.

Coming to the UK? Most of those things dont apply.

I appreciate for some they just leave with the shelter and let them get on with it. The shelters are bursting at the seams

OP posts:
Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:30

Have you ever been in a bomb @NototerrorismIntheUK ? or a war zone?

Muffsies · 12/03/2026 17:30

Ugh. If the rise in animal euthenasia depresses you, don't look into the capital punishment figures; they've been doubling year-on-year. A high percentage are non-nationals, and usually from third world countires (surprise, surprise). They get trafficed there for work, often along with some drugs, then end up with no work and a death sentence. Of course, no effort is made to catch/stop the trafficers, who are bound to be predominently nationals.

Honestly, you couldn't drag me kicking and screaming to that country. I think anyone who goes there is either utterly ignorant, or they just don't give a single shit about other people (or animals).

PuppiesProzacProsecco · 12/03/2026 17:31

I adore my dogs, treat them like babies. But if it came to my kids lives vs my dogs, there'd be no question of who I'd save. My husband on the other hand...

Daysgo · 12/03/2026 17:32

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

Plenty people leave pets behind in emergencies whether that be hurticanes, flooding, fires etc. id be pretty sure most are left behind due to people being rescued first. I don't think thats wrong tbh. Very sad, devastating maybe for lots of people who have pets but would u save ur dog before ur child?

Frugalgal · 12/03/2026 17:32

Muffsies · 12/03/2026 17:30

Ugh. If the rise in animal euthenasia depresses you, don't look into the capital punishment figures; they've been doubling year-on-year. A high percentage are non-nationals, and usually from third world countires (surprise, surprise). They get trafficed there for work, often along with some drugs, then end up with no work and a death sentence. Of course, no effort is made to catch/stop the trafficers, who are bound to be predominently nationals.

Honestly, you couldn't drag me kicking and screaming to that country. I think anyone who goes there is either utterly ignorant, or they just don't give a single shit about other people (or animals).

Edited

Absolute shithole.

And then you have the likes of Oakshott saying it's a paradise of freedom compared to the UK.

Frugalgal · 12/03/2026 17:33

SerendipityJane · 12/03/2026 16:49

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

Nearly 100 years ago??

Witchesbe · 12/03/2026 17:33

Afaik, you can't just rock up to evacuation flight with pets.
If you travel via different country, due to lack of flights, it affects entry of the pet. Some airlines apparently withdrew pet freight.
It's not as easy as grab and go unfortunately

SmallChildCryingTearsofButter · 12/03/2026 17:33

Frugalgal · 12/03/2026 17:32

Absolute shithole.

And then you have the likes of Oakshott saying it's a paradise of freedom compared to the UK.

The UK government are working hard to prove her right.

Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:34

PuppiesProzacProsecco · 12/03/2026 17:31

I adore my dogs, treat them like babies. But if it came to my kids lives vs my dogs, there'd be no question of who I'd save. My husband on the other hand...

If I had to choose my OH or my kids I’d choose my kids.

id protect my kids over ANYONE.

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 12/03/2026 17:35

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.

Eaten up with hatred 😂😂😂

Or maybe it's just... topical? Quarter of a million Brits live(d) there and the OP literally referred to a news article about this very subject. So maybe have a go at The Guardian first 🤷🏼‍♀️

(Although I must admit I was spaffing off about Dubai / UAE / Qatar long before this war was a twinkle in Trump's eye. As a Dubai fan you must be familiar with their record on women's, migrant workers', LGBT+ and human rights)

Unpaidviewer · 12/03/2026 17:36

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:27

Vaccinations should already be done.

Article states passport requirements for pets are relaxed.

People in Facebook groups who are trying to organise leaving have said you still need a MOCCAE certificate. To get this certificate people are being told you need a flight booked and it seems that the airlines aren't transporting pets at the moment. So if the airlines won't take them what are people supposed to do?

GnusSitOnCanoes · 12/03/2026 17:37

Muffsies · 12/03/2026 17:30

Ugh. If the rise in animal euthenasia depresses you, don't look into the capital punishment figures; they've been doubling year-on-year. A high percentage are non-nationals, and usually from third world countires (surprise, surprise). They get trafficed there for work, often along with some drugs, then end up with no work and a death sentence. Of course, no effort is made to catch/stop the trafficers, who are bound to be predominently nationals.

Honestly, you couldn't drag me kicking and screaming to that country. I think anyone who goes there is either utterly ignorant, or they just don't give a single shit about other people (or animals).

Edited

@Muffsies can you share the capital punishment figures for the UAE? Curious to know what sources you are looking at, which show these climbing numbers.

Blushingm · 12/03/2026 17:38

There’s a burning building. Do you rescue your baby or your dog? You’d pick your baby.

Muffsies · 12/03/2026 17:39

SmallChildCryingTearsofButter · 12/03/2026 17:33

The UK government are working hard to prove her right.

The UK government would not arrest and imprison you for taking a video of air strikes on your phone - go check out the news.

PuppiesProzacProsecco · 12/03/2026 17:39

Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:34

If I had to choose my OH or my kids I’d choose my kids.

id protect my kids over ANYONE.

I think you've misunderstood me. I meant if it was my husband vs my dogs, he might not come out of it so well.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 12/03/2026 17:39

It’s been difficult for people trying to leave Dubai to get flights at short notice, especially considering the attacks on the airport. Whilst there are no quarantine restrictions for pets that doesn’t mean that there are spaces for pets on the flights that are available and may people fleeing probably don’t have passports for their pets. Arranging to travel with a pet is hard to do at short notice, most people want to leave immediately as the situation is uncertain, delaying by a month to sort a passport and flights for pets could mean they are stuck in Dubai if things escalate and flights become near impossible. It’s easy to say people should be bringing their pets but it doesn’t sound like you have considered the actual logistics of doing so.

valentinka31 · 12/03/2026 17:40

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 12/03/2026 17:12

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.

? so are pets just lives and souls that you treat as you like, with no responsibility??

these Dubai residents are all rich, so they should pay to relocate their pets.

Herewegoagainandagainandagain · 12/03/2026 17:40

Lets take out of the conversation how many feel about Dubai in general as this could happen in many places.

I understand the instinct to want to save every life, especially our pets, they are part of our homes and lives and much loved.

But in real crisis situations, people are often forced to make impossible decisions very quickly. Flee the region or stay and potentially, directly face the horror of war.

Sadly, animals do become expendable when the priority has to be getting people and possibly children to safety.

If someone can take their pets with them, that is great. But if they can’t, that doesn’t make them cruel or uncaring, it means they’re doing what they must due to significant risks for their safety. I can imagine many tears have been shed over those pets that had to be left behind as options were limited.

Judging those choices only comes from a place of privilege or from never having experienced the chaos of a true emergency. I judge you OP, and your unrealistic expectations of others, more than them.

PoliteSquid · 12/03/2026 17:42

I adore my pets. But they are pets. When fleeing a war zone my pets would not be my priority and I absolutely would not risk my life for them!!

I have a relative who strongly supported the evacuation flight for dogs from Afghanistan - was very high profile a few years ago. Anyway they said “who cares about the people, those poor dogs” That horrified me and I lost a lot of respect for them as a person after that.

HellsBells13 · 12/03/2026 17:42

It would not enter my head to leave my babies. I rather wait out.

Wetdoggo · 12/03/2026 17:43

PuppiesProzacProsecco · 12/03/2026 17:39

I think you've misunderstood me. I meant if it was my husband vs my dogs, he might not come out of it so well.

Ah. I’d expect oh to support me and our kids - we are a blended family so I mean his and mine.

NototerrorismIntheUK · 12/03/2026 17:43

Daysgo · 12/03/2026 17:32

Plenty people leave pets behind in emergencies whether that be hurticanes, flooding, fires etc. id be pretty sure most are left behind due to people being rescued first. I don't think thats wrong tbh. Very sad, devastating maybe for lots of people who have pets but would u save ur dog before ur child?

Edited

Fair enough. I'm wrong.

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 12/03/2026 17:43

Your adopted city is under attack, and your home government has finally got you a flight, but you can’t take your dog, what do you do?