Bella the dog can barely stand after being abused, but she is now receiving care from a Baghdad refuge that hopes to become Iraq's first veterinary clinic for stray animals.
The Baghdad Animal Rescue opened around a week ago, and Bella, a nervous, fox-like dog who raises her muzzle for strokes while still shaking in fear, is in caring hands.
“We are going to care for all kinds of animals and release them when they are well,” says Nazik, 37, who is among the volunteers.
Having a pet is unusual in Iraq, and many of the cats and dogs that roam Baghdad's streets are mistreated.
More than a decade ago, thousands of stray dogs were shot with automatic weapons after municipalities including Baghdad decided that their numbers were too high.
For now, the shelter is home to a handful of animals, including a black cat called Zaatar – “Thyme” in Arabic – blinded in a car accident.
In a corner, Loulou the cat looks around fearfully after losing a paw in an accident.
Volunteers do their best to provide care, comfort and solace to the distressed creatures.
“People report injured animals to us after accidents. We bring them here and treat them,” says Sally Faysal, 27, another volunteer.
If the animals need more specialised care, they are taken to a veterinary surgeon.
“The team members share the cost of the treatment,” Faysal says.
Innocent
The refuge, just west of the Iraqi capital, consists of a main room where the animals receive treatment, along with a storage area and cages.
It could eventually hold several hundred animals, and aims to one day become a veterinary clinic for strays.
But for now, it lacks funding.
The team was able to buy the plot of land for 25 million dinars (about $17,000) thanks to donations.
Nazik says no public funding has been forthcoming “despite all the promotion we have done on social media".
Iraq is trying to emerge from almost two decades of conflict and has been mired in a political and economic crisis, and animal welfare is far from a priority either for most people or for the authorities.
The UN says about a third of the population lives in poverty, despite the country's oil wealth.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, there are three reserves for wild species such as deer, but no facilities to care for urban animals.
Volunteers say that before the refuge opened, their families responded with perplexity and even hostility if they brought an injured animal back to their homes.
Once the dogs and cats have recovered, they are put up for adoption – but will stay on at the refuge if a home can't be found.
“There needs to be an awareness-raising campaign to stop animal abuse,” Nazik says. “They are innocent, after all.”
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If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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THE SPECS
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Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
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