Sarah Provenzani with her cat Gordon, who resembles an Arabian wild cat. Photo: Sarah Provenzani
Sarah Provenzani with her cat Gordon, who resembles an Arabian wild cat. Photo: Sarah Provenzani
Sarah Provenzani with her cat Gordon, who resembles an Arabian wild cat. Photo: Sarah Provenzani
Sarah Provenzani with her cat Gordon, who resembles an Arabian wild cat. Photo: Sarah Provenzani

Calls for campaign to neuter stray animals as rescuers struggle to cope


Daniel Bardsley
  • English
  • Arabic

Animal rescuers have called for an official programme to neuter stray animals following reports of an increase in the number of strays.

Volunteers said that rising costs made it harder for them to continue their work to sterilise strays.

One resident who has rescued many cats suggested that a modest tax on visas could fund a network of animal shelters.

Fawaz Kanaan, a Dubai resident who rescues and treats stray cats, said his efforts had become “more difficult because so many new cats are around”.

I get many cases of cats being dumped, mutilated and left on the streets to die
Aileen Velazquez,
volunteer

“I used to spay and neuter more than three cats a week. No one is donating like before and vets are increasing the price. My TNR [trap, neuter, return] campaign is on hold,” he said.

“There’s no control of these strays at all. The numbers are increasing daily.”

Calls have regularly been made for an official state-funded TNR campaign, as such initiatives are widely regarded as the most humane and effective approach to managing stray animal populations as they prevent the numbers of strays from increasing.

By contrast, putting cats and other strays to sleep is often seen as ineffective because other animals move into the area.

Rescuer Aileen Velazquez, who lives in Ajman, said she had seen an increase in the number of stray cats being deliberately attacked. She is often called to rescue cats, many of them injured.

“This is a very important subject. Here in Ajman, especially in Nuaimia 3 [neighbourhood], I get many cases of cats being dumped, mutilated and left on the streets to die,” she said.

Fujairah animal shelter overwhelmed by dumped pets: in pictures

“At the moment I have around 60 cats, with one room full of special needs cats, and many cages of cats under medication.”

Special needs cats include animals that have lost eyes or had limbs amputated. Rescuing, treating and looking after so many animals is, she said, “very stressful”.

Sarah Provenzani, a 24-year-old Ras Al Khaimah resident, who has rescued a number of cats, has suggested that a levy on residence visas could fund a network of shelters across the country.

Ms Provenzani said the suggested tax, Dh10 on a two-year visa and Dh15 on a three-year visa, was less than the price of a coffee.

“It’s a very, very cheap amount that would change the life of these animals,” she said. “It’s just Dh5 per year added to the cost of a visa.

“The idea would be that every rescuer or volunteer could bring an animal for free and the centre would take care of the animal.”

Treatment at the centres would be cheaper than at private clinics, which would be helped by asking veterinary students to assist with care.

It was appropriate that overseas residents or their employers should contribute to the fund because, Ms Provenzani said, part of the stray animal problem is because often residents dump pets when they leave the country.

Ms Provenzani, a marketing student from Italy, has also developed a website, petmergency.org, for people to post details of stray animals in need of help.

The site aims to include a GPS function so that people could locate an animal they were looking to assist. Work on the site began a few months ago, and Ms Provenzani is continuing to optimise it before hopefully making it live.

Ms Provenzani, who moved to the UAE in 2019, six years after her father, David, an honorary professor at Amity University in Dubai, came to the country, has eight rescue cats, including Gordon, a tabby who resembles the Arabian wildcat or Gordon’s wildcat.

“Once I adopted them, I realised they’re so similar to babies,” Ms Provenzani said. “They’re so cute, they need love, they need care.”

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Need to know

The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours. 

The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.

When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend  are  January-February and September-October.  Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.

Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.

MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

SPECS

Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR

Engine: 5.7-litre V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 362hp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

Crops that could be introduced to the UAE

1: Quinoa 

2. Bathua 

3. Amaranth 

4. Pearl and finger millet 

5. Sorghum

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It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Scores in brief:

Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).

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Places to go for free coffee
  • Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day. 
  • La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
  • Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
  • Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
The Details

Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5 

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The five new places of worship

Church of South Indian Parish

St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch

St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch

St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais

Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais

 

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Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Updated: June 26, 2022, 9:42 AM`