Animal rescue group offers Dh10,000 reward for information about attack on two dogs

An animal rescue group is offering a Dh10,000 reward to help find those responsible for a "heinous" act of animal cruelty in Umm Al Quwain in which a dog had its front paw chopped off.

Members of Stray Dogs Centre UAQ told of their horror after finding the dog in "immense" pain last week.

They said the stricken animal, who they named Roman, was subjected to abuse on "another level" beyond anything they had witnessed.

Another dog, given the name Apollo, was found nearby with multiple cuts that are also thought to have been caused deliberately.

The dogs were discovered in the industrial area of Umm Al Quwain city after the centre received reports on Thursday evening of an injured animal.

“We were told his paw was missing,” said Amirah William, the centre's owner.

“We sent our team, and that’s when Apollo was spotted as well with lacerations to his head, face and body.

“We have witnessed many heinous acts of abuse in the past, but the severity of Roman’s case is on another level.”

The centre said on its Facebook page the case was “one of the most upsetting rescues we have ever done”.

“These abusers need to be found and these cases thoroughly investigated. This type of abuse speaks volumes about the evil we live amongst,” the group said.

Roman was subsequently diagnosed as suffering from septicaemia, which is blood poisoning caused by bacteria.

Despite the incident, which is thought to have happened early in the week, Roman is described as a “friendly and trusting boy”.

Vets will deal with his septicaemia and, once his condition is stabilised, will fully amputate his front right leg, which was cut off below the knee in the attack.

Ms William said animal cruelty should be reported through the official Ministry of Climate Change and Environment portal and cases will then be referred back to the relevant emirate.

In July, 2019 the ministry launched a service where residents can report animal cruelty.

The online biosecurity early notification system allows people to report incidents related to infectious animal diseases and breaches of welfare laws, including cruelty and illegal possession of dangerous animals.

The government said that cases involving the torture and abuse of animals, or actions “causing [their] exhaustion” would attract a Dh1,000 fine.

The centre has reported the incident.

However Ms William said that, without witnesses or CCTV footage, “finding the perpetrator is almost impossible”.

"Therefore we are offering a Dh10,000 reward sponsored by one of our supporters in the hope that it may motivate someone to speak up," said Ms William.

While Apollo suffered multiple cuts, the centre said he was lucky not to have been seriously hurt and his lacerations are expected to heal easily.

The two dogs will eventually be available for adoption and Ms William said that, as is often seen in cases of cruelty, people have already come forward offering them homes.

There have been previous cases in Umm Al Quwain’s industrial area where stray dogs are thought to have been injured deliberately.

As reported in The National, in November last year the centre found a dog in the area with a broken spine and other injuries.

Earlier this month a cat in Abu Dhabi died after being shot, while others were also hurt.

Anyone with information on the incident in Umm Al Quwain is asked to contact the stray dog centre on 050 993 8032.