Animal rescuers have previously said they were struggling to keep up with the number of animals being abandoned due to job losses and salary cuts related to the pandemic.. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
Animal rescuers have previously said they were struggling to keep up with the number of animals being abandoned due to job losses and salary cuts related to the pandemic.. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
Animal rescuers have previously said they were struggling to keep up with the number of animals being abandoned due to job losses and salary cuts related to the pandemic.. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
Animal rescuers have previously said they were struggling to keep up with the number of animals being abandoned due to job losses and salary cuts related to the pandemic.. Rich-Joseph Facun / The Nati

Cat killed with air gun and others injured in spate of attacks in Abu Dhabi


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

A cat died after being shot with an air gun in Abu Dhabi, while others were wounded in an apparent spate of attacks on the animals, a vet said.

Rescuers discovered the body of the stray in the bushes on the Corniche two weeks ago.

It did not initially appear to have any obvious injuries, but closer inspection revealed a small wound on the cat’s shoulder.

Rescuer David Ashwin took the white and ginger cat to the vet for a post-mortem examination, which revealed it had been shot.

This is new. If we don't report it, maybe it will happen more and more

“This is not the first time a cat has been [intentionally] killed,” said Mr Ashwin, who is from India and has lived in the UAE for 11 years.

"In October there was a cat thrown on a bench," he said.

“There was blood all over the bench, also on the Corniche. There is very gruesome stuff happening here.”

The UAE has strict laws governing animal abuse.

Anyone caught abusing, or illegally hunting, buying or selling animals faces a fine of up to Dh200,000 and a one-year prison term under Federal Law 18, which was issued in 2016.

Mr Ashwin and a friend submitted the paperwork to the police with a view to opening a case of animal abuse.

“They have taken things down in writing, but there is no case registered yet,” he said.

"We have submitted the photos and the veterinary report."

Mr Ashwin said another cat that lived in the same colony appears to also have been woundedut he had not yet been able to catch it to take it in for treatment.

The cat, which died from its injuries, was discovered in a bush on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy David Ashwin
The cat, which died from its injuries, was discovered in a bush on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy David Ashwin

“She keeps running and hiding,” he said.

“She is limping a lot and not able to use her leg. She was near the other cat, and it happened at the same time.”

Dr Ahmad Almanasreh, a veterinarian with Pure Life Veterinary Clinic Abu Dhabi, who carried out the postmortem examination, urged Mr Ashwin to submit a case to police.

He was aware of another cat that lived in the Mina Port area that was shot about two months ago. It survived after treatment.

"If we don't report it, maybe it will happen more and more," he said.

Another veterinary surgery in Abu Dhabi also recorded an increase in cases of abuse in the city, in addition to more animals being abandoned.

"We are seeing more cases of abuse," said Dr Susan Aylott, a partner at Animalia.

“People need to be educated – it should be part of the school curriculum,” she said.

The surgery has established programmes of its own to promote awareness, she said.

“We have an animal welfare club and friends of Animalia programme with many of the young ambassadors helping to design educational material to educate others and even set up their own animal welfare clubs.”

Animal rescuers previously said they were struggling to keep up with the number of animals being abandoned as a result of  hardships related to the pandemic.

"At the clinic, we have more cats and dogs up for adoption after being abandoned," Dr Aylott said.

Rescuers desperately need help, she said.

“Measures to help abandonment could be airlines giving free or 50 per cent off cargo costs for any animal rescued from the UAE,” she said.

How to report a beggar

Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)

Dubai – Call 800243

Sharjah – Call 065632222

Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372

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Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces

 

  • Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
  • Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
  • Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
  • Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
  • Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


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How will Gen Alpha invest?

Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.

“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.

Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.

He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.

Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

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