Looking to adopt a furry friend to add to your family? We visit the Capital’s foremost animal rescue facility to find out what’s being done to help animals in need and how you can give them a second chance
Ever wondered where needy creatures end up after being scooped up off the street? Many find their way to the Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter, a large, modern facility located on the grounds of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.
Managed by the Falcon Hospital and funded by the government, this is the only facility authorised as part of the trap, neuter and release programme. Seen a cat with the tip of its ear missing? This means that the animal has been de-sexed and then returned to its original location, cutting down the numbers of stray and feral cats breeding on the Capital’s streets.
Not only does the shelter take in animals from Abu Dhabi itself, but the entire Emirate. Luckily for these animals, the facility is huge and modern, with enough room and expertise to care for these four-legged friends-in-waiting.
Large green spaces abound at the shelter – something we weren’t expecting. As Dr Margit Muller, one of the kind and passionate vets at the shelter explains, this is a wonderful thing for the many dogs here waiting for their forever homes – room to run around!
Dr Muller has an obvious love for animals and as she takes us for a tour through the kennels and cattery she greets many of the animals as if they were her own.
The cattery is a large, clean and comfortable space, and we see many a chilled-out cat lazing around happily as they wait for someone to take them home. Some cats are only at the shelter for a few weeks before being adopted, but a few have been at the shelter for some time.
The cats that aren’t lazing are sitting curiously at their windows, keen for a cuddle and a new home to settle in to. It’s all we can do not to nip in and spend the afternoon snuggling and playing with these needy cuties.
With around 90 to 120 cats treated, checked and ready for adoption each year, there’s bound to be a divine feline that’ll have your heart all a-flutter. From crossbred to purebred (we even spotted a Scottish Fold) they’re all adorable and ready to join a loving family.
As we enter the dog kennels Dr Muller warns us things could get a bit noisy. She wasn’t wrong. We walk in and a friendly canine chorus starts up, which if we could speak dog we’d be guessing translated to ‘pick me! Oh me me me!’.
And we wish we could pick them all. The dogs are all so sweet, some of them seeming to dance with glee as we walk past. Brushing their wet noses across our hands, we get the feeling they’re giving us the once over too!
Despite the friendly welcome we receive from all the prospective pets in the cattery and kennels, some of these animals haven’t had the greatest start in life.
“Some of the animals have had a hard life, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be a wonderful pet,” explains Dr Muller.
Pets that leave the shelter for new homes are vaccinated, microchipped and de-sexed. All prospective owners have to do is choose their fluffy bundle of joy and keep up with the health programme started by the shelter.
And the support doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve got your new pet home the shelter has a dedicated Pet Care division to help you care for your dog or cat.
The Pet Care Centre has a large range of services, from veterinary treatments and consultations to a grooming parlour and comfy boarding facilities. For busy pet owners they can even organise a pick-up or drop-off service, meaning your pet gets the attention they need, even if you’re otherwise indisposed.
The Abu Dhabi Animal shelter makes it easy for pet owners to adopt a new member of the family. Those keen to peruse the available animals can visit the official website www.abudhabianimalshelter.com and check out the animal listings. Once you’ve found your new addition, just head to the shelter to meet your chosen pet.
So before you make that trip to the pet store, spare a thought for the pets at the Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter, they’re just waiting for you to arrive.
Sarah Widdup
