ASaluki was found tied to a lamppost in Dubaiso tightly that the collar had sliced into the animal's neck. Nearby, boxes of kittens had been left at the gates of an already overcrowded shelter. In the desert between the UAE and Oman, two dogs were shot dead after border authorities refused to let them through.

These are among the scenes reported by rescue workers since Iranian missile and drone strikes began hitting the UAE on 1 March 2026. Veterinary clinics across Dubai say requests to euthanise healthy pets have surged as fleeing owners choose to leave their animals behind.

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Claire Hopkins, a British volunteer from Newport, Wales, who runs a dog rescue network in the UAE, toldLBCthat abandonment accelerated the momentairspace closures began trapping residents. Many pet owners had never prepared the paperwork required for international travel with animals. A dog being taken to the UK, for instance, needs a rabies vaccination followed by a three-week minimum wait.

'I'm sad to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting,' Hopkins said. 'Most vets would pass them on to us, but we're already full.'

Anso Stander, a South African national who operates the Six Hounds animal sanctuary in the UAE, described receiving27 messages in a single day from pet owners looking to surrender animals. Some told her directly that if no one could take them, the pets would be left on the street. 'We're talking about some people with 20 cats who are trying to leave the country,' Stander told LBC.

An anonymous volunteer toldThe Telegraphthey had tracked roughly 200 posts across WhatsApp and Facebook groups showing dogs abandoned and tied to poles. The volunteer said some vets had confirmed owners were requesting euthanasia for healthy animals to avoid relocation costs.

K9 Friends Dubai, one of the emirate's best-known dog rehoming organisations, said on social media that it had been 'overwhelmed with the number of calls for abandoned puppies or owners wanting to leave behind pets.'

The Barking Lot, a pet boarding service, reported hundreds more animals than usual being left in its care.

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Source: International Business Times UK