Adopt don't shop: the cats and dogs that need homes in the UAE

We list the animal rescue organisations to adopt from in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail]. 

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

If interested in adopting, contact Red Paw Foundation on Facebook or email [e-mail].

NAME: Scamper. SEX: Female. DATE OF BIRTH: 15.02.2020. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Scamper was found living on a building site with Buttons. She is a shy sweet puppy. Scamper is looking for a family who can build up her confidence in a home environment. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Emily. SEX: Female. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Emily was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. She is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Twain. SEX: Male. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Twain was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. He is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Buttons. SEX: Male. DATE OF BIRTH: 15.01.2020. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Buttons was found living on a building site with Scamper. He is a friendly pup, but nervous in new situations. He is looking for a patient family to help build his confidence. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Maya. SEX: Female. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Maya was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. She is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Eliot. SEX: Male. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Eliot was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. He is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Toni. SEX: Female. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Toni was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. She is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Virginia. SEX: Female. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Virginia was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. She is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Shaw. SEX: Male. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Shaw was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. He is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME:  Flannery. SEX: Female. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Flannery was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. She is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

NAME: Bronte. SEX: Female. DATE OF BIRTH: 03.12.2019. SIZE (when fully grown): Medium. BREED: Mix. INFO: Bronte was born and raised at an equestrian centre and arrived at K9 Friends with eight siblings. She is a well socialised, energetic pup and good with other dogs. For more information on adoption, call the office on 04 887 8739 Saturday, Tuesday, or Thursday 9am-1pm.

Jack is a friendly and playful cat who wants his own home. He is 18 months old. Jack was found as a kitten playing in a car park on his own. He has been in a foster home with other cats and gets on well with them. He just wants his own sofa to sit on now. Jack is neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

JoJo is looking for a quiet home where she can gain a bit of confidence as she is a bit shy around people. She was found on the street when she was about six months old and been in foster for two years. JoJo weighs around 2.5kg and is approximately 3 years old. She is good with other cats but would be happy as an only cat, too. She is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

Suzy is a friendly girl who was found very sick with flu last summer in a feeding colony. She has now recovered and is looking for her forever home. She is a gentle girl who is good with other nice cats. Suzy is around 2 years old and is spayed, microchipped and fully vaccinated. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

Benjy is a lovely gentle boy and he is looking for his forever home after spending months in foster. He is great with other cats and is affectionate and friendly. He could be homed with his brother Billy, too. He is approximately 18 months old, neutered and microchipped and vaccinated. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

Bell and Felix are seeking their forever home. They were rescued as kittens from the streets. They were adopted for one year but returned shortly after. They've been in a foster home for more than a year now. They are approximately 3 years old. They are affectionate, playful and clever. They must be adopted together. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

Eddie is looking for his forever home after being found abandoned on the streets. He was badly matted and had a huge abscess under his arm so needed some urgent treatment. He has now recovered and has settled into his foster home where he mixed nicely with other cats. He is a gentle and sweet natured cat. Eddie loves people, too, and is a cuddly boy. He is approximately 3 years old, FIV positive, FELV negative and is microchipped, neutered and vaccinated. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

Annie was found abandoned in the heat. She's only 10 weeks old and currently in a foster home where she loves cuddles. She will be vaccinated in a couple of weeks and the adopter will need to pay for her spaying. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

Larry has lived outdoors for years but showed up one day with a horrific face wound. He is now living at the vet's but deserves a home of his own. He is microchipped, neutered and vaccinated and he just loves cuddles. Larry is FIV positive and approximately 4 years old. He is great with other cats and loves people. For more information on adoption, visit Jackie’s Cats UAE on Facebook or WhatsApp [phone] or email [e-mail]

Looking for a new furry friend to add to the family? Before looking for a pet shop or breeder, consider adopting one of the many animals looking for their forever homes in the UAE.

If you're not sure where to start, many rescue operations host adoption days where you can meet prospective pets.

Scroll through the gallery above for animals recently available for adoption

“Apart from aiming to find a happy home for these cats and kittens, we hope the adoption days will help create awareness among those who don’t know how many pets desperately need a home,” says Carol Geldenhuys, founder of Kittysnip.

Why you should adopt and not shop

In 2018, a pet shop in Sharjah was fined Dh3,000 after complaints over the conditions in which the animals were kept in. A couple filmed a long-haired cat laying on its side, heat-stricken and heavily panting, prompting many on social media to lodge a complaint with the Sharjah Municipality.

Another shop in Dubai had its animal licence suspended and eventually closed because it sold sick puppies that were ill with parvovirus because they were never vaccinated. Some of the dogs died, while other pet owners had to pay thousands of dirhams in vet bills for treatment.

Meanwhile, at adoption days, all pets that are old enough will be microchipped, vaccinated, dewormed and spayed/neutered ensuring that they are healthy. Younger kittens and puppies will also undergo the same process, with the money being used from the adoption fees.

"Adopt don't shop," says Daniela Rauso. "You cannot buy unconditional love."

Healthy cats and dogs have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, which is why people need to be sure they are ready for such a long-term commitment. “We not only want to inform people about the multiple benefits of adoption but also the commitment involved when taking on an abandoned or neglected cat or kitten,” Geldenhuys says.

Your guide to adopting a cat or dog in the UAE

Here’s a list of organisations that host adoption days. However, due to the coronavirus, it is better to get directly in touch with an organisation.

Kittysnip Adoption Days

What: Kittens and cats

Where: Dubai Garden Centre, Dubai

When: Fridays, 11am to 5pm

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Animal Specialist Clinic 

What: Kittens and cats

Where: Animal Specialist Clinic, Dubai

When: Inquire on their Facebook page

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K9 Friends Dubai

What: Puppies and dogs

Where: Shelter in Jebel Ali, Dubai

When: Call for an appointment, 04 887 8739 (open Saturday to Thursday, 9am to 1pm)

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Pet Adoptions - JVC

What: Kittens and cats

Where: Furry Friends in Jumeirah Village Circle

When: Fridays, 1pm to 7pm. Inquire on their Facebook page

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Adopt-a-Cat UAE

What: Kittens and cats

Where: FitLifeVet, Abu Dhabi

When: Second Friday of the month
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Rescue of Abu Dhabi

What: Kittens and cats

Where: Pet Oasis Abu Dhabi

When: January 4, 2pm to 5pm

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Amanda's Animal Rescue UAE

What: Puppies and dogs

Where: Paws and Whiskers, Al Quoz 4, Dubai

When: Inquire on Facebook page

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Red Paw Foundation

What: Kittens, cats and dogs

Where: Thejamjar, Al Serkal Avenue and House of Paws, Al Quoz Industrial Area

When: Check dates and timings on Facebook and Instagram

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Stray Dogs Center UAQ

What: Puppies and dogs

Where: Inquire on their Facebook page

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38 Smiles

What: Dogs and cats

Where: Inquire on their Facebook page

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SNIFF

What: Puppies, dogs, cats and kittens

Where: K9 Central Kennels, Dubai Investment Park

When: Inquire on their Facebook page

Why street animals need TNR 

Getting a pet spayed or neutered is also of utmost importance. The UAE has an abundance of animals and, unfortunately, there are not enough homes for all of them.

"Sadly, for every cat we rescue at least another 100 suffer or die on the streets," says Geldenhuys.

Read more: The long read: the UAE's street cat epidemic

For a lot of welfare groups, TNR (trap, neuter and return) is top priority because it stops street animals from multiplying further.

“It’s no secret that there are more cats in Dubai than we know what to do with. An average female cat will have between two and three litters a year, of four to six kittens per litter,” she adds.

“In a bid to reduce the street cat population, we are continuously working to trap stray cats, have them neutered/spayed, treated for wounds and either adopted or released."