Adoption is the best way to acquire a pet

A reader provides a reason not to go to pet shops., a child's view of the world , psychologists and Pokemon.

A young reader says he first learnt of the Brussels airport attack on social media. Yorick Jansens / Reuters

I refer to UAE activists call for ban on sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops (July 18).

I bought my husky from a pet shop. At the time, somebody else wanted to buy the dog but the owner would not sell it to them, knowing that they were going to train it to fight.

So, yes, they must be careful who buys the animals.

However, there are so many abandoned pets that one should adopt from a shelter. Chips should be mandatory for all pets so their owner can be traced if abuse or negligence is suspected.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

We adopted our cat from Jebel Ali Cats Rescue in Dubai.

We paid Dh500, as she came to us neutered, microchipped and with her vaccines up to date. To do all this would have cost us more.

The lady who was looking after our cat also gave us a week’s supply of cat food.

SM Ange, Sharjah

Specialists want work guarantee

This is a response to your story, UAE in dire need for psychologists (July 18).

As long as health insurers aren’t willing to pay for their services, psychologists won’t come here because there won’t be enough work.

Insurers need to stop opting out of treating basic health. An infected tooth can lead to heart and lung problems. Dental care is still cheaper than intensive care – and I have seen two patients die from abscess bacteria migrating. Insurers need to think long term.

Name withheld by request

There is no need for psychologists since there is plenty of entertainment and retail therapy available in the UAE.

G Priestley, Dubai

Pokemon are chasing data

I have some advice for those people who want to play Pokeman Go (It's all Go in Abu Dhabi: What Pokemon Go taught me about the city, July 17).

Think about the permissions you give. The app requires an excessive number of permissions on a user’s device, including the ability to read your contacts, find accounts on your device and access your camera. The app even requires full access to a user’s Google account.

Secondly, the game’s privacy policy contains such gems as: “We may disclose any information about you (or your authorised child) that is in our possession or control to government or law enforcement officials or private parties.”

Private parties? What could possibly go wrong?

James English, Dubai

I don’t play Pokemon Go and I don’t want to play it. I have no interest in this app.

Asyah Mel, Dubai

A boy’s view of our world

As a child, I have been shocked and traumatised by various images and articles in newspapers and on social media.

Terrorism, extremism, refugees … chaos is devouring everything I see.

On social media, I read about the attack on Brussels airport; the newspaper said terrorists were recruiting young gullible minds through Facebook; at school, we were asked to pray for the deceased in the Peshawar school massacre.

I am just a 10-year-old boy whose knowledge of these horrifying events comes through otherwise normal means of communication.

I wonder what the very word “humanity” has come to mean. To kill each other mercilessly? To wreak terror on the youngest of our kind?

Who are we to call ourselves the smartest species on the planet? I say we aren’t.

The question to ask is: “What have we, children and adults alike, done that is helpful and shows our concern towards someone in need?”

Perhaps you will admit to yourself that the world has become callous and selfish. The important thing to realise is that terror is not the reason for our existence, peace is.

If we believe in the end of terror and the start of peace, so it shall be. We must remember that one cannot extinguish fire using fire itself, and we cannot wipe out violence using violence.

We must unite to eliminate the evil that has been the root cause of great destruction and desperation in our lives.

Aaditya, Dubai

Kashmir needs a lasting solution

Your story Indian troops come under fire for devastating use of pellet guns to quell Kashmir protests (July 18) is disturbing.

Pellet guns should be banned. There are other, non-lethal ways of crowd control. A political solution for Kashmir should be found as soon as possible.

Iffat Malik, Dubai