Mistreatment of animals must be seen as a crime

Readers express surprise over mistreatment of cats. Other topics: rain project, artefacts, debt

Readers express surprise over mistreatment of cats and other pets. Jaime Puebla / The National

I was surprised to learn that the number of cats being killed on Abu Dhabi's roads has been going up steadily (Increasing number of cats killed on UAE roads, December 12).

More disturbing was the claim by a taxi driver, who has been in this country for more than 20 years, that he saw other drivers target cats and try to run them down.

Animals deserve our care and protection. To intentionally target them goes beyond cruelty into the realm of a psychopath. These drivers should be criminally penalised and lose their driving privileges for life.

Elan Faabri, Dubai

It’s very sad that people buy a pet, decide they don’t need it and throw it out on the street where it has no idea what to do.

Kate Hart, Dubai

Breeders and owners should be made responsible for microchipping and neutering cats, so that they can’t just be thrown out, and numbers are controlled.

Sanchita Guha, Dubai

Many benefits of rain project

Rainwater and groundwater are critical for sustainable agriculture and maintaining the supply of potable water for domestic consumption (Rainfall project is vital to the UAE's future water security, December 8). As opposed to desalinated water that is energy intensive and expensive to produce, rainwater is natural and does not involve expenditure.

Another advantage is that rainwater cleans dust in the atmosphere thereby impacting positively on health, not to mention that it cools the atmosphere, making outdoor life in the summer months more tolerable.

With global warming worsening, this region faces extreme heat.

Name withheld by request

That was a very long article that actually said nothing at all.

I’d have loved to learn what they are actually doing, how they are advancing the science to stimulate rainfall, or even why they are doing this.

John Paul, Dubai

Let everyone see the artefacts

I was pleased to read about the magnificent woolly mammoth skeleton on display in Marina Mall (Fossil giant wows shoppers at Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi, December 9).

Less pleasing were the lukewarm appraisals from experts and pundits pleading for the establishment of an “institute” where, presumably, they and their colleagues can earn substantial salaries protecting our heritage. This approach amounts to sequestration of national treasures into dusty vaults where the public will be denied access to them.

It would be much better to give free rein to inspired collectors like Sheikh Sultan, who will display artefacts in an exciting and attractive way in a place where thousands of people can see them.

It is all very well poring over the precise taxonomy and age of fossils in an ivory tower; surely it is much more important to provide a “prehistoric experience” for today’s youngsters?

Name withheld by request

Life here is full of challenges

Regarding the story Financial challenges of UAE expats living the single life (December 12), many families have just one income. People have to get visas for their family, find accommodation with enough space/ bedrooms for family members and try the very daunting task of securing school places. The cost of raising children here is huge.

It seems to me that having only yourself to worry about is infinitely less stressful than bringing your family here.

Katie Blackmore, Abu Dhabi

Slow and steady wins the race. It’s important to control desires. Everything has to be done slowly and systematically. Life is challenging everywhere. So my advice to all single individuals here is that they should think wisely and try to save as much as possible.

Mathew Litty, Dubai

The UAE allows us countless opportunities to set ourselves up for the future, but there are also traps like debt, credit cards, flashy cars and so on.

Bernard Vallely, Dubai