A cat in Dubai that was tethered to a brick and left without water or access to food died, rescuers said.
The stray, which had been called Hero, was given a slim chance of survival by vets after being brought in suffering from severe dehydration, a high fever, broken tail and a bad infection.
A man working in Dubai Investments Park found the cat on Monday, curled up in a corner with its head resting on an empty feeding tray.
Its paw was tightly wrapped in a strip of plastic that was connected to a brick.
The man who found the cat initially thought it was dead, but asked for help on Facebook after discovering it was still breathing.
Alena Smirnova, 36, from Russia, arrived within minutes and took the cat to the vet, where it died on Wednesday.
Ms Smirnova said she was devastated by the news.
“There is pain in my chest as if I lost a close one,” she said. “I was in the vet the day before he died, checking on him in those few minutes they allowed us to see him.
“He opened his eyes for a moment, and my eyes met his eyes. It wasn’t just an eye contact, I saw his soul. A betrayed soul.
“I will never forget his eyes. And I will continue to help animals always, and try to change this cruel world with love and care.”
Mia Esat, a rescuer in Dubai who paid for Hero's treatment, said he died after suffering seizures and organ failure.
“Our hearts are broken and we are left devastated,” she wrote in a post on Facebook.
“We had such high hopes for him and couldn’t wait to start to get to know him. I’m sorry we couldn’t do any more in the attempt to save him.”
Animal abuse is a crime in the UAE and carries heavy penalties.
Anyone found guilty of abusing or illegally hunting, buying or selling animals faces a fine of Dh200,000 ($54,460) and a one-year prison sentence.
Members of the public can report possible cases of cruelty through the official Ministry of Climate Change and Environment portal.
Injured cats – in pictures
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British resident Tanya-Jane Carter says her cat Samuel suffered a painful tail injury and several burns after he climbed into the engine bay of a neighbour’s car about two years ago. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter -
Samuel was discovered only when the neighbour returned home after a 30-minute drive. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter -
Samuel, who was traced back to his owner using his microchip, was in a bad state and his tail had to be partly amputated because it was severely injured. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter -
Samuel was badly traumatised by the accident. Courtesy: Tanya-Jane Carter -
An injured cat rescued by Dubai resident Fawaz Kanaan. He has been rescuing cats in the UAE for more than a decade and says it is common for animals to be hurt after taking refuge in engine bays. Courtesy: Fawaz Kanaan -
Cats often hide in larger vehicles such as SUVs because they have more space in the engine bay, says Fawaz Kanaan. Courtesy: Fawaz Kanaan -
Dubai resident Sabrina Sandolo recently discovered a cat had climbed into the engine bay of her vehicle. Courtesy: Sabrina Sandolo -
The cat hides inside the engine bay of a SUV. Courtesy: Sabrina Sandolo
