ABU DHABI // Vets in Abu Dhabi are warning pet owners after a case of suspected torture and the ritual killing of a kitten was reported.
Little Junior was a six-week old stray kitten taken in by Patricia Assaad, from Lebanon, who regularly feeds stray cats in her community.
Ms Assaad returned from work on Sunday to find the kitten – one of a litter of three – laid out on the grass near her home with its throat slit and symbols carved into its back legs.
The incident horrified the community near Abu Dhabi City Gates.
“I was in a total state of shock,” Ms Assaad said, who works in marketing.
“I contacted the police, who arrived quickly. They too were horrified, but said there was little they could do as there were no witnesses.
“Nobody saw what happened, or anyone acting suspiciously, which is surprising as there are many windows around. We’re not sure if the kitten was taken away from the area to be attacked, then returned later.”
Ms Assaad took the still-warm body of Little Junior to the emergency Australian Veterinary Hospital in Khalifa City, who examined him.
Vets assessed the wounds and concluded that they were not inflicted by another animal.
“It looks like whoever did this was trying to write the number 10,” Ms Assaad said, describing the wound on the cat’s rear legs. “It is difficult to draw a zero with a knife but that’s what it looks like.
“It was hard to tell if [the drawing] had been done before or after the cat was killed. This is the sort of thing you read about, but you never think it will happen to your pet.”
Dr Susan Aylott, a vet and volunteer with Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi, said pet owners should keep a close eye on their animals.
“Someone who goes to such barbaric lengths to cause pain and suffering like this needs to be stopped,” she said.
Resident Mohamad Arabe, from Lebanon, said he found the cat “with its throat slit and part of its neck missing”.
“Something like that is just cruel and forbidden. It was a horrific scene, and this is the first time something like this happens in the compound. I am, of course, worried about something like that happening again.”
He said he would not be letting his own cat outside by himself.
“I live in a villa, so if the cat wants to go outside, he goes out with me but with a leash,” he said.
The attack had the hallmarks of a number of mutilations on animals across London this year.
The decapitation of cats began in Croydon, south London, and continued for months, spreading across the English counties of Kent and Surrey. Fifty cases were reported.
nwebster@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Dana Moukhallati
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All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
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MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.