Why rescuing a UAE street dog was the best decision of my life

Frida's journey from an Ajman building site to my loving home

Farah Andrews taking Frida home for the first time on the day she was adopted in September 2020. Farah Andrews / The National

It’s been 18 months since I brought Frida home, the two of us wide-eyed as I drove us away from a dog shelter in Al Warsan industrial village unsure exactly what kind of dog owner I was going to be, but certain I was going to give it my very best shot.

As is the case for owners of most stray dogs, I have few concrete facts about Frida’s early days. Vets told me she was between one and two years old when she was found living on a building site in Ajman; she had a ripped ear, was underweight, shy and had definitely had one, if not two, litters of puppies.

Before and after: Frida when she was found in September 2020 and now.

Fast forward a year and a half, she is a confident and happy pup, who grew accustomed to sleeping on the sofa impressively quickly, charms strangers when they walk past her and has every family member wrapped around her little paws.

So, it feels fitting that on the week of Valentine’s Day, I am here writing a love letter to my little dog, and rescue dogs in general. I have no hesitation in saying that adopting her was the best decision of my life.

Last week, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, took over the care of Grace, a saluki-cross who had been shot with an air gun. In January, Bubbles Pet Rescue group shared images of Grace on social media, detailing the way she had been mistreated, but they had a happy ending for the pup when the Dubai Crown Prince visited.

Sheikh Hamdan shared a video of meeting Grace on his Instagram Story. "Come here ... you are a good girl," he says as he greets her in a veterinary clinic kennel. She then starts walking and wagging her tail and he says: "You're happy. You're in safe hands now."

The Crown Prince is one of countless international royals with a well-documented affection for dogs. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is known for her collection of corgis, but the family also has a history of rescuing pooches. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is a patron of London’s Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and has re-homed two Jack Russell terriers through the charity, Beth and Bluebell; and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had rescue dogs, Guy and Bogart, before she married into the royal family. Japan’s Princess Aiko considers her mix-breed dog Yuri as “a younger sister and close friend”, according to an aide.

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016, was also a vocal dog lover. His favourite pet was said to be Thong Daeng, a puppy who was sent to the palace after the king took an interest in the treatment of Thailand’s street dogs. He loved the dog so much he wrote a biography for her, describing her as "a common dog who is uncommon".

I have not quite got to the stage where I am writing Frida’s biography, but give me a few years and I am sure I will have enough material to give it a try.

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  Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, with a family dog in a throwback post shared by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Instagram / Faz3

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  Baloo, Sheikh Hamdan's dog, is seen here being held by Mohammed bin Ahmed Jaber Al Harbi, known as Maj, the son of the Crown Prince's friend Ahmed Jaber Al Harbi. Instagram / Faz3

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  Queen Elizabeth II with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials in 1980. Reuters

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  Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, with a newborn Prince George in August 2013. Tilly the retriever, a Middleton family pet, and Lupo, the couple's late cocker spaniel, can also be seen. AFP

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  Japan's Crown Princess Masako and her husband Crown Prince Naruhito with their pet dog Yuri at Togu Palace in Tokyo in December 2018. AFP

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  Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Ingrid Alexandra pose with their labradoodle dogs Milly Kakao and Muffins Krakebolle during their holiday on the island of Dvergsoya, near Kristiansand, in July 2020. AFP

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  Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan relaxing with his dog circa 1960. Getty Images

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  Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, carries her Jack Russell dog Bluebell as she arrives at Battersea Dog and Cats Home on December 12, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

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  Prince Charles with his labrador retriever in 1978. Shutterstock

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  This undated photo shows Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016, and his dogs at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. AFP

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  Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and Prince Alexander with Siri in 2016. Erika Gerdemark / Royal Court of Sweden

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  Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, with her rescue dogs, Guy and Bogart. Meghan Markle / Instagram

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  Dutch royals King Willem Alexander, Queen Maxima, Princess Ariane, Princess Amalia and Princess Alexia have two black labradors, including Nala. AFP

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  Queen Margrethe of Denmark and the late Prince Consort Henrik pose with their dachshund dogs Evita and Celimene in August 2001. AFP

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  Edward, Duke of Windsor, and his wife, Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, arrive with pet pugs at Saint-Lazare train station in Paris, in May 1960. AFP

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  King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia with their pet dog, Brandy, in December 2019. Sara Friberg / Royal Court of Sweden

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  A young Queen Victoria and her dog Dash, painted by George Hayter. Royal Collection Trust / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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  Queen Alexandra of Denmark with two of her pet dogs in 1901. Getty Images

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  Zara Phillips with Sway, the boxer. Getty Images

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  Princess Anne has owned a number of bull terrier dogs. She is seen here driving her Land Rover Discovery as she attends the Gatcombe Horse Trials at Gatcombe Park in March 2019. Getty Images

Before adopting a dog, I never underestimated the way it would change my life. I knew it was a serious responsibility – in the sense of both time and money. I did, however, underestimate how much I would want my life to change. She is the first consideration when it comes to any travel plans, I can safely say I am more of a homebody than ever before and, when I do go out, I’m happier in a dog-friendly cafe (Social Company in Zabeel House The Greens is a personal favourite, and one of the few places in Dubai that allows dogs inside).

In the past few years, the UAE has become a much more dog-friendly country. Sure, you still can’t walk your pet around Dubai Marina’s Marina Walk, but communities around the Emirates have built dog parks, countless cafes and restaurants allow dogs to sit outside, hotels have started to accommodate pets and Ras Al Khaimah has branded itself as the dog-friendly emirate with its new Ras Al-K9 campaign, which lists the hotels, restaurants, hikes, beaches and parks where dogs are welcome.

Frida with her friend Pepsi, a fellow UAE rescue dog, on a hike in Ras Al Khaimah. Farah Andrews / The National

In Ras Al Khaimah alone, the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort, the BM Beach Resort, Banan Beach Resort and Bear Grylls Explorers Camp all welcome four-legged guests, as does the JA Hatta Fort Hotel in Dubai, which I recently checked out with Frida and her best pal Pepsi, who both adapted to the room service life at great speed.

As I write this, there are countless dogs in the UAE looking for homes. Rescue groups and shelters, including K9 Friends, Bubbles Pet Rescue and Fujairah’s Animals and Us, all work to keep homeless dogs safe, promoting animal welfare across the country. The UAQ Stray Dogs Centre cares for 780 dogs, 15 cats and four donkeys in its shelter houses, made possible by the centre’s staff of 16 and about 100 volunteers, Amirah William, founder of the centre, confirmed. A total of 632 dogs were adopted from the UAQ Stray Dogs Centre last year, she says.

A conversation I had with my very pragmatic dad in the weeks after I adopted Frida went a little bit like this: “You have just made moving back to the UK a lot more expensive,” he said with a sigh. I reminded him that I have no immediate plans to move anywhere and can start a Frida fund to cover any eventual moving costs. “Have you thought about vet costs?” was the next question, to which I reminded him I had considered my canine finances. He then played with her for a few minutes and said, “I suppose it doesn’t matter, you have saved a little soul.”

There is no doubt that if I hadn’t adopted Frida, she would have charmed the next person who came in to meet her – she has the eyes – but I will always be glad that I got there first.

K9 Friends and UAQ Stray Dogs Centre dogs who are currently up for adoption:

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  Ballet, aged 2, is a small-medium mixed breed who was found heavily pregnant. She gave birth to healthy pups. Ballet is very affectionate and always wants attention. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Pavlova, aged 8, is a medium-sized mix breed, described as a 'lazy gentleman'. He does not like men and is not suited to a home with young children. He loves the water and would make a loyal companion. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Gayle is a female mixed breed, aged 2. She is house trained and has completed a puppy school course. Gayle is very friendly with dogs and people, is energetic and loves her walks. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Bruce is a male mixed breed, aged 1. He is full of love for anyone he meets and is good with other dogs. A medium-sized dog, he enjoys playing and is full of energy. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Dolly, aged 9, can be sweet and naughty, so needs an experienced human to enforce rules. She does not like strangers and is not suited to a home with children, but is great on the lead. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Neha is a female medium-sized dog. Suited for either villas or apartments, she is good on the lead and being in lifts, riding in cars and being among crowded groups. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Mel is a female pup aged 6 months, who will be medium-sized when she is fully grown. She is very affectionate, active and loves to play, and can live with other dogs. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Raffie, aged 1, is a medium-sized male mix breed. He has come from a home and is used to living with other dogs. Photo: K9 Friends

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  Bebe is a puppy aged 4 months, currently at the UAQ Stray Dogs Centre. The little mixed breed is potty trained, fully vaccinated and microchipped. Photo: UAQ Stray Dogs Centre

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  Baker is a puppy aged 5 months, currently with the UAQ Stray Dogs Centre. Baker will grow into a large dog and is potty trained, fully vaccinated and microchipped. Photo: UAQ Stray Dogs Centre

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  Proud pup Sultan, aged almost 1, is a UAE mixed breed, is potty trained and fully vaccinated. Photo: UAQ Stray Dogs Centre