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Attacks across the UAE since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran have seen thousands of expats flee the Gulf.
11:36, Mon, Mar 9, 2026 Updated: 13:55, Mon, Mar 9, 2026
Rescuers have seen a surge in the number of abandoned pets being found (Image: Getty)
Animal rescuers in Dubai say pets are being abandoned on the streets as panicked expats rush to leave the city. Charities and volunteer groups claim they have seen a sharp rise in animals being left behind in recent days, with dogs, cats and even rabbits reportedly discovered wandering residential areas or tied up outside buildings.
Rescuers say the situation has escalated quickly as some foreign residents scramble to depart the United Arab Emirates (UAE), leaving animal welfare groups struggling to cope with the sudden influx. Vets in the UAE’s biggest city say they have seen a rise in demand for euthanasia as panicked expats rush to leave.
Pets have allegedly been left abandoned (Image: -)
The war in Iran has brought chaos to the region (Image: Getty)
An animal rescuer found a cat and her four kittens dumped outside their house with a written note on the crate saying: “I’m travelling back to my country because of the situation here,” according to The Sun.
It added: “I tried to call but no one picked up, so I got to know your location. I’m so sorry for keeping (them) in front of your gate.”
One rescuer said the number of reports had surged over a short period of time, leaving organisations inundated with requests.
She added: “When the war started vets were getting calls about euthanising pets which is disgusting.
“People are asking shelters to take back fostered and adopted dogs.
“I’ve heard about a good few hundred people who want to give their pets up — including a British family and their bulldog."
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Some in the city have taken to social media following the rise in abandoned pets to say that they would not consider doing the same thing.
One person wrote on Facebook: “I won’t leave without my three dogs. For me it is better we all died together than leaving them behind in my worst case scenario.”
Another added: “We had to sign company policy that if we were evacuated we would leave pets behind. No ways.”
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A third Government charter flight to bring Britons home from the region was due to leave Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, just before 7pm UK time, and there are plans to charter a commercial flight from Dubai early this week.
More than 32,000 British nationals have now left the region, which includes the Gulf countries as well as Israel and Lebanon, by air since March 1.
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