Dogs tied to poles, healthy cats euthanised: Dubai expats abandon pets as they flee war

Volunteers describe finding pets left to fend for themselves—some tethered in public spaces without food or water. (Representational image: Unsplash)

As Iranian missile strikes spread instability across the Gulf, Dubai’s expat community is fleeing the city—and leaving behind a disturbing trail of abandoned pets. According to Metro, veterinarians and shelters have reported a surge in residents attempting to euthanise healthy animals or simply releasing them onto the streets as they scramble to escape the conflict, The Metro reported.

Local rescue groups, including K9 Friends Dubai, say they are “overwhelmed” with reports of deserted pets—from dogs tied to lamp posts to cats left in crates with handwritten notes explaining their owners’ abrupt departure. Shelters are now at breaking point, unable to accommodate the surge. A pet boarding service, The Barking Lot, told The Telegraph that they are operating beyond capacity as calls come in “hundreds more than usual.”

Pet owners abandoning their dogs & cats as they flee Dubai

In one day alone, I had 27 messages”, she said. “They don't know where they're going to put the animals because they're leaving the country, so people have been telling us very politely and discreetly that if we cannot… pic.twitter.com/zyXStnSbGe — dominic dyer (@domdyer70) March 5, 2026

An animal shelter volunteer added: "Some vets have even confirmed that owners are coming in to euthanise healthy pets because they don’t want to deal with relocation costs or paperwork."

Meanwhile, Dubai Municipality has recently launched the ‘Ehsan Stations’ initiative, through which AI-powered smart devices feed stray animals across the city. But some X users believe that the initiative is aimed at also taking care of the abandoned pets.

The municipality in Dubai has set up an initiative called Ihsan—smart feeding stations for cats that were abandoned by some expats who left them like cowards. I’m proud to live in a city that takes care of its cats. We love our cats. pic.twitter.com/lWqJQQRCsf — Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) March 9, 2026

Border closures worsen crisis

Residents attempting to flee through Oman have discovered they cannot bring pets across the border, leaving many to abandon their animals in the desert. Volunteers describe finding pets left to fend for themselves—some tethered in public spaces without food or water.

Charities condemn the moral collapse 

War Paws, a charity aiding animals in conflict zones, called the wave of abandonment “inexcusable”.

CEO Louise Hastie said: "It’s happening across Iraq and Ukraine as well …some people just don’t see pets the way we do. Abandoning pets at the border or on the streets, not even leaving them with the vet – there’s really no excuse for it. Dubai is an affluent country."

Humanitarian evacuation deepens the fallout

More than 100,000 foreign nationals have registered with their governments for evacuation assistance, leaving shelters to absorb the consequences of mass departure. Volunteers continue to find animals outside residences or shelter gates, sometimes accompanied by apologetic notes from fleeing owners.