Rising demand sees abandoned pet shelter plan extra facilities

The Sharjah Cat & Dog Shelter is opening new facilities to house stray pets as the emirate sees a rise in the number of abandoned animals, charity officials said. Sharjah has seen an increase in the number of dogs and cats abandoned on the streets, which they believe is caused by a rise in the number of owners leaving the emirate. The unit runs education programmes for schools and has already rehoused more than 50 dogs since launching in September.

Animals are put to sleep only in extreme circumstances such as when they have suffered severe injuries or, more rarely, when they are overly aggressive. For more information, please contact Emma Cresswell, Shelter Director at the Sharjah Cat & Dog Shelter, cresswell.e@gmail.com.