UAE flash floods leave hundreds of dogs and cats displaced and destroy animal shelters

Animal rescue volunteers in the United Arab Emirates say they have been devastated after deadly flash floods hit the Northern Emirates this week, leaving dog and cat shelters in ruins and hundreds of animals displaced.

A rescue group, Animals and Us, in Fujairah said on social media that it was caring for more than 400 dogs and nearly 100 cats. While his animals were unharmed by the floods that hit parts of the country on Wednesday, many have now been displaced and are in temporary shelter after the United Arab Emirates recorded its heaviest rainfall in decades.

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“It is painful to see the utter destruction and devastation the floods have caused…so many animals and people displaced,” the nonprofit wrote.

The animal sanctuary‘s founder, Michele Francis, said her home in Fujairah was under five feet of water. She had 18 rescue dogs in her home and “lots of cats”.

Her son Vernon was also stranded with six dogs and 16 cats and confined to a small upstairs room in the villa awaiting help.

A volunteer rescue team used 4×4 vehicles, dinghies and crates to get the stranded dogs to safety, with footage showing animals being carried through the floodwaters to safety.

But even after the animals were brought to safety, the pet rescue group said the aftermath of the flooding had been “devastating”.

“As we now assess the damage the floods have left, we are devastated by the amount of work and cleanup that needs to be done – all while we are still in the midst of a massive wellbeing emergency. animal,” he said in a post.

“We have no idea how we will manage the cost of the damage and we still have many lives to try to save as well as the injured animals that we will have to treat.”

The group said that as authorities scrambled to clear submerged streets and flooded residences, the deluge of water made it difficult to access feeding sites where volunteers tend to street animals. , while many dogs and cats disappeared following the flood.

General view of flood waters after a day of heavy rain in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, July 28, 2022. (Reuters)

“Our team went to feed as usual last night,” they said in a post on Saturday morning. “But so many dogs are missing from their usual places, or some have had to leave for their own safety.”

“A lone pup stuck in the mud unable to escape was recovered from inside a quarry late last night while the team was feeding.

“Severely dehydrated and covered in ticks, she was rushed to the vet. We can only hope her mother and siblings have managed to escape the torrential rains and are safe.

A lonely pup stuck in the mud following flooding in the United Arab Emirates. (Provided)

The group said that over the next few days they would see the true extent of the damage.

“For now, we will continue to reach as many as possible, but with roads closed or simply non-existent, it is a huge challenge.

A spokesperson for the United Arab Emirates’ interior ministry said on Friday that seven people had died in the northern Emirates amid heavy rains and flooding.

More than 800 people have been rescued and thousands more placed in temporary accommodation in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

The spokesperson said that the main road linking Fujairah and Khor Fakkan is being worked on to be fully reopened, he concluded.

Read more:

United Arab Emirates: Seven people died after floods hit Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah