Dubai to levy Dh200 fine for feeding stray cats

Feeding stray animals on streets danger to public health: Municipality

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  • Staff
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Feeding stray animals on the streets of Dubai is a violation of health laws and offenders can be fined Dh200. 

According to a report in the Arabic daily Al Bayan, Dubai Municipality has warned people against feeding stray cats and animals on the streets as it is deemed a danger to public health. 

“Dh200 will be the fine against those people who feed stray animals in the streets,” the Dubai Municipality said. 

The report quoted Dr Shehadeh Mu’tasim Al Zouabi, Veterinary Health Inspection, Public Health Services Department, Dubai Municipality, as saying: “The aim of the fine is not to make streets and neighborhoods a place for breeding cats and stray animals. 

“Cats multiply very fast and can breed every three months, each time resulting in six-seven kittens.” 

He added: “The municipality collects cats from neighborhoods and conducts sterilises them. 

“This is not to mention the dangers from diseases carried by stray animals.” 

He added that while the majority treat stray animals on the basis of mercy and compassion, this also a threat to humans. 

“We must be careful to see the difference between compassion and public health,” he said.

 

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Comments

  • Laet 26 March 2012 08:35 5 0
    “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. Mahatma Gandhi.....so so true!
  • Amy 25 March 2012 13:45 3 0
    For those of you who are so concerned about the 'needy and poverty stricken people' - all I can say is that some of us do give to the poor (zakat) every month or so. We (I) don't feel the need to publicise what I give and who I give to. This article is about animals (cats) and therefore we are writing about what we feel about cats.
  • Lolly 21 March 2012 13:04 5 0
    @Danushke & @George. Exactly where in these posts have any of the animal lovers said that they do not also love or care for human welfare? You can care for both you know. You are putting words into the mouths of people who simply care for other living creatures. Human or animal. Feeding a stray animal does not mean we stop caring about humans. You are judging people without even knowing them. We are all God's creatures. We all deserve to live and die with respect.
  • Sangter 21 March 2012 11:54 6 1
    a people's civilization is measured by the way in which treats its animals." Mahatma Gandhi.
  • lolly 21 March 2012 10:03 10 0
    I am speechless! I have been looking after strays in Dubai, not just by feeding them, but by catching them, getting them neutered, vaccinated and even dental work, and then re-releasing them. The stray situation in Dubai is a human responsibility and as humans we should be dealing with it humanely, seeing as most of them have been dumped by humans anyway.
  • lolly 21 March 2012 10:00 13 0
    WHAT AN ABSOLUTE LOAD OF RUBBISH!! Some of the comments here about strays being a danger are incredibe! Your health is more compromised every time you step in an elevator, put your hands on an escalator or drive down Sheikh Zayed Road!!
  • Fairy 21 March 2012 09:47 5 0
    We cannot improve the quality of our own lives by not caring about the quality of any other kinds of life, as this goes against nature’s flow and intent. Each species which includes human beings is involved in a cooperative venture, upon which ultimately all existence rests. Our beliefs systems can cause us to deny the existence of emotions in animals, and think of them as creatures run by an impeccable machine of instinct, blind alike to pain or desire.
  • Fairy 21 March 2012 09:40 6 0
    By accepting our own worth and by granting every other being that same recognition, we begin to honour all life in all of its forms. By acknowledging our existence in the framework of nature, and recognize the vast cooperative processes that connect each species with each and every other one, we can gain far more understanding of the nature of ourselves and everything else for that matter.
  • E 21 March 2012 09:35 7 0
    @Danushke.... a dislike means people dislike your comment i.e. they don't agree with it! @george.... the subject is that people are being fined for doing something that is humanitarian under the pretext of it being unhealthy. Everyone agrees that there are starving people in the world but that is a topic for a different discussion.
  • George 21 March 2012 06:29 2 9
    When 884 million people lack access to safe water supplies i.e, 1/8 people do not even have access to safe water or Is it important to feed stray cats with milk? At least it may help others to re-examine their views and mindset & will have more concern for starving poor human beings worldwide.
  • Andy Mitchell 20 March 2012 23:15 6 1
    Maybe the people who leave half eaten fast food in car parks should be targeted first. Fed up with the amount of rubbish and food left on the streets after people have gorged themselves. The bins in Dubai are frequent, and if not convenient then take your rubbish home.
  • El Froggy 20 March 2012 19:11 2 6
    What some people (who feed strays regularly) don't realize is that they are allowing the strays to colonize and don't really care about vaccinations/sterilization/upbringing of its kittens/trips to vet etc (they do not think long term). The fact is that most strays do carry diseases and unless you are prepared to do the above, they are actually a danger to your healthy pets. If you want to help stray cats, report them to Dubai Municipality (Toll free number: 800900) and even register them!
  • Danushke 20 March 2012 17:13 3 4
    @E, thanks and I see ur point. But the amount of dislikes we received so far says something different.
  • E 20 March 2012 16:16 8 2
    @george, @Danushke and @Alia No one is saying that a cat should be fed before a starving human. As you don't tend to see starving humans wandering the streets in Dubai asking to be fed (begging is illegal here). What is the problem with helping a living being whilst we can. Most, if not all, of the people posting here are expressing their opinions that it is wrong to be fined for feeding stray cats and disputing that this is a threat to health.
  • Bdub 20 March 2012 15:58 4 2
    There are plenty of people here who go out of their way to do good for animals; they should be raised for these efforts. There are many who work with Feline Friends & like to curb the strays from multiplying.
  • George 20 March 2012 15:50 4 3
    There are lot of starving poor children & people homeless sleeping on footpaths pavements in poor countries Think of them & help feed them. Compassion is needed for humans first & URGENT SHELTER is needed for many poor workers left with no food/shelter no rent to pay by closed companies or of owners who flee country with months of salaries to be paid to them and lot of poor ladies who fall victim to exploitation need safety after they escape traps of evil people.
  • Alia 20 March 2012 15:29 3 4
    @george..@Danushke i really appreciated reading both your comments among all the rest.
  • Alia 20 March 2012 15:26 3 5
    This is just pathetic. Animal lovers see the stray cats but are blinded by the needy and poverty stricken people. No one disagrees to feeding a stray cat, but such a wild roar against it? Instead all you people raise a voice that could save human beings because believe there will always people feeding stray cats regardless of fines.
  • Danushke 20 March 2012 10:56 4 10
    Well.. we have comes to a time in our lives when cats and dogs are prioritized over humans. Way to go animal lovers!
  • Danushke 20 March 2012 10:52 4 12
    @George. Hats off to you for your post and cant imagine how many inhuman people are living amongst us who gives stray Cats a higher priority than needy humans and children. Easy money can ruin peoples minds
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