Doing the right thing – Animal shelters and rescues in Abu Dhabi

• Abu Dhabi Animal Shelters
• FAQs

A loving, four-legged friend can truly bring happiness into your house. If you are planning on adopting a cat or a dog, you can reach out to any of the foster homes in the emirate. These organisations help to find a loving, trustworthy and permanent residence for homeless animals. Here’s a list of the top Abu Dhabi animal shelters and rescue services that you need to know about. 

ANIMAL SHELTERS IN ABU DHABI

ABU DHABI ANIMAL SHELTER

Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter started its operations in 2010. This was in line with the decision of the Executive Council of the Abu Dhabi government, which stated that Falcon Hospital Abu Dhabi will manage the animal shelter.

Today, the shelter helps over 600 abandoned and rescued pets find homes every year. In addition to this, the centre receives 10,000 animals for treatment and vaccination. 

All stray animals brought into the facility undergo a primary consultation through a vet after which they receive the necessary healthcare services. The Animal Shelter in Abu Dhabi also has a modern laboratory.

Starting in June 2010, Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital also began a TNR program at the facility. TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return, and the purpose was to neuter all feral cats and dogs in the emirate. In Phase 1 of this program, they neutered stray dogs and put them up for adoption at the hospital.

The rescue and welfare facility also inserts microchips on the animals to help with identification during adoption. The microchip is a sign that the stray animal has undergone treatment. The 15-digit microchip helps to identify the location of lost or stolen pets as well.

In the second phase, the Abu Dhabi Animal Shelter created catteries and kennels where stray animals were put up for adoption. Cats that were not adopted were then sent to the areas from which they had been rescued by the Centre of Waste Management in Abu Dhabi (Tadweer). 

The treatment of animals at the organisation is done by ADFH Pet Care Center. They also have a lost and found pet register and you can consult them in case you have lost a pet in Abu Dhabi.

• Location: Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, between the International Airport and Al Shamkha
• Contact: +971-2-885-8100

STRAYS OF ABU DHABI (SAD)

This rescue group primarily works with cats, but you can also call for assistance with other animals who need help. Strays of Abu Dhabi also works as a volunteer animal rescue in Abu Dhabi where members donate their time to improve the health and quality of life of abandoned stray dogs.

ANIMAL WELFARE ABU DHABI (AWAD)

Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi (AWAD) was given charitable status in 2019 and has set up numerous feeding stations across the city. It also conducts free sterilisation and neutering sessions. To create awareness of animal welfare, they also visit schools and universities.

Much of its efforts go towards helping the cat colony on Lulu Island. You can reach out to the group via their website or Facebook page.

They work with volunteers and other animal welfare organisations to improve the lives of animals in the UAE through educating people about animal care. You can also help stray animals find their forever home by contacting the group through their Facebook page.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ARE THERE ANY PET SHOPS IN THE CAPITAL?

Yes, there are plenty of pet shops in Abu Dhabi including Petz N Stuff, Aquarium Lives and The Pet Shack.

WHERE SHOULD PET PARENTS LIVE IN ABU DHABI?

As more people adopt animals, pet-friendly places in Abu Dhabi have become incredibly popular. Some of the best neighbourhoods include Al Reef, Reem Island and Zayed Sports City.

WHERE SHOULD I TAKE INJURED WILDLIFE IN DUBAI?

There are quite a few wildlife rescue centres in Dubai where you can take an injured animal. The top ones are Nad Al Shiba Veterinary Clinic, Two Feet Four Paws and Zabeel Veterinary Hospital.

This concludes our list of Abu Dhabi animal rescue centres and services. If you are also committed to animal welfare, you can consider donating your time and resources to these groups. One way of helping these organisations is to take their animals for adoption instead of buying pets from shops. 

Moving to the capital city of the UAE? If you own a pet you must first get all the information about pet relocation to Abu Dhabi. Pet owners planning to come for a visit must check out the top pet-friendly hotels in Abu Dhabi if they are planning to bring their furry friend with them.

And if you want to learn about the marine life in capital, you should definitely visit Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Centre. The conservation facility is working tirelessly towards rehab, rescue and return marine wildlife in Abu Dhabi.