What is its about animal videos that makes most people go ‘AWWW’. Merely watching a video makes one smile and de-stress. Increasingly animals are used in therapy to help improve the well-being of people suffering from depression, stress and mental health problems.
Animals trigger happy memories for those who grew up with a pet at home. They also help shy people socialise. How many times while walking your dog have you been stopped by dog loving strangers?
The best part is, the breed of the dog or type of animal has no consequence on the joy it brings people. Owning a pet helps you lose weight, petting an animal calms your nerves and just taking care of them triggers happy hormones.
So here are a couple of places, where you can get some animal-loving:
1. Stray Dogs Center UAQ
When – Volunteer days are usually every Friday and Saturday in the afternoons. Check out their Facebook page for weekly updates.
How can you help? Offer a forever home, walk the dogs, offer foster care, donate wet food
Get in touch – Contact them on Facebook
2. K9 friends Dubai
When – Contact them at their office for ongoing opportunities
How can you help? Help walk the dogs, offer foster care, fundraise, volunteer at events or at the office, sponsor a dog or kennel. Their only stipulation is that volunteers need to commit for a minimum of 6 months due to the intensive training that’s involved and volunteers need to be 16year and older.
Get in touch – Contact them on Facebook or through their website. Tel: (04) 8878739
3. 38 Smiles. Dubai
When – Check out their Facebook page for updates on foster care opportunities
How can you help? Offer foster care, fundraise.
Get in touch – Contact them on Facebook or through their website
4. Rosso Carota Rescues Cats – RCRC, Sharjah
When – Check out their Facebook page for updates on foster care opportunities
How can you help? Offer foster care, fundraise.
Get in touch – Contact them on Facebook
5. Animal Action UAE, Abu Dhabi
When – Check out their Facebook page for updates on foster care opportunities
How can you help? Offer foster care, fundraise.
Get in touch – Contact them on Facebook
6. PARA UAE – Protection of Animal Rights Association
When – Check out their Facebook page for updates on foster care or adoption opportunities
How can you help? Adopt, Offer foster care, fundraise.
Get in touch – Contact them on Facebook
Bottom line
I don’t think there’s anything that defines unconditional love than the love an animal has for its owner. And rightly so, they love us even if we treat them poorly. They don’t hold grudges. They only expect you to take care of them. Which is something most people forget. That animals are a responsibility.
It breaks my heart to read stories of neglect and often enough I think owner are not cruel but just simply ignorant. If you recognise any of the below traits in you, please do not adopt or bring a dog home.
- You’re allergic to animal hair
- If you live in a villa and think its okay to leave the animal outside either in a kennel or tied to a tree
- If you’d prefer the dog tied at home
- If you do not have the monetary means for regular medical check-ups
- If you’ve watched an animal movie and fell in love with the dog on-screen. Sales of Dalmatians surged after the success of the movie 101 Dalmatians. Half of those dogs ended up at an animal shelter
So if you decide to offer a forever home or adopt an animal, please think carefully before making that decision. Animals are a commitment and owners should have a responsibility towards them like they would towards their own family member. Because like it or not, they do become a part of your family 🙂
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