Just a cat

When I was growing up we in the UK, we had a family pet cat. She didn't have a bed, I'm not 100% sure it had vaccines. She had 2 lots of kittens. They were sold to friends and family for £3 each. Then she was 'fixed'. It was just a cat.

Now, with the monetization of pet ownerahip and the huge pet industry we look at them differently.

We want to give them the best food, best veterinary care, best bed, best toys, best cattery, best of everything, on par with a child's needs. Cats go to therapists, grooming salons and an endless array of support is available.

Because we care, the pet industry has shown us the tools we need to be the best owner.

Then I don't understand how there are so many abandoned, damaged and broken cats here in the UAE. All the hard sell of "get the best for your cat" , "be a good owner", "buy this, your pet will love you more" is present. 

There are lots of unlicensed breeders openly selling.

There are still live pet shops.

There are exotic pets available.

Nothing is policed. 

There are no consequences for pet abandonment.

This country has so many things going for it. It is still very young. There is lots of room to improve animal welfare. It must be addressed.

If only the pet supply shops, veterinary clinics and zoos would unite for Animal Welfare global best practices and start shouting about the shortcomings.

If only the pest control company's weren't able to get away with removing and dumping animals.

Everyone keeps getting away with getting away with it.

Unless we keep making a noise about pest controls unscrupulous actions they just continue.

Everyday I'm told of new dumpings of kittens, cats, puppy's, dogs, rabbits and more.

We now have 2 cats rescued as a group of 8 kittens left to die a very slow painful death.

It's where we picked Seona and Dody up from so we know what we are talking about.

We are experiencing all this as normal pet owners. We were/are not rescuers. We just can't turn a blind eye to what is going on and we will continue to do what we can whilst looking for our boys. 

Microchipped.ae will make a difference. Distributing chip scanners will make a difference.

Blacky and Winnie are still out there somewhere. We will find them.