Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Perros abandonados durante la pandemia buscan familia

Dogs abandoned during the pandemic are looking for family

Many pets have been abandoned due to the pandemic, either due to the economic or health situation of their owners, or due to unfounded fears of suspected infections.
Izzy was so emaciated that she was barely standing when she was found with other cubs in a desert in Qatar, a rich country in the Gulf where many pets were abandoned in the midst of the new coronavirus crisis.

Born from a cross between several breeds, this little dog almost died before being adopted by a family living in Germany.

Many other pets were less lucky. With the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic, many expat families could leave the country, abandoning their animals.

We had a wave of calls for help. We've already received some, confirms Alison Caldwell, co-founder of the PAWS Rescue Qatar, who saved Izzy.

Stray animals are exposed to many dangers, to which in Qatar are added summer temperatures that reach 50 degrees.

In the early days of the epidemic, PAWS witnessed an increase in the number of abandonments, because some families feared that their animals were a focus of infection. Others were left alone when their owners fell ill.

Since March, the virus has killed 113 people in Qatar out of the 95,000 registered infections. The country has 2.75 million inhabitants.

We have already had a small influx, but there is nothing we can really do, says Alison Caldwell.

PAWS estimates that there are tens of thousands of stray animals in Qatar.

Izzy was adopted in April by a German family who read her story on the PAWS Facebook page. But with the sudden suspension of air traffic, imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, dogs adopted abroad remain locked in Qatar.

From her home near Bremen in northern Germany, Christina Fuehrer says she is waiting for flights to resume so Izzy can come.

Meanwhile, the dog temporarily lives with a foster family.

We have decided that it would be a good thing to do this summer, because obviously we are not going anywhere, said Julie Melville, who welcomed Izzy to stay with them.

PAWS uses "flight friends", volunteer passengers who transport an animal as a baggage supplement, to take it to the adoptive family.

PAWS was founded in 2014 by two British expats in the face of the large number of stray and abandoned animals in Qatar, a gas-rich country where many foreigners live.

It is financed by donations and has a temporary accommodation service for pets. The association accommodates 60 cats and 30 dogs, but members of its volunteer team tend to other animals as well.

It has contributed to the adoption of around a thousand animals, many of them abroad, where Saluki hunting dogs, Persian Greyhounds from the Middle East, are attracting interest.

Animal cruelty is a major problem in Qatar, according to Hester Drewry, due to lack of education and the incessant flow of expatriates who generally live in the country for short periods.

To raise awareness about animal welfare, PAWS gives talks at schools.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×