Two local Emirati animal welfare groups came to the rescue of hundreds of cats and kittens and two dogs, a husky and a golden retriever, in the brutal 122 degree Fahrenheit desert of Abu Dhabi late last week.
According to UAE Animals International, at least 40 volunteers their time and their homes for the huge rescue mission. The rescuers were able to bring 94 cats and kittens to safety. At least 60 of the abandoned cats had died. Out of the two dogs, only the retriever survived.
Disturbing video showed the horrible scene where so many of the cats had been buried underneath the desert’s moving sand. Some of the cats had been abandoned in their carriers, while some of the survivors had been barely clinging to life, but were so desperate, they crawled up to the rescuers for help.
All of the cats had been microchipped and neutered as part of the trap, neuter and release program designed in the United States as well as many countries in order to humanely control the over population of stray cats. It is not known, at this time why these cats were literally being sent to their slow and excruciating deaths.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport are investigating.
Rescuers are continuing to search for more survivors by setting traps further out in the desert and hoping to rescue more innocent lives.
I track their paw prints in th sand with flashlights and 4X4 cars until late at night. I’m daily there searching for survivors.
Chiku Singh, Animal Rights in Abu Dhabi
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