A Saluki was found tied to a lamppost in Dubai so tightly that the collar had sliced into the animal's neck. Nearby, boxes of kittens had been left at the gates of an already overcrowded shelter. In the desert between the UAE and Oman, two dogs were shot dead after border authorities refused to let them through.
These are among the scenes reported by rescue workers since Iranian missile and drone strikes began hitting the UAE on 1 March 2026. Veterinary clinics across Dubai say requests to euthanise healthy pets have surged as fleeing owners choose to leave their animals behind.
