BY YASIN ABU TAQIU
DOHA: Stray cats and dogs are on the rise in Qatar.
Some are former pets abandoned by their owners who have left the country.
Abandoned animals mingle with strays, leading to an increasing animal population on the streets and raising public concerns.
Cats can be found on almost every dustbin, searching for food or to use the dustbin as shelter.
While people once welcomed stray cats as a defence against rats, some now complain there are far too many abandoned cats.
“There is a cat here, a cat there and a cat everywhere,” said Ali Ahmed, a resident of Old Airport Area
Stray dogs are also a major concern of residents in the Industrial Area, Umm Ghuwailina, Najma, Hillal, Bin Omran and Old Airport.
“Almost on every street in the Industrial Area there are stray dogs and sometimes you can see up to six on a street,” he said.
“The only good thing is that they do not attack. Some are shy and, when confronted, run away, while others are friendly because they were pets.”
Residents empathised with strays and urged authorities to do more and neuter them and find homes for those abandoned by their owners.
“Seeing a sad or abused animal can weigh on me, and this is a daily fact here,” said Ivan Ssimbwa, a resident of Najma.
The Ministry of Environment is running a ‘trap, neuter and return’ campaign in which cats are neutered and returned to their places. Residents can call the ministry on 44560444 to report stray cats.
Volunteers from Qatar Animals Welfare Society have come together to re-home abandoned pets and neuter stray cats.
Established about 11 years back, the shelter in Al Rayyan now has over 250 animals, including 130 dogs, 75 cats and about 50 other animals like donkeys and sheep.
Most animals at the shelter were found on the streets. Some were strays and others abandoned, said Kelly Allen who manages the shelter.
She said the large number of strays and abandoned pets overwhelm them and whenever they get a call for a new animal they first check if they have space.
“Once a dog is brought in, it first undergoes health tests before vaccination and microchipping.
“Some animals are brought in injured that require surgeries and since the shelter does not have an veterinary doctor, they are taken to private doctors, which is expensive. Some surgeries on one animal can cost up to QR5,000.”
Most cats at the shelter were brought in injured.
Allen said volunteers often turn up to walk animals and have them do exercise in the afternoon while others donate pet food, cat litter, blankets and towels, among others.
People go to the shelter to take a pet but the shelter is strict about whom to give an animal.
“Our screening involves questions about the prospective owners’ experience with animals, their income to see if they can afford a pet and whether they have young children so that children-friendly pets can be recommended.
“We also check how prospective owners will take care of animals.” The Peninsula
