A British-based charity has saved the lives of thousands of dogs and cats abandoned in the killer 50C heat of Qatar.
Volunteers stepped in after the pets were left starving and homeless in the country, which will host the 2022 World Cup.
More than 300 have been flown to the UK to start new lives, with others re-housed in the US, Canada and elsewhere. Charity founder Alison Caldwell and colleague Vicky Lamont showed us some of the dogs they are saving.
Much of their work focuses on an area just outside the capital Doha where a huge factory site was razed to the ground two years ago. Some dogs fell into disused wells and a volunteer climbed down to save them.
Alison, from Winchester, Hants, said: “The animals cannot cope well on the streets of Qatar. They suffer in the summer heat of 50C and in their search for food, water and shelter, they come near humans who view them as pests. They are often beaten, poisoned or intentionally or accidentally hit by cars.”
Paws Rescue Qatar was set up in 2014 to rehabilitate and rehome abandoned dogs and cats. Alison said: “Qatar is not a strong market for rehoming so we find loving homes all over the world. All our expenses are paid for via donations and adoption fees. But Covid has dramatically impacted us.”
Qatar does not recognise animal charities.
Paws currently has 159 cats, 90 dogs and a rabbit at its shelter but the charity has been told it will have to vacate the land next month.
Vicky, from Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, described the news as “devastating”.
It was paired with a rise in abandoned pets due to expat workers leaving Qatar during the pandemic, she said.
She said: “There are more animals on the streets than ever. To build a new shelter will not be a small cost and we would need a generous offer.”
