One hundred and fifty cats were found dead in the desert of the United Arab Emirates, the animal protection organization PETA denounced on Friday and called on the Gulf state to take action in the face of this “cruelty”.
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Emirati authorities said on Thursday that they had opened an “investigation into the abandoned cat incident” in the desert of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, without specifying the date of the events or the number of animals affected.
They assured that all “administrative and legal measures” would be taken against the perpetrator of this “inhumane” act.
In a press release to AFP, PETA Asia estimated the number of cats abandoned in the desert at 150.
“PETA is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who abandoned these cats in the desert, where they died horribly from thirst, hunger and heat,” said the vice president of PETA Asia , Jason Baker.
Local activists said several dozen cats were found dead and others were rescued.
In recent days, photos and videos have been shared on social media showing cats buried under sand or barely able to stand. AFP could not immediately verify its authenticity.
“This act of cruelty should not be swept under the carpet like many others,” said Jason Baker, accusing the Emirates of “lagging” on animal welfare despite passing an animal welfare law in 2007.
The solution to the homeless animal phenomenon is to “sterilize and adopt them out into overcrowded and understaffed shelters,” he added.