HELPING HANDS
Want to foster , adopt or help out ? Featured are a few organisations and individuals who have set an example and are working for animal welfare in their own small way . Get in touch with them if you want to be a part of their efforts . Photography : Sandra Hermann
SHARJAH CAT & DOG SHELTER
Sharjah Cat and Dog Shelter is a Sharjah-based charity for animals that was founded in 2010 by His Royal Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qassimi , member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Sharjah , with the assistance of the Sharjah Municipality . The rescue centre takes in all stray , injured and abandoned animals and provides them the necessary care and assists with adoptions . They provide full medical attention to animals that they take in such as vaccines , neutering and any other special needs they may have . The interesting thing about this charity and its volunteers is that the staff provides a permanent home to the less fortunate residents of their shelter such as those with special needs . The volunteers adopt any of those animals that nobody really wants to take home . Rayan , one of their volunteering staff now has six cats , all of which were rescued .
The shelter has a fully functional website that gives information on fostering , adoption , donations and other useful information about pets . Due to budget constraints , the shelter prefers to advertise through social media and media promotions . Adoption days and other events are also held from time to time to assist with adoptions . All the volunteers are highly motivated animal lovers and believe in animal welfare . They all mutually believe that this is where they belong and there is nothing else they would rather do . Get in touch : 050 917 5481 scads . shj @ gmail . com www . scads . ae
38SMILES
Kremena , who is better known as Kay , is a Bulgarian expat who has been living in Dubai since 7.5 years . She works as group exercise fitness instructor and teaches variety of Les Mills classes .
Almost 2 years ago she started a non-profit animal rescue group called ‘’ 38smiles ’’ which is now growing strong and occupying most of her time . Kay has one dog , a Beagle named Baxter . He is also her first pet . Baxter is now 4.5 years old . Her husband adores Baxter and spoils him a lot , that ’ s why Baxter is a daddy ’ s boy . After Baxter they adopted Jo Jo , their first cat and after Jo Jo came Hugo , Betty , Nadia , Tin Tin , Biggy , Matrix , Ziggy , Red Bull , Melvin , Miral and Luca , all rescue cats . Some of them were supposed to be only foster cats but for one reason or another they stayed with them . For example Miral is epileptic so she needs daily medication and they couldn ’ t bear the thought of her being adopted by someone who wouldn ’ t know how to take care of her . Even on the medication she still has seizures sometimes and this can be pretty overwhelming and difficult for people so they decided to adopt her . 38smiles facilitates rescuing , fostering and rehoming of stray animals in Dubai .
They organise regular adoption days and also have an on going TNR program . 38smiles only works with stray animals and don ’ t help people rehome their pets . All their animals have a clean bill of health , are well socialised with people and other animals and come with vaccination book . Kay ’ s inspiration has been her love for animals and put simply , she claims that she gets along better with animals than with people ! Get in touch : info @ 38smiles . com www . facebook . com / 38smiles www . 38smailes . com
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