Dubai: Dubai Municipality's new Animal Welfare Shelter in Warsan has received an overwhelming response from the community since its opening, having found homes for 85 cats in just 10 days.Since opening its doors on July 26, the facility has received hundreds of enquiries from residents keen to adopt rescued animals, according to Dr Asma Bulshawareb, Senior Veterinarian at Dubai Municipality.Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Dr Asma said: “Our team is dealing with the enquiries on a daily basis, it has been a huge success and we love that. We love the positive feedback we got from everyone and everywhere, and the kind of support we have received with people also spreading the awareness about the centre. We are working hand in hand at the moment with the public and they are definitely making it easier for us and making a difference to the lives of these animals as well.”Dr Asma Bulshawareb, Senior Veterinarian at Dubai MunicipalityFocus on responsible pet ownershipDr Asma also advised residents to be aware of their responsibilities, whether they interact with stray cats or decide to adopt a pet.When it comes to stray cats, she advised residents to not try to remove healthy street cats from their natural habitat.“That is their environment – outdoors, and they have adapted to it. Also, some of the projects implemented by Dubai Municipality, like the Ehsan stations are created to make it easier for animals to continue surviving well in their natural environment and keep the ecosystem going,” she said.If you see an animal that looks like they may be someone’s lost pet, you can definitely reach out to the shelter, though, where Dr Asma said the staff would help locate the pet’s owner by scanning the microchip.“This is why we always encourage pet owners to get their animals microchipped and registered under their names. Our focus is always on responsible pet ownership,” she said.Cats and dogs available for adoptionThe municipality's pet adoption programme primarily facilitates the adoption of cats and dogs, although other animals, including birds and farm animals, may occasionally be rehomed.Cats are cared for at the new Warsan shelter, while dogs are housed at the Al Khawaneej Veterinary Clinic, which has been operational for much longer.How to adopt a petIf you, too, are looking to adopt a pet, the first step would be to visit Dubai Municipality’s newly launched animal adoption platform - https://hub.dm.gov.ae/link/servicesdetails?ServiceCode=4130 to go through the animals that have been put up for adoption.Once you select an animal, you can then book an appointment to visit them. If you chose a cat, you would need to visit the Animal Welfare Shelter in Warsan and for dogs, you would need to visit the Al Khawaneej Veterinary Clinic.Once you are at the centre, you will get a chance to spend some time with the animal and interact with them, to get a better feel of whether or not they would be a good fit for you and your family.“If you want to see other animals, we also welcome that,” Dr Asma said.Once you have made your decision, you would have a session with one of the veterinary doctors at the shelter, who will assess your eligibility and explain the responsibilities involved in caring for the animal.“The doctor will ask you questions on where you live and whether the place allows for pets, if you have taken care of animals before and whether you would be introducing them to any other pets you may have,” she said.Afte that, you need to make a payment of AED 240-270 to cover for the pet’s vaccination, deworming and microchipping. And you can now take your new furry companion home.Finding a new familyAt the centre, community members could be seen arriving on Thursday afternoon, for their appointments and enjoying the interactions with all the cats that were up for adoption.Canadian expat Farah Abu Risheh, 22, sat at the entrance excitedly, to complete the adoption of a young Persian mix cat.Farah Abu Risheh“We had a cat in Canada and since we moved to Dubai last year, I’ve been asking for a cat. My dad found out about the centre and told me to go ahead and adopt a cat,” she said with a smile.When asked if she’d thought of a name for hew new pet, she said: “I don’t know yet, it’s going to be a family decision. We usually pull out a name from a hat, where everyone puts in their choice of names,” she said.Another Dubai resident, 21-year-old Eman Amiri was at the centre with her friend Judy Abu Khadra, and said that she was at the centre for her birthday gift.“I’ve never had a cat before but I have always loved them, so my friends decided that they would gift me a cat for my birthday,” Eman said.When asked if she was looking forward to finally enjoying the companionship pets offer, she said: “I literally want a best friend. That’s all I want.”How to get thereThe Animal Welfare Shelter is located in the Birds and Animals Market at Al Warsan.Opening hours: Monday to Thursday – 8am to 3pm
