Donate to help Stray Animals in Kuwait

Expats are leaving Kuwait in droves.  And unfortunately, many feel that they have no other alternative (they do!) than to dump their pets.  Shelters are overwhelmed.  Many people find animals and want to help.

Give Hope Club works with Touch of Hope Rescue and is an easy way to help the many rescued animals at Touch of Hope during this crisis. Pay your monthly membership through a link in your phone and you'll also be eligible to win great prizes in the monthly lucky draw.

Choose from one of these memberships:

 -Silver (10 KD monthly)

-Gold (20 KD monthly)

-Platinum (30 KD monthly)

-Diamond (40 KD monthly)

 Then send a what's app message to +965 99835252 with your full name & type of membership and we will send you the payment link. Please share this widely and help the helpless!

  

Touch of Hope works with Wings of Love Kuwait in Baltimore to fly animals out of Kuwait to homes in the US.  Please help if you can.  Any amount makes a big difference.

Kuwait Finally Wising Up to Wild Animals as Pets?

Arab Times

Hunt Begins For Pet Wild Animals

‘Safety Of People Vital’

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 26: The Interior Ministry in cooperation with the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) is said to be looking for ‘pet’ wild animals which put at risk the lives of citizens and residents, reports Al- Anba daily. The authorities have called on residents and citizens to notify them if they are aware of any wild animals in their vicinity. The daily added, the authorities plan to confiscate wild (pet) animals and punish their keepers.

This is done in the best interests and safety of the people. The sources added the Kuwaiti Penal Code punishes those who neglect animals and the civil law punishes the owner by forcing him to compensate the victim if attacked by the wild animal.

The source pointed the concerned authorities have received several complaints accusing people of breeding wild animals such as tigers, lions and crocodiles. Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti man shot dead a crocodile with a bullet to his head after the reptile crept into his house recently in Salwa, reports Al-Rai daily.

According to reports the man was at work and his maid called him to say she could not enter the house because a big lizard was in the doorway. The man rushed home and found the ‘pet’ crocodile which had reportedly escaped from its keep from a neighboring house.

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So here's what I want to know:   What are they intending to do with the animals?  Maybe give them to some snipers like what they allowed to happen with the stray dogs in Kuwait?  I can see this being very bad.

If I were the (STUPID) owner of a wild/exotic/endangered animal and LOVED it in Kuwait, right about now, I would be thinking of ways to ship it out of the country to a game reserve somewhere.  Idiots.

Help the Kuwait Zoo

Mark posted this a while back and maybe I can help bring attention to this problem (and ask people for their help).  I haven't been to the Kuwait Zoo since I first went there in 1993.  At that time, seeing the wolves and the way people treated them literally broke my heart and I vowed never to return again - just can't do it.

I hope they will find help for the poor animals.

Mark's full post is below (from 248am.com)

Why the Kuwait Zoo is a disaster

Everyone who’s been to the Kuwait Zoo knows how sad and depressing the place is. I’ve written about it a number of times and it’s just something that has bewildered me for a very long time. Why is the zoo the way it is? I always figured the people who worked at the zoo didn’t care about the animals but after meeting a few of the staff members recently I now know that’s not true. Turns out there are two main reasons why the zoo is a disaster, the first is the zoo visitors and the second is they just don’t have enough money to make it better.


The Visitors
Majority of the people who visit the zoo do not respect the animals nor do they respect any of the rules. On one trip to the zoo during the daytime when it was fairly empty I witnessed three different incidents in a space of 15 minutes that summarizes the problem with the people at the zoo. The first incident took place at the elephant enclosure. We noticed a woman with her young kid had climbed over the fence, through the cactuses all the way to the wall of the elephant enclosure and were taking pictures next to the trunk of the elephant that was sticking out. One of the zoo employees who was with me yelled at the women to get away from the elephant because it was dangerous and the woman just coldly took her time making her way back out over the fence as if she had done nothing wrong. A few meters away on the other corner of the enclosure there was a kid next to his mother with a bag of oranges throwing them at the second elephant. Again the zoo employee had to stop the kid from throwing oranges at the elephant while the mother was pretending she wasn’t noticing any of this.



The third incident occurred just a short distance away at the baboon enclosure. As we arrived we noticed a kid was on top of the fence sticking french fries into the baboon cage trying to feed them. His mother and his sister were standing next to him watching and then the baboon stuck his hand out of the cage and the little boy tried to kick it hard but ended up missing and hitting the cage. The zoo employee I was with yelled at the boy to get down and then pulled the kid down but the kid kept climbing back up wanting to feed the baboons. The employee was telling the kid how dangerous it was since the baboons can bite and scratch people when his mother started shouting at her. She told the employee that no one cares about her kids more than her and if this was dangerous she wouldn’t be letting her kids feed the baboons. I was just standing there going WTF?

Visitors are one of the biggest issues of the zoo. I’ve already posted about how some kids try to kill the animals with slingshots and how the trash people throw into the cages end up killing the animals as well. A lot of kids are uneducated and abusive throwing whatever they can at the animals or in the case above trying to kick them. This is why the zoo tries to protect the animals using chicken wire (a fence with very small openings) around the cages, cactus plants, higher fences and security guards. But even those defenses fail all the time, people still manage to shove food into the cages, they pull down the chicken wire fence and put it on top of the cactuses so they can walk on them towards the cages. Even security guards get ignored and the guards are too afraid to confront the visitors anyway.

No Budget
Now this second issue is the bigger of the two. The zoo has limited financial resources. Although Kuwait is a rich country, the zoo and animals aren’t really a priority. Right now there are two major enclosures for example that need to be changed or fixed but the zoo staff haven’t been able to secure the budget for them.



The first problem is the elephant enclosure. Right now there are two elephants and the enclosure is pretty tiny. The larger of the two elephants has started destroying the walls of the enclosure because of frustration. The zoo submitted a proposal to double the size of the enclosure since there is an empty plot right next to the elephant enclosure but the proposal was rejected. Instead a construction company was brought in to install large metal beams around the elephant enclosure as a solution (pictured above).



The second problem that is in dire need of attention is the chimpanzee cage (pictured above). There are four chimps in one of the most depressing cages I’ve ever seen. They have no entertainment whatsoever inside, it’s just a rectangular dark cage with concrete floors and thats it. But, there’s a great spot in the zoo which the staff want to convert to a chimp enclosure. It’s a large space (see below) that can be planted with trees and greenery and chimps can roam free in it. The plan was proposed but rejected due to budgetary reasons. So now the space is gonna be turned into a reptile enclosure filled with a few crocs and turtles which is going to be a complete waste of space.



So although the staff do want to improve the zoo they just don’t have any money do so. It’s very depressing. Even when it comes to fixing enclosures or purchasing new medical equipment it’s all handled in the same low priority “put a bandaid on it” way.

The Solution
The visitors problem is very difficult to fix. One way would be to increase the prices of the tickets (currently it’s 500fils) in hopes that would stop or lessen the amount of visitors that come to the zoo. Educating the parents and the children is too large a task for the zoo to handle and signs and leaflets really have no effect. The most realistic solution to the people problem is to continue and try to protect the animals (I suggested replacing cactus plants with barbed wire) and hiring Kuwaiti security to replace the current expats.
The solution with the budget should be simpler… just increase the budget, but that’s not happening. A more realistic option we discussed is sponsorship by private companies. Companies could sponsor an animal enclosure and the money would be used to build it or improve it. It’s something that’s done in other zoos around the world and in this situation it would be a great way to solve a lot of the problems.

By the way you’re a company and are interested in doing this, email me for more details [Here]
It’s really sad that the zoo doesn’t have any money to improve the situation for the animals. It’s not only the elephants and the chimps that are in trouble but those two are the priorities right now. The baboon cage for example has around 70 baboons inside and is over crowded. The tiger needs more space, the hippos need a new water filter for their pool and one of the giraffes is limping but they don’t have a portable xray machine to check and see why. They even have one animal enclosure nicknamed Guantanamo because it’s that bad.
The problems with the zoo are major and hopefully I was able to bring it some exposure.

Cheetah Attack in Kuwait

This from my friend, Areej, on Facebook:

 Cheetah attacks a group of 7 Kuwaiti men.

Today i found in Al Rai about cheeta attack at 7 guys. The complete scene has printed in Arabic but this is what I got that at Muttala (Desert) 7 Kuwaiti guys were enjoying BBQ around 10pm and then one cheetah invaded in the tent to join their BBQ, one of them was wounded badly but in a moment all guys escaped the tent and hid in their car.

For complete Arabic version
http://kuwaitup2date.com/2013/02/17/cheeta-attacked-at-bbq-in-kuwait-kuwait-q8/

One commenter said:   "I read that the guys that got into the car started chasing the Cheetah and then the guy that owned it started yelling at them that was his Cheetah I said he was hunting with it..."
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I think they should put the owner in jail.    Usually what happens in Mutlaa stays in Mutlaa....  
(I better call my friends to make sure it wasn't their camp that got attacked.  Dayum...)

These animals are wild and have the instincts of wild animals.  You will never be able to domesticate them.  It is genetic.  Keeping wild game cats as pets is just unnatural and WRONG.

Has anyone heard anything?

More animal poisoning in Kuwait - Pet owners beware

Ladies Who Do Lunch In Kuwait Blog posted yesterday about poison being put out for snails.  It will also kill pets.  This morning, I was unfortunate enough to come across one of our neighborhood's stray cats, which had obviously died of poisoning.  (I did not want to pass along a gory photo, but the death must have been pretty horrific; bleeding profusely from the mouth and bulging red eyes.)

Beware pet owners.

See LWDLIK blog post here.

Kuwait and the Officialy-Sanctioned Policy of Poisoning Animals

It is very difficult for me to even write about this but I will.  It has been all over 248’s blog as well as others this week – especially after a group of non-aggressive dogs was poisoned to death this past week, outraging many in our little community.  I wanted to provide links to similar stories (and maybe you can provide more).


The poisoning of strays (and domestic) animals has been a long-standing, officially-accepted practice in Kuwait for many years.  It is an “accepted” method by some who say that the strays are vermin.  While I agree that there needs to be a humane way to reduce the number of strays in Kuwait, I do not accept poison as the method. 


... And I believe those who order it and conduct it to be Godless creatures who have no religion, soul, or morality.  My gut impression is that people are sitting in the comfort of their offices, ordering others to carry out the task for them, so that their hands are not tainted. 


In 2007, I brought a field of dead horses to the attention of the Arab Times and PAWS (links to stories below), prompting them to take action.  It turned into a blame game:  NOT of who was inhumanely killing horses, but who 1) was to blame for dumping them and 2) who was to blame for not picking up the carcasses. 


The stories outraged the international horse community (I was contacted by journalists from the UK, France, and US) with many forums and sites discussing the ethics of selling horses to Kuwait.  I don’t know what the outcome of the story is:  If racehorses (often injured by being run too hard by owners) are still being killed via T-61 and dying an inhumane death.  The racehorses I saw were indeed treated like vermin.


It appears from the photos of the dogs recently killed that cyanide was used.  Cyanide is the main ingredient in rat poison.  It is a very slow and painful death (similar to T-61 usage) whereby the animal bleeds-out internally and drowns on its own blood.  There is nothing humane about it.  Cyanide may come in many forms - pellets or powder. 


Many domestic pets in Kuwait over the years have died by accidentally ingesting poison left out by the Municipality/”baladiya” (if that agency is the one responsible).  The poison could be left out anywhere in Kuwait; no notices are placed.  So, if  your pet or your child somehow gets hold of it, it is an awful and tragic death.  Have children (or others) already died from this?  Are there statistics?  Would we know?


It is actually much more humane for an animal to be shot in the head.  Personally, I would prefer that way to go than being poisoned and writhing around on the floor screaming in pain.


The Kuwait Times and K’SPATH have taken up the sword in regards to the issue of the stray dog poisoning and I hope that they will continue the fight.  It is traumatic for anyone dealing with it and fighting for the cause.  It saddens and changes your view of people and humanity.  My prayers are really with them.


What can you do? 


Well, let the international community know.  It seems that what happens here is more often about “saving face” than “saving grace”.  You can fill out a “Report Cruelty” form online at PETA.  http://www.peta.org/about/contact-peta/report-cruelty.aspx  They have sent people here to document the inhumane treatment of sheep and helped to create a more humane/halal system.  Get on the forums and tell people what is happening here.  Write to the Arabic newspapers and voice your opinion.


People – make some noise!

From Facbook:  THIS IS THE NUMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT POISONS. PLEASE CALL. WE NEED TO BE THEIR VOICE AND END THIS BARBARIC KILLING 2471-7124
Below are links to information about both the stray dog poisonings and the mass slaughter of racehorses in Kuwait.  WARNING!  All are graphic.

Stray Dog Poisoning:

http://www.aldaronline.com/dar/detail2.cfm?articleID=146840 (Arabic)

http://new.kuwaittimes.net/2012/02/14/issue-of-animal-cruelty-belittled-slow-death-by-poison-for-strays-of-kuwait/

http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/watch-a-dog-suffer-before-dying/

http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/pictures-of-the-free-trade-zone-dogs-when-they-were-alive/

Poisoning of Racehorses in Ahmadi:  2007

http://desertgirlkuwait.blogspot.com/2007/01/field-of-dead-horses.html

http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/dead-horses-found-dumped-outside-club/

http://desertcauses.blogspot.com/2007/01/do-something.html

http://www.care2.com/news/member/525884267/578518

http://www.straightegyptians.com/forum2/index.php?showtopic=23650

“God has no mercy on one who has no mercy on others."

Ok, serious post. I am disgusted to the point of nausea over this one, so I have to share it, so that I'm not the only one.

I've seen 2 articles in the Arab Times over the past several days placed by the IVH. I am glad they brought it to the public's attention - so maybe something can be done about it in however a small way.

One of the 2 articles (and photos) on the first day was about "Murphy" - a medium sized white dog who was found (actually walked up to some people and seemed to ask for help) with no ears. Why didn't he have ears? Because they cut dogs ears off in preparation for dog fighting. Dog fighting is common in Kuwait and the authorities do nothing about it.

I use extreme caution whenever I have Desert Dawg outside in Kuwait because dogs are often stolen and can be used to "train" dogs that are fighting. They tape the bait-dog's muzzle and allow the training fight dog to attack the defenseless animal; often gnawing on it until it dies of its wounds. It is then thrown out to die.

The second story I saw (again with photo) was about Schultz - what appeared to be a close-to-purebred German Shephard dog. Schultz was found running alone in the desert - with his eyes glued shut. This one actually made me vomit. I actually screamed at my desk in my office.

I got no sleep last night because I relayed the story to a Kuwaiti friend who told me that gluing a dogs eyes shut and leaving it to die in the desert is some form of black magic ritual. I've known people who have practiced magic and this form of cruelty must be satanic worship because I've never heard of anything so evil. (Pagan/witchcraft 'Threefold Law' states that anything that you do will be returned to you three times stronger. harm or manipulate another person through black magic or any form of evil, you will pay for it by having the evil return to you threefold. By the same token, whenever you do something positive or good (such as healing or helping spell), it will result in threefold good karma instantly returned to you.)

By the way, both of these dogs are beautiful and IVH has them up for adoption. I am going to see how much it costs to have them flown to a rescue league in another country because they deserve better than being here.

(I deleted this paragraph. I couldn't handle it.)

Sometimes the only sollace I can gather from these acts is that God will punish the demons (I wouldn't consider them human) who commit these acts of cruelty and hatred. Mutate their children. Cause them intollerable pain through sickness and extreme misfortune. Curse their future generations.

Obviously, the only religion these monsters have is devil worship. If they are committing these acts against animals - they are likely to do it to humans.