A new animal-friendly law is in effect in the United Arab Emirates: animal owners who abandon their pets or commit any act considered as animal cruelty could be fined or sentenced to jail.
The law, announced by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), will also allow legal action on farms and industries overworking animals. It is additionally now prohibited to give animals growth hormones, steroids or other illegal additives.
“The UAE is strongly committed to animal welfare, which holds significant value in our Islamic beliefs and culture,” says Saif Mohammed Al Shara, assistant undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at MOCCAE. “Our role is to develop a legislative framework for animal protection and biodiversity preservation in line with global animal welfare standards.”
