Dubai influencers have hit back after being accused of abandoning their pets as they flee the war.
Vets in the UAE have reported an influx in inquiries about euthanising pets, and re-homing groups said they were ‘overwhelmed’ by the number of owners wanting to leave their pets behind since the US-Israel and Iran war began.
Influencers were condemned by many for allegedly leaving behind their pets, including the French Animal League who published a tweet claiming French influencer Maddy Burciaga had left her dog behind and fled to Mauritius.
Ms Burciaga responded by threatening legal action and said that she went on holiday and will be returning to her dog, Maya.
The Animal League tweeted ‘shame on her’ on Monday, writing: ‘Influencer Maddy Burciaga explains that she left Dubai for Mauritius due to tensions in the region… leaving her dog behind with the nanny under the pretext of “too complicated because too much paperwork.”
‘A dog, on the other hand, would never abandon its human to save its own skin. Dogs are ready to cross through a war to stay with their humans.
‘That’s the entire difference between loyalty… and comfort. Even if she wants to “protect” her family by taking refuge elsewhere, she could at least have started preparing her dog’s repatriation.
‘Nothing of the sort. Go ahead and ask for a strategy or deep reflection from that kind of superficial person… it’s a lost cause. Shame on her.’
Maddy Burciaga (pictured) is one Dubai influencer who has faced backlash for allegedly abandoning her dog while fleeing the Middle East conflict
Ms Burciaga denied the claims, saying she would be returning to her pet after a holiday in Mauritius
Photos of dogs tied to lamp posts have been circulating online and vets have reported an influx in inquiries about euthanising pets
The post got over 1.9million views and over 1,000 comments of condemnation, but today Ms Burciaga responded on her social media and denied the claims of abandonment and threatened to sue for defamation.
She wrote: ‘I would never abandon my dog; my dog is my baby, she’s part of our family. When we go on vacation, Maya is looked after.
‘We didn’t flee Dubai, we went on vacation for a few days to escape the anxiety-inducing atmosphere there.
‘To use our vacation and the ongoing war to claim we abandoned our dog is very low.
‘We didn’t flee Dubai, our life is in Dubai. We plan to return home to Dubai. If I had to leave tomorrow, of course I would have done everything I could to make sure Maya came with me if I didn’t intend to come back.
‘In any case, we’re going home, even if the situation doesn’t improve.’
She added: ‘I reserve the right to attack all those who dare to damage my image and invent such serious statements.’
Another influencer, Sarah Lopez, was accused on social media of abandoning her cat.
Sarah Lopez (pictured) is another influencer in Dubai who has slammed critics for accusing her of abandoning her pets
Vicky Pattison blasted ‘shameful’ Dubai expats who abandoned their pets to flee the missiles raining down on the Middle East
The TV personality, 38, took to her Instagram Stories to say those leaving their animals behind ‘never deserved them’
She denied this on Snapchat and claimed the cat was a ‘stray’ that she fed, as opposed to her pet.
Ms Lopez also threatened legal action, writing: ‘I don’t own animals in Dubai – I rescue animals in Dubai.
‘Do I have to send you vet bills for you to stop unfairly attacking me? If you only knew how furious I am.
‘I reserve the right to take legal action against anyone who threatens me with messages, insults me, or threatens my family.
‘I’m not reserving the right, I’m going to do it. A bailiff will document everything, and the proceedings will begin very soon.’
Dubai and the Gulf states have been caught up in the conflict in the Middle East, suffering hits from Iranian drones and missiles and regular air raid sirens.
Expats were criticised for fleeing the UAE and abandoning their pets by other expats and animal welfare groups, including former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, who called it ‘shameful’.
Ms Pattison, 38, who was in Dubai when the conflict broke out, yesterday took to social media to blast those leaving their animals behind, saying they ‘never deserved them’.
She wrote: ‘Just a note… if you are abandoning your pets in Dubai – you didn’t deserve that animal to begin with and I pray it finds a better home. Shameful.’
K9 Friends Dubai, a dog re-homing group, said it has become overwhelmed by the number of dog owners wanting to leave their pets behind and phone calls they have received about abandoned puppies.
Animal groups are trying their best to find shelters – but hundreds of posts about deserted pets have been spotted online.
And some vets have had to euthanise even healthy pets because their owners don’t want to face the relocation costs or paperwork.
Claire Hopkins, a resident of Dubai who volunteers with several animal organisations and shelters, said they were under severe financial pressure as fundraising activities are highly regulated and GoFundMe pages are banned in Dubai.
She said: ‘Some pet owners are stressed and panicking. It’s right across the board, and I think the Brits are better than most, but you’re talking about 200 different nationalities here in the UAE.
‘Some people want to give back their adoptive pets. There are dogs starting to be abandoned.
‘The airlines aren’t taking animals at the moment anyway as the flights are operating a very reduced service. If you wanted to get a rabies jab, then you have to delay your travel by a further three weeks.
‘I’m sorry to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting.
‘Most vets would pass them on to the shelters, but we’re already full.’
