Tears Animal Rescue is currently caring for 109 dogs this winter and is appealing to a larger number of families to adopt or foster animals to make space for those in need of rescue.
Every kennel at Tears Animal Rescue is full, and 109 dogs are awaiting loving owners. During the winter period, the organization urgently calls for adoption and temporary care to save more lives and create space for those who need it.
The organization urges the public to consider adopting or temporarily housing a dog, stating that every dog that finds a home frees up space to rescue another life.
Currently, Tears is caring for 45 puppies and 64 adult dogs, which exceeds the ideal capacity of 100 dogs by nine animals. Junior Marketing Manager Dylan Malander noted that the shelter has been operating at or near its limit for a long time because more dogs are arriving than are leaving through adoption.
He stated: 'Every kennel is full. Every spot is taken. Every new dog that arrives means another difficult decision about where we can safely place an animal in need.'
Winter is traditionally one of the busiest periods for animal welfare organizations, when adoptions slow down while the demand for shelter services remains high.
Malander explained that the combination of economic difficulties, unplanned litters, and an increase in pet owners seeking help has created significant strain on the organization. He added: 'While Tears has faced capacity issues in past winters, the current sustained demand is particularly worrying. Our teams work tirelessly to provide every animal with the necessary care, but the situation highlights the constant need for responsible pet ownership and sterilization in our communities.'
One unexpected challenge this winter has been the large number of puppies arriving at the shelter. Although puppy season is usually in the summer, low sterilization rates and lack of awareness among pet owners have led to litters appearing in the colder months.
Since school holidays extend until Monday, July 21st, Tears hopes that families will consider getting a new dog while children are home to help it settle in. However, the organization strongly recommends not ignoring adult dogs.
Malander refuted the common misconception that older dogs have behavioral problems or are harder to integrate into family life. He emphasized: 'One of the biggest misconceptions about adopting an adult dog is that they come with too much baggage or that their behavior is already set. In reality, many adult dogs become exceptional companions and adapt wonderfully to family life if given the opportunity and time.'
He also noted that adult dogs often have a developed personality, which simplifies finding a suitable family and lifestyle. Unlike puppies, whose energy levels, size, and temperament can change significantly as they grow, adult dogs allow families to make a more informed adoption decision. Many adults already possess basic manners and require less intensive supervision than a young puppy after settling into a new home.
Malander stressed that every adoption helps the shelter continue its work. He explained: 'The reality is that every kennel occupied by a long-term resident is one less space for a dog that might face neglect, abuse, abandonment, or injury on the streets. Increasing adoptions is crucial.'
For those who cannot take a dog permanently, fostering is also a way to help. Foster parents provide a temporary home for the dog while Tears provides food, veterinary care, and everything else until a permanent home is found. To adopt or foster a dog, visit tears.org.za.
A two-year-old girl from the Philippines, who was abandoned as an infant, has returned to her homeland after spending most of her early life under the care of a shelter in Dubai.
The girl arrived safely on July 9, 2026, via a commercial flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). This was the result of coordinated efforts by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and UAE authorities. She was accompanied by a representative from the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs, Dubai Social Welfare Attaché Cherilyn G. Girado.
From four months old, the girl was under the care of the Family Village institution in Al Warqa, Dubai. There, she was provided with a safe and caring environment that supported her health and development while all preparations for her return to the Philippines were finalized.
Upon arrival, the young girl was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for temporary custody and placement. Officials noted that the child's return reflects the government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that no Filipino citizen, especially the most vulnerable, is left behind.
The United States returned letters to Mexico containing criticisms about abuses committed against migrants. These letters were delivered by Lazzeri to Michael Kozak, an official from the U.S. Department of State's Western Hemisphere Affairs.
The U.S. Department of State communicated on social media that it returned the Mexican documents because it considered them intended to direct the activities of American government personnel within the sovereign territory of Mexico. Furthermore, Washington advised Mexico to present its concerns using established diplomatic channels.
Previously, the Mexican ambassador had sent a letter to the private company responsible for managing the Adelanto detention center in California. In this correspondence, he requested that the company comply with appropriate protocols and fully respect the human rights of the people under its custody, following the death of at least four Mexican citizens.
The Adelanto detention center is managed by GEO Group, which is cited as one of the main private corporations responsible for managing immigrant detention facilities in the United States (USA). The letter sent by Lazzeri was issued in the exercise of consular protection, as recognized by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to which both countries are signatories, and was done with full respect for the laws, authorities, and institutions of the United States.
In response to the return of the documents, the Mexican Embassy declared that the country was aware of what happened and that the raised concerns were formally presented through diplomatic means during meetings with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Mexico stated that it will continue to closely monitor every case and work in coordination with North American authorities, based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, shared responsibility, mutual trust, and collaboration without subordination.
These letters are part of a series of actions announced by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. This initiative involves sending correspondence to detention centers where Mexican nationals have died, demanding that any actions or omissions leading to these deaths cease immediately. This includes preventing access to prompt and immediate medical care, as well as applying policies that are not aligned with medical and penitentiary standards. Such letters represent the first formal step toward possible civil proceedings.
Families from Abu Dhabi are transforming social assistance programs into sustainable commercial enterprises by utilizing traditional Emirati crafts. Initial temporary financial support can become the foundation for a family business.
This concept is at the heart of the 'Community Market,' organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Social Support (ADSS). Twenty-one beneficiary families participate in this fair, showcasing a wide range of goods: from handmade and crocheted items to chocolate and specialty coffee, aiming to secure a stable income instead of complete reliance on financial aid.
The three-day fair, held at Nabdh Al Falah Center and running until July 19th, is the first series of an initiative that ADSS plans to make a regular part of its broader economic empowerment program. Kassem Al Hashimi, Executive Director for Beneficiary Affairs at ADSS, noted: 'We provide temporary financial support, but we also offer programs that help beneficiaries achieve economic self-reliance.'
According to Al Hashimi, the program was launched in response to growing interest among beneficiary families. Participants were selected and trained, and now they are displaying their achievements. He emphasized that in the initial phase, the program intentionally covers diverse activities—from food products and crafts to artistic items—to allow everyone to showcase their skills, with specialization developing later.
Al Hashimi clarified that the program's goal is long-term movement toward financial independence, not immediate sales assessment. He added that while the focus is currently on exhibition, close collaboration with these families will continue in the future to further develop their competencies.
Among the entrepreneurs is Mariam Al Nuaimi, founder of Rowayb. Her stall combines Arabic calligraphy with traditional Emirati Sadu weaving in modern design. Initially studying geospatial information systems, Al Nuaimi began learning calligraphy seven years ago and then expanded her scope to crafts about four years ago. What started as requests from friends and relatives for personalized gifts gradually turned into a business.
Today, she handwrites on ceramics, fans, medals, and other surfaces, and also transforms traditional Sadu weaving into vibrant bracelets, keychains, and accessories. She noted that although older women usually handle Sadu, she wanted to present it in a modern form using different colors appealing to youth. Her business is less than a year old, but it is already attracting attention due to the fusion of heritage and modern design. She thanks the social support authority for providing the opportunity to exhibit her work free of charge after obtaining a home business license, mentioning that her daughters, aged 15 and 11, also help her.
At a neighboring stall, crochet has become more than just a business for 45-year-old Amna Al Mehairi—she calls it therapy. The founder of Amoon Crochet shared that she struggled with concentration issues throughout her life and stopped working in 2018 after a difficult divorce while raising four children, including a son with autism.
The situation changed about a year ago when she and her daughter-in-law, who had survived cancer, decided to learn crochet. Amna said she wanted to bring joy to her daughter-in-law. In one year, the hobby turned into a business producing colorful bags, children's blankets, and accessories made from premium Egyptian cotton, which she imports herself due to the inability to find the desired quality in the local market. However, according to her, the biggest change happened on a personal level. 'It taught me to focus. It reduced my anxiety and anger. It gave me good company, people who are always learning something useful.'
She now views crochet as a form of therapy that helped restore self-confidence while creating a source of income. She also hopes that more people will begin to understand the true value of handmade items, pointing out that people often do not see all the effort involved in selecting materials, designing, and creating every stitch by hand.
Suhail Al Mazroui began entrepreneurship after months of unsuccessful job searching. Unable to find employment, he decided to create his own opportunity by opening a small cafeteria in Al Ain, where he sold burgers and fast food. However, the business did not take off. He realized that people crave food reminiscent of home. He made the difficult decision to completely abandon the initial concept and relaunched the venture under the name Suhail Mahashy, specializing in stuffed grape leaves, cabbage rolls, and other traditional dishes.
This risk paid off almost immediately. Daily orders increased from approximately 10–15 as a fast-food establishment to 50 or even 60 after switching to homemade traditional meals. He concluded that sometimes you need to change direction instead of giving up, and now hopes to expand operations beyond Al Ain.
Chocomail is a prime example of a family enterprise. What started as homemade chocolate prepared in the family kitchen grew into a brand available in Adnoc Oasis stores across the UAE, and is now also available in Qatar and recently expanded into Saudi Arabia. Co-founder Mohammed Al Hosani explained that the business arose not from a formal business plan, but from a series of family gatherings. 'We all sat together like one family. Everyone contributed ideas.'
One relative, without formal culinary training, possessed an exceptional talent for developing and tasting chocolate recipes, while another family member regularly traveled to Switzerland and Belgium to study new flavors and techniques, bringing ideas back to the UAE. Al Hosani stressed that it was a 'true family effort.' Even choosing a name took weeks until a favorite emerged from nearly twenty options—Chocomail. The concept is inspired by handwritten letters: the chocolate is packaged in vintage envelope-shaped boxes designed like postage stamps, serving as a nostalgic nod to times when messages arrived by mail, not phone.
Initially, the chocolate was produced at home and sold online without a commercial license. 'When demand grew, we realized we needed to formalize it,' said Al Hosani. Six years later, the company has its own production facility in Abu Dhabi and supplies products to ADNOC Oasis stores from Fujairah to Al Seef, continuing to develop new flavors and packaging.
Nearby, 15-year-old Saif Al Jadi proudly presented the newest addition to the family business—colorful toys, keychains, and custom accessories printed on a 3D printer. The idea came during a trip with his mother, Samira Al Blushi, to China. While she was looking for new floral designs and gift ideas for her flower shop, Lemas Flowers, Saif was fascinated by rows of 3D printers creating intricate models. 'I saw this idea there and wanted to do the same.'
Upon returning to the UAE, he acquired a 3D printer and spent months learning how to design, modify, and print items, from miniature airplanes to personalized car accessories and decorative elements. The Community Fair became the teenager's first public exhibition. His mother noted that entrepreneurship has always been part of her life: she started arranging bouquets in primary school, winning school competitions before fulfilling her childhood dream of opening her own flower shop right after middle school. For the last 15 years, she has managed Lemas Flowers in Al Ain, regularly visiting China in search of new ideas and products. 'I took Saif with me, and he found something completely different. Now we help each other.'
