A Dubai real estate agency is integrating information about rescued animals into its property portal, providing each dog and cat with a profile styled like a listing, as shelters across the country face a rise in abandoned animals.
A Dubai real estate agency is integrating information about rescued animals into its property portal, providing each dog and cat with a profile styled like a listing, as shelters across the country face a rise in abandoned animals.
For the first time in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), property listings are being used to find permanent homes for rescued animals. About 50 dogs and cats are planned to be featured on the real estate portal in hopes of finding them families.
The company Haus & haus has begun featuring rescued dogs and cats in AI-generated scenes inspired by its actual properties. The animals appear in living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, allowing potential adopters to visually imagine what life with a pet could look like at home.
The campaign, which launched on Tuesday, is being carried out in collaboration with K9 Friends and Animals & Us, a shelter based in Fujairah. Around 50 animals are expected to be presented, each with a brief biography and a direct link to the relevant organization for finding a home.
This initiative comes amid reports from animal protection groups across the UAE about a sharp increase in abandoned pets. Many shelters are operating at or beyond capacity, placing additional strain on the volunteers of rescue organizations.
Siddhi Mulawakar, a volunteer at K9 Friends, noted that 'every successful adoption changes two lives—the life of an animal and the life of a family—and also frees up space for rescue organizations to help the next needy pet.'
Michelle Francis Matanda, CEO of Animals & Us in Fujairah, welcomed the timeliness of this step. She stated: 'We are facing a problem that rescue organizations across the region are battling, and property listings are the perfect platform to encourage people to think about adoption while they envision their next chapter.'
Each rescued animal is assigned a profile on the website that mimics the standard format of a real estate listing. Visitors browsing properties can go directly to the adoption organization to learn about the possibility of adoption.
Among the featured animals is Gucci, a three-year-old male Desert Cross who has spent his entire life at the K9 Friends shelter. His profile indicates that he is nervous about the outside world but becomes more confident with every walk.
There is also Gordita, a one-year-old female Corgi Mix whose name means 'little chubby' in Spanish. Her description states that she is a 'clingy dog' who is happy being close to a person and needs a patient home to adjust after a recent transfer.
Lucy Nickerson, Marketing Director at Haus & haus, explained that the idea arose from a simple observation: 'People visit our site daily imagining the next chapter of their lives. We realized that the same journey could help rescued animals start theirs.'
Charlie Brennan, Managing Director of Haus & haus, added that this campaign provided the company with an opportunity to go beyond its core business. He noted: 'We are always looking for new ways to engage with our clients, and this gave us a chance to do something truly meaningful.'
A comprehensive animal shelter has opened in Dubai's Al Warsan district. It is equipped with a new digital platform that allows residents to view information about rescued cats and dogs available for adoption even before visiting the facility.
This new shelter, located at the Bird and Animal Market in Al Warsan, is designed to care for stray and lost companions. It combines veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, grooming, and adoption services under one roof.
Users interested in acquiring a pet can use the online platform to review the animals and receive detailed information about their health status and behavior. This helps potential owners make informed decisions before starting the adoption process.
The facility also includes interactive rooms for meeting the animals, where future owners can spend time with them before taking them home. The shelter has a veterinary clinic with an operating room, as well as a special center that helps reunite lost pets with their owners after checking identification and ownership data.
The Dubai Municipality stated that this shelter is part of broader efforts to improve animal welfare and encourage responsible pet ownership, ensuring a humane management system for strays.
The municipality has entered into agreements with Vets Fur Pets Veterinary Clinic and Phoenix Veterinary Clinic. These partnerships aim to support the treatment and rehabilitation of injured or sick stray animals, as well as promoting advanced animal care methods.
As part of this initiative, the municipality will continue implementing internationally recognized 'Trap-Neuter-Return' (TNR) programs for stray cats. Simultaneously, programs for treating and caring for stray dogs and cats will be conducted. Under this approach, stray cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, and vaccinated if necessary before being returned to their former locations, provided it is safe for both the animals and the public.
Dr. Naseem Mohammed Rafee, the acting CEO of the Dubai Municipality Environment, Health and Safety Agency, noted that the new shelter strengthens the emirate's veterinary services and supports the 'One Health' approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Earlier this year, the Dubai Municipality introduced the first AI-powered 'Ihsan' smart feeders in the region for stray and free-roaming companions. Twelve such devices have been installed across Dubai to support animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
