Tulsi Plant Care Tips: How to Make It Lush and Green During the Rainy Season

The new integrated animal shelter and digital adoption platform have been positively received by members of the animal welfare community in the UAE. These activists believe that this initiative can change the approach to rescuing, treating, and subsequently placing homeless and abandoned animals.

Representatives from the rescue sector and pet industry specialists noted that the project could reduce the burden on independent volunteers while encouraging responsible pet ownership and making the adoption process more accessible.

Rafah Arjeh, a grooming business owner and office manager, expressed her sincere joy and pride after learning about this initiative. She stated: 'I believe this is a wonderful step towards improving animal welfare in the UAE. Any initiative that simplifies the rescue, adoption, and care of homeless animals is fully supported by me.'

Arjeh, who herself rescues six cats and participates in adoption events, expressed hope that this project would lead more residents to help animals in need. In her opinion, combining a physical shelter with a digital adoption service will make it easier for rescuers to find suitable families.

She also emphasized that such a system can educate the public about responsible pet ownership and encourage people to adopt instead of buying. Arjeh added that this will likely help reduce the number of stray animals on the streets.

According to Arjeh, finding permanent housing remains one of the most serious problems for rescuers. She gave an example of six cats she took under her care, found in critical situations: one had a broken paw, another had severe eye inflammation, and a third showed signs of skin issues or parasitic infection.

Thanks to her experience caring for animals and connections with veterinarians, she managed to receive treatment at lower costs, but she noted that many rescuers do not have access to similar support. She also mentioned that dogs are particularly difficult to place in new homes because some buildings and landlords prohibit them; moreover, they may require more space and greater involvement from new owners.

Arjeh believes that independent rescuers need affordable veterinary services, temporary accommodation, shelter networks, and transportation assistance. A reliable platform promoting animals awaiting adoption can significantly increase their chances of finding a family. She insists that the shelter should view rescuers, veterinary clinics, and volunteer helpers as partners, emphasizing that good coordination and communication are vital.

Within such a system, veterinarians could provide medical care, rescuers could find animals in distress, volunteers could provide temporary care, and the shelter itself could coordinate the entire process. Arjeh is preparing to open the RWOOFI Pet Grooming salon in Abu Dhabi and hopes to provide grooming services to rescued animals before they are adopted. She notes that grooming often improves an animal's health, comfort, and chances of acceptance, and that animal welfare is a shared responsibility that such initiatives can inspire.

Andrea Petrovich, Business Development Manager at Wunderdog, characterized this initiative as a positive step for animal welfare in Dubai. She expressed hope that the Dubai municipality leadership, which is leading the project, demonstrates a growing priority for animal welfare and movement in the right direction.

Petrovich works in the pet industry, supports licensed local shelters, and has a rescued dog, a surrendered dog, and an adopted cat. She also welcomed the strengthening of animal protection regulations, asserting that education and enforcement must go hand in hand. In her view, this sends a clear signal about the importance of animal welfare.

She believes that the digital platform can connect more residents with animals needing homes, simplify adoption, and promote responsible ownership. However, she warned that the launch should be seen only as a starting point, not as a complete solution. Petrovich stressed that there is still a long way to go regarding reducing the number of abandoned and homeless cats and dogs across the UAE. She added that public education must continue, measures against abandoning animals must be tightened, and rescuers and shelters must be supported.

Furthermore, Petrovich plans to set up feeding stations for animals in the community, especially considering the harsh summer temperatures in the UAE. She reminded that stray animals did not choose to be abandoned, and access to fresh water and food can save lives. She concluded that she sees this as a very promising step forward and sincerely hopes it marks the beginning of even greater progress in animal welfare in Dubai and across the UAE.

Empty bottles from water, juice, or carbonated drinks often appear in daily life. Many people tend to throw them away, considering them useless. However, this plastic packaging can prove quite useful in various household chores.

The advantage of this approach is that creating useful items from these bottles does not require purchasing expensive goods from the store. Thus, waste is reused, and money is saved on buying small household items. Furthermore, it helps reduce the volume of unnecessary plastic waste.

Next time you have an empty plastic bottle, consider its alternative use instead of immediately throwing it in the trash bin.

1. Creating Plant Pots

If you enjoy gardening, a plastic bottle can be an excellent helper. You need to cut the bottle in half and make small holes in the bottom for drainage. This container can be filled with soil and used to plant small plants such as basil, mint, or tulsi. In limited spaces, these bottles can be hung up and used to create a vertical garden.

2. DIY Watering Can

There is no need to buy a separate watering can for plants. Take an empty plastic bottle, make tiny holes in the cap using a needle or another sharp object. Fill the bottle with water, tightly close the cap, and gently press it to dispense water to small seedlings or young plants.

3. Organizing Charging Cables

Plastic bottles can help organize charging devices, headphones, and USB cables that often get tangled. Separate a part of the bottle and smooth the edges carefully. This cut piece can hold cables and small electronics, allowing everything to be stored in one place and avoiding constant searching.

4. Storing Small Kitchen Goods

A large plastic bottle, after thorough cleaning, can be used to store dry food such as cereals, spices, sweets, or beans. Thanks to the bottle's transparency, the contents are easily visible. It is important that the container is clean and safe for contact with food products.

5. Making a Funnel

Sometimes there is a need for a funnel in the kitchen, but none is available. In this case, an empty plastic bottle will do. The top part of the bottle is cut off, and the cap is removed, turning the remainder into a functional funnel for pouring oil, water, grains, or other substances from one container to another.

6. Bird Feeder for the Balcony

During warm weather, old bottles can be used to place bird feed on the balcony. You need to cut two small sections on the sides of the bottle and attach a wooden stick or spoon to them so that birds can perch on them. The bottle filled with feed should be hung in a safe place and cleaned regularly to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and dirt.

7. Organizing School Supplies

Small items such as pens, pencils, scissors, and brushes are often scattered on the desk. The bottom part of the bottle can be cut to create a small pen holder. This holder can be decorated with colored paper, fabric, or paint, making it attractive to children.

8. Containers for Small Items

Various small items—buttons, hair clips, rubber bands, screws, crafting materials, or jewelry—are often lost. Parts of a plastic bottle can be cut and used as miniature containers for storing these small things.