Urgent Advisory: PETA Shares Companion Animal Travel Guidance for Expats Fleeing Middle East

Dubai — Following reports of dogs and cats being abandoned on the streets of Dubai or dumped outside overwhelmed rescue centres as expats flee the Middle East conflict, PETA is urging companion animal guardians to never leave animals behind and sharing vital updates from authorities in France and Great Britain on how to legally bring cats and dogs from affected areas.

For companion animal guardians seeking urgent departure to Great Britain, the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has clarified to PETA that animal companions who do not meet the import requirements can be brought to Great Britain under an emergency import licence issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency—though quarantine may be required. DEFRA advises companion animal guardians considering leaving the affected areas to check the health requirements for their destination and to start preparing their companion animals for travel now, including ensuring they are up to date with rabies vaccination.

To help prevent animals from being abandoned, France has eased import rules for dogs and cats accompanying French nationals repatriated from the Middle East until April 30. These animals may enter French territory even if they do not meet all European health requirements, provided their guardians agree to contact a veterinarian upon arrival in France to undergo the necessary health checks. The veterinarian must be identified in advance.

“The peril that humans are fleeing is every bit as terrifying for the cats and dogs being dumped on the streets, where they’re left cowering in confusion and at risk of violence, starvation, and countless other dangers,” says PETA Asia President Jason Baker. “No matter how chaotic the circumstances, animals depend entirely on their guardians, and PETA is urging people to plan now so that every member of the family can escape to safety together.”

PETA notes that, while exacerbated by current events, animal abandonment is an ongoing crisis in the UAE, fueled by breeders and lax enforcement. PETA is calling on UAE authorities to implement an immediate ban on the breeding of cats and dogs and introduce stiffer penalties for abandonment—including permanent bans on animal ownership for anyone who leaves an animal behind.

#