TV Survey Highlights Animal Cruelty In UAE

The results of a television survey carried out in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and shown on Al Aan TV found that people believe that animal cruelty is common in the UAE, but efforts to report such incidents are inadequate.

In this survey of 757 respondents, 77% consider animal cruelty to be common in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, nearly as many (72%) felt that people should be more proactive about reporting such cruelty. Of those who had previously witnessed the mistreatment of animals, 40% had confronted the perpetrator though 47% said they did nothing. Only 7% of respondents who had previously witnessed mistreatment said they reported the incident.

In other findings, almost half of survey respondents think that animal abuse is a bigger problem in the Middle East than in western countries. Many (70%) believe that more needs to be done; this opinion is especially strong among western expatriates (90%).

Roughly two out of every five people surveyed view animals as property and believe that it is acceptable to use them for any purpose, including entertainment. Almost two out of every five individuals agree that children who are cruel to animals are likely to become aggressive or otherwise violent as adults.

To address the issues, 81% of respondents said that additional publicity about animal cruelty could be of help, while 47% believe educational programs on animal care could be of help. Nearly half (43%) of respondents believe that people should take a more active role in confronting perpetrators of animal harm when they see it. Few (21%) say it is worthwhile to donate to animal charities, and even fewer (17%) consider volunteering time at an animal shelter to be helpful.