CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PROF. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar

De Boer steps in to shelter homeless pets

Published: 03 May 2017 - 12:11 am | Last Updated: 05 Nov 2021 - 11:06 pm
De Boer volunteers with the pets Eggy and Rex.

De Boer volunteers with the pets Eggy and Rex.

The Peninsula

A leading temporary structures organisation has stepped in to provide shelter for homeless animals before the summer heat sets in.  Following an urgent public appeal for donations, the Doha office of De Boer responded immediately, providing a large temporary event tent for over 100 cats and dogs.   

Last year, one of Qatar’s largest animal shelters was ruined after extensive surface flooding and the entire operation together needed to be temporarily relocated at short notice.  According to Janet Berry, co-founder of Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS), an underground well burst onsite, submerging the Muaither shelter in three feet of water. “The loan tent provided by De Boer Qatar has literally been a life saver. Within 48 hours of the flood disaster De Boer stepped up and provided a safe place for 100 plus dogs to live in,” she said.

Janet said, “We could not have continued without the kindness and generosity of some local companies. I can’t stress enough how De Boer Qatar really did save the day for our dogs. We are so very grateful.”
Graeme Pattison, account manager at De Boer Qatar commented, “De Boer is committed to supporting the local Doha community through these types of initiatives and our staff didn’t hesitate to respond immediately to this urgent call for help.

“We were pleased to donate a temporary shelter to QAWS and to continue to house homeless pets of Qatar. This is our way of returning the great support De Boer has received from the Qatari community over the past twelve years,” concluded Graeme.

Today, hundreds of pets including two dogs, Eggy and Rex, are benefiting from the temporary shelter. Eggy, a white Labrador-Saluki mixed breed, has rickets meaning he was malnourished before arriving at the shelter causing bone deformity. While not life threatening, it has stunted his growth. He is now getting on well at the shelter and enjoys being around people.

A member of the public rescued Rex after having been found abandoned in the desert. Today Rex is people-friendly and has a new appetite for life. As with all the QAWS pets, Eggy and Rex are ultimately looking to be adopted into forever homes.

QAWS has plans in place to relocate its 300 animals to a purpose-built permanent shelter, which is a process that could take up to 18 months. In the meantime, QAWS accepts donations account for monetary donations to keep current operation functioning and they encourage people to visit the facility to see animals they are helping.