ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021

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Preparing charity boxes. Charity boxes. GUST launches ‘GUST_Cares’ initiative

GUST launched an initiative titled “GUST_Cares” bers were encouraged to either bring in supplies and the Human Rights Club. what matters and we hope this encourages others to which entailed distributing food boxes for those in need food which will be put into boxes, or to take a box home Head of the Office of Student Life, Aseel Abou do the same.” during the holy month of Ramadan. The campaign was and donate it to their liking. The Office of Student Life, Nemah said “An initiative such as GUST_Cares is The charity drive is still ongoing and open to launched at the start of the holy month and allowed OSL, who took charge of this drive, provided a list of a social responsibility from us as a university and the public to participate. Boxes are available for for wider community participation, with staff members necessities and food items families might require as ap- reinforces community solidarity. Despite these diffi- pickup from campus and instructions on how to do- of OSL organized full day trips to certain areas of the propriate options to donate and place within the boxes. cult times this campaign also showcases our student nate can be found on official GUST social media country, carrying out the donations to the recipients. Student clubs also participated as they took a sizeable body’s strong sense of responsibility and their pas- accounts. Individuals can share their donations The overall goal is to distribute and donate 1000 boxes portion of the boxes and donated them, clubs involved sion towards volunteer work and community service. and box designs with the university or tag them during the holy month of Ramadan. included: The Technology Club, the Bayan Cultural Showing compassion and lending a helping hand to on their own personal accounts with the use of the Students, faculty, and staff GUST community mem- Club, the Music Club, the Islamic Finance Club, and those in need during the holy month of Ramadan is #GUST_Cares hashtag.

Pets

Pandemic exposes inhumanity meted out to animals Abandoned pets are dying on the streets

By Chaitali B. Roy proved blood testing laboratory. One Special to the Arab Times can travel only after three months from the date the blood sample was taken,” OVID-19 has not only devastated says Nadine Yousef, a dog owner who Chumankind, but it has also had a recently relocated to the UK from Ku- far-reaching impact on animal welfare. wait. “There are some general must Here in Kuwait, like elsewhere, the so- do’s for pet owners,” shares Marlene cio-economic impact of the pandemic Bou Gedeon. “As far as dog owners has been immense, and the fall out of are concerned, they need a vaccina- people losing their jobs and leaving tion book for their dog, which serves Kuwait has impacted pet relinquish- as its passport. The dog requires a ments, abandonment and adoptions. microchip. Without a microchip, the Kuwait has a poor track record on dog won’t be able to leave the coun- animal rights, with animals having try. The dog also needs a rabies vac- little or no standing from a legal point cine that is a month old with a validity of view. The pandemic has further ex- of 11 months. A dog may also need a posed the inhumanity meted out to ani- screwworm test. The best thing to do is mals here. Month after month, images to confirm the rules from the website of dumped animals have flooded social of the country to which you want to media with harried and overburdened travel. As far as Kuwait is concerned, rescuers reaching out to the public for as long as you have the vaccination help. Shelters are overcrowded, and card and the microchip, export permit rescued animals are spilling over at from PAAFR will not take time,” says foster homes. Abandoned animals are Marlene. Some pet owners seek help dying on the streets. from animal hospitals or vets to sort Joey, a mixed breed dog, was found out their paperwork in exchange for at Scientific Centre crying in pain. He a hefty sum. Others prefer doing it on was dumped either because his own- their own. ers were travelling or because they could not bear the medical expense of Committed his treatment. Bibi, a Persian cat, was “Every country has its rules and abandoned thrice. Her owner lost his conditions,” says Marlene Bou Gede- job and left Kuwait. Bibi was left at a on. “For example, sending animals friend’s place who later gave her away to Europe involves a long process in- as he couldn’t afford a pet. Edward, cluding the rabies vaccination, while a British shorthair, was dumped by sending animals to the US and Cana- his owners at a foul animal boarding da is the easiest. If you want to take house. When they stopped paying, the your pet abroad, you need to know place promptly dumped Edward on the the rules. Moreover, during this pan- streets until he was rescued. A dog in demic, conditions for sending animals Salwa was left to die on the balcony. abroad keep changing every day all Another time, a German Shepherd Marlene Bou Gedeon with one of her rescued animals. Maple in Kuwait. over the world, so one has to be care- was found abandoned and chained to ful.” Transportation of animals also a street light in Yarmouk. differs from airline to airline. Accord- ing to Marlene, during Covid, several Expense airlines changed their rules for animal Many expatriates exiting Kuwait carriage. “The number of flights has in the pandemic are abandoning their been greatly reduced. On some flights, pets. They are either unwilling or un- inside and outside of Kuwait, animals able to bear the expense of pet travel. are allowed, while on other flights, But expatriates are not the only ones at they’re not. There are many factors fault here. The locals also contribute to involved worldwide as the situation is the stray population increase through- so fluid. Prices keep increasing all the out the year. “Many expats abandon time, and as a result, rescuers and pet their animals while exiting the coun- owners suffer,” she rues. try, “agrees Marlene Bou Gedeon, a There can be hidden complications renowned and passionate animal advo- for pet owners in Kuwait who want to cate and rescuer in Kuwait. “But many send their dogs out of Kuwait. Rules locals also dump their pets once they of carriage sometimes depend on get tired of their playthings. The main the breed of the animal. “Pet own- problem is there is no accountability ers should be aware that during sum- for such actions in Kuwait.” mer, there is an embargo on flying A tireless champion for animals, flat-nosed animals. This includes cer- Marlene Bou Gedeon, runs Touch of tain breeds of cats and dogs, such as HopeQ8 an animal rescue mission that Persian cats and bulldogs and pugs, has ‘mercy’ in its mission statement because they can have breathing prob- and commitment. Deep in the desert, lems in the heat,” Marlene says. the Touch of Hope shelter is at maxi- The cost of air travel for animals mum capacity with rescued and stray is usually high. Some rescuers and animals. Marlene takes up the cause pet owners advise taking pets as ex- of animals that people ignore, includ- cess baggage, as it costs significantly ing older animals, often with medical less than cargo. “A pet can be taken as or behavioural problems. She always excess baggage or in a crate as cargo. sees the hidden jewel inside and finds Some very small pets are also allowed them homes. “Why don’t pet owners in the cabin, but there are strict specifi- take their pets with them when they cations for size and weight,” says Mar- leave Kuwait? Why do they bring Maple and Manee Phimnara taking her cats home. Rasha feeding stray cats. lene.” When taken as excess baggage, pets home if they have no intention of a pet owner has to pay by kilogram, keeping their commitment?” she asks. animal home to entertain the family to see people abandon their cats once home, I am responsible for their lives. took Phimnara a couple of days to whereas, one is charged by the size of “Dumping is not new in Kuwait, but and then throw them out when you they grow up. They treat these animals They are like my children. I cannot process papers and prepare her already a crate in case of cargo.” yes, the frequency has increased in the get bored or when the animal grows like playthings. Most people here in leave my children behind,” she writes. vaccinated and microchipped cats. A To Marlene Bou Gedeon dumping pandemic,” she worries. old or falls sick. This is irresponsible Kuwait need to be educated about ani- When asked about animals being aban- pet that is not vaccinated or does not pets is a barbaric act. “I always say do Dr Mahmoud, a vet who also sup- and inhuman behaviour,” he says. “All mals,” she says. Rasha is a committed doned, Phimnara says, have a microchip needs a month to get not adopt if you are not committed,” ports animal activists in Kuwait, es- religions, including Islam, says you animal rescuer. Her home in Salwa is a “From what I heard, there are many travel-ready. she urges. “This is the reason I rarely timates that at least more than half of have to feed animals. Also, there is a sanctuary for scores of cats. reasons why pet owners give up on Like Phimnara, pet owners in Ku- give my animals for adoption in Ku- the rescued animals in recent times wrong perception that cats or dogs can Not all expatriates leave their pets their animals. Some people lose their wait need to be prepared for last- wait. I prefer to send them abroad to are abandoned pets than born strays. infect humans with corona. Until now, behind. Many take them along. Phim- jobs on short notice and have to leave minute moves. Pet owners travelling a permanent home.” Besma Bassam “People dump their pets for many there is no scientific evidence to prove nara Lalitphattaranuwath Wallace Kuwait immediately. They cannot af- to Europe require a preparatory time Bishawi, a rescuer who has recently reasons. Sometimes people refuse to that animals can transmit the virus to recently moved to the United States. ford the transportation cost. Some of approximately three months. Dogs, shifted to Kuwait after years of work spend money on providing their sick humans.” Rasha Al Naser, an animal She took Mabel and Manee, her two move into places that do not allow cats or ferrets travelling to the UK/ in the UAE, believes it all boils down pets with medical treatment and pre- lover and activist, agrees. rescued cats, along with her when she animals. Some have family members EU need a blood test that takes three to awareness. “I believe that raising fer to abandon the poor souls,” he “Some people wrongly believe they relocated. “There is no way I would who are allergic to cats. But no reason months to process. “The blood sample awareness is vital to animal welfare. says. “When you adopt an animal, will get the virus from the animals,” leave my cats behind,” she writes from is good enough to dump a pet. They has to be taken at least 30 days after People need to understand that a pet is it’s a commitment for the entire life she says. “I have been rescuing cats Washington. “I have been a pet owner can either get the animal adopted or its primary rabies vaccination. This a family member and should be treated of the animal. You can’t bring the for some time now. It is heartbreaking for many years. Once I bring a pet seek the help of animal shelters.” It sample is sent to a UK or EU ap- accordingly.”