Abu Dhabi Pet Parents Support New Registration Rules, Reduce Animal Abandonment

Abu Dhabi: Pet owners of Abu Dhabi have voiced their support and welcomed the government’s decision to make pet registration mandatory. Earlier last month, the government notified all pet owners that pets must be registered on the TAMM portal. 

Under the regulations released by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), pet owners must register their pets on the TAMM portal. The new pet registration rules aim to solve the growing animal abandonment issue in the emirate. 

Jelena Kukic, 40, expressed support for the new regulation, noting that it could help track the number of pets and their owners. "We have so many stray cats," the Serbian clinic manager said. "I hear so many stories from animal welfare [groups] (almost) every day about them finding stray dogs and cats. You won't believe how big the community here is that is dealing with that," she added.

Kukic also observed the issue of owners refusing to claim responsibility for their lost/abandoned animals, arguing that the new regulations should include automated fines (like for traffic violations) for such owners. 

Antje Westermann, a dog behaviourist from Germany, believes that mandatory registration will help track down owners if a pet is abandoned. "If all pets are registered, we can track down the owner unless they’ve left the country," she explained. However, she noted that locating an owner is not always a solution. "I once found a dog with a microchip, but when I contacted the owner, they said they didn’t want the dog anymore."

Rasha Mohamed, a 47-year-old consultation advisor from Egypt, supports the TAMM regulation, particularly for addressing the issue of stray cats. "Everyday, there are dozens of new stray cats that had owners," she said. “My cats are already chipped, but if the app facilitates easier access if they get lost, it will be really good," she added.

The Benefits of Pet Registration in Abu Dhabi 

Westermann also underlined the benefits of pet registration, ensuring pets are vaccinated and well cared for. "If we register and chip all pets and ensure vaccinations are up to date, we can eliminate many animal diseases," she said. Pet registration is a mandatory process in Germany, where owners must pay a tax for their dogs. Westermann noted that registration in Abu Dhabi is free though. 

She also argues that the mandatory registration rules have made an impact on the number of stray dogs, even though shelters remain full. "At least people are bringing their pets to shelters rather than abandoning them on the street," she added.

Dr Manal Al Mansoori, director of Yanni Animal Welfare in Dubai, suggests pet owners should not be allowed to visit veterinarian clinics without registering their pets. "This would make registration mandatory for all pets, not just those whose owners are facing fines," she said.

The Laws Regarding Pet Registration 

According to the animal welfare laws in Abu Dhabi, abandoning a pet is a punishable act and can result in penalties. The municipality imposes a fine of AED 2,000 for pet abandonment. Further, ignoring or mistreating animals could result in fines of up to Dh5,000, under Article 471 of the UAE Penal Code.

“All pet owners in Abu Dhabi are encouraged to register their pets on the TAMM app as part of the animal ownership regulations,” said Dr Mariam Al Shamsi, Animal Welfare Support analyst at the DMT, adding: “While microchipping facilitates the identification of pet owners, cases where owners refuse to reclaim their pets remain a concern.”

“The relevant authorities are continuously working on enhancing enforcement measures, including penalties for owners who abandon their pets,” Dr Al Shamsi explained. “However, there is currently no automated fine system similar to traffic violations. Abandonment cases are handled individually, in accordance with existing animal welfare and control regulations.”