TV personality Vicky Pattison has publicly condemned expats who abandoned their pets in Dubai while fleeing the escalating crisis in the Middle East, calling the behaviour “shameful” as animal welfare groups report a surge in abandoned animals.
The 38-year-old former reality star took to Instagram Stories after disturbing reports emerged of pets being left behind by residents scrambling to escape the region following missile strikes and mounting tensions linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
In a furious message, Vicky wrote that anyone capable of abandoning their animals never deserved them in the first place. She said: “Just a note… if you are abandoning your pets in Dubai – you didn’t deserve that animal to begin with and I pray it finds a better home. Shameful.”
Her comments came as animal shelters and veterinary clinics across Dubai reported an alarming spike in calls from owners looking to surrender pets — and even inquiries about euthanising healthy animals because they could not or would not arrange relocation.
Rescue organisation K9 Friends Dubai revealed it had been overwhelmed by requests from dog owners hoping to leave their pets behind as panic spread among expatriates attempting to leave the UAE.
Volunteers say the situation has become increasingly desperate, with shelters struggling to cope with the sudden wave of abandoned animals. Images circulating online show dogs tied to lampposts or left in public spaces, while hundreds of social media posts are seeking emergency help for deserted pets.
Claire Hopkins, a Dubai resident who volunteers with several local shelters, explained that animal charities were facing enormous pressure as the crisis unfolds.
She said some owners are simply trying to return adopted pets because they no longer want the responsibility. According to Claire, the problem affects people from many nationalities, although she noted that British residents are generally among the more responsible pet owners.
She said: “Some pet owners are stressed and panicking. It’s right across the board, and I think the Brits are better than most, but you’re talking about 200 different nationalities here in the UAE.
“Some people want to give back their adoptive pets. There are dogs starting to be abandoned.”
The situation has been made worse by travel restrictions and logistical hurdles preventing many animals from leaving the country. Airlines have reduced flights dramatically and currently are not transporting animals, while strict health regulations mean pets needing rabies vaccinations must delay travel for several weeks.
Claire revealed that some veterinary clinics had even received requests from owners asking for euthanasia simply because they could not take their pets with them. She called the situation “disgusting,” adding that most vets instead try to redirect such cases to shelters — but those facilities are already full.
While speaking out about the crisis, Vicky herself had been navigating a chaotic escape from the region alongside her husband, Ercan Ramadan.
The couple were among thousands of travellers stranded in the UAE after multiple flights were cancelled. In the end, they undertook an exhausting 11-hour journey by car from Dubai to neighbouring Oman in the hope of securing a flight back to the UK.
Explaining the dramatic trip, Vicky said the couple had remained quiet online during the unfolding crisis because they didn’t want to add to public panic.
She wrote that after three cancelled flights and the realisation they would not be able to reach their planned destinations in Australia or New Zealand, they decided returning to Britain was the safest option.
Vicky said the decision was also driven by a desire to reunite with their beloved dogs, Milo and Max, as soon as possible.
She explained: “We wanted to try and get home as quickly and safely as possible. I understand that there are a lot of people still in Dubai feeling really calm and safe however, we wanted to be back to our babies, work and normality.”
The couple travelled to Oman with friends using a private transfer service. Vicky revealed the lengthy journey — including hours waiting at the border crossing for document checks — took around 11 hours in total and cost approximately £130 per person.
Despite the uncertainty of the past week, Vicky said she and her husband were grateful to be heading home safely. She also acknowledged their privileged position while many others remain trapped in the region amid growing fear and instability.
She wrote that the world is becoming an increasingly frightening place, adding that her thoughts were with anyone currently feeling unsafe or unsettled.
