Dubai: Viral video of man abusing pet dog sparks outrage; authorities take swift action

Khaleej Times

04-03-2025

Animal rescue volunteers have filed complaints with authorities following the circulation of a disturbing video showing a man in Dubai kicking and attacking his pet dog. Some individuals reported the incident to Dubai Police, while others turned to the Emirates Animal Welfare Society and Dubai Municipality after the video, filmed in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), went viral.
The video, captured from a neighbouring building, shows the dog's owner entering his balcony and kicking the French bulldog, who is seen cowering in the corner. The man then proceeds to sit on the dog, attempting to choke the animal with his legs. In the background, a neighbour can be heard shouting that they will report the man to the police.
While authorities took swift action, a woman claiming to be the dog's original owner shared her story on social media, revealing that she was on her way from Spain to Dubai to reclaim her pet.
P.S., a digital marketer, said the man had taken the dog from her by threatening her. 'This person took him from me, and it has been three months of nightmare,' she said in a video posted on Instagram. 'I told everyone that he was not safe.' P.S. also shared details of her flight from Madrid to Dubai, which was scheduled to land at 7.45am on Wednesday.
Tia Mallia, an animal welfare activist and model, was one of the first to respond to the case. She explained that P.S., the dog's original owner, had been unable to retrieve her pet due to various challenges and had returned to Spain. "She has been fighting ever since to get the dog back but had no luck, so she went back to Spain," Mallia told Khaleej Times. "She found him through the viral video and is now on her way to Dubai to get him from the shelter. She has the original dog passport, so she will be reclaiming ownership."
Following the video's release, several volunteers and activists quickly took action, reporting the man for animal abuse. Mallia mentioned that many individuals had reported his Instagram account, which, as of Tuesday evening, was no longer available, likely taken down. "Some of my followers were able to identify him quickly and track down his social media account," she said. "It's the power of social media. We are also working to have his LinkedIn profile removed."
When authorities arrived to investigate, Andrea Petrovic from the pet food manufacturer Wunderdog was on the scene. "Someone recognised the building and called Dubai Municipality," she said. 'As soon as I saw the video shared on animal rescue groups at around 2pm, I left work to go to the area. I was accompanied by Nader, the founder of Chauf-fur, and two volunteers from the Animals and Us rescue organisation.'
Petrovic described the situation as "horrifying" and confirmed that when she arrived, authorities were questioning the dog's 'owner'. "We were assured that the dog was taken by Dubai Municipality, where he will stay until the investigation is complete," she said. "The dog will be examined by a vet and is likely to be handed over to a rescue to a rescue organisation to rehome him (until P.S. returns to reclaim him)."