Dubai Marina fire: Dozens of pets rescued from burning tower as firefighters, vets help

Khaleej Times

16-06-2025

As flames engulfed the upper floors of a 67-storey tower in Dubai Marina on Friday night (June 13), panic gripped thousands of residents who were forced to leave their homes to escape the blazing flames. Some tenants couldn't carry along their loved pets.
Amid the chaos and firefighting operations, an equally urgent rescue unfolded of dozens of frightened cats, birds, and other pets that were left behind in a rush.
Some residents of Tiger Tower, also known as The Marina Pinnacle, managed to carry their pets down the stairs as they evacuated. Others, heartbroken and helpless, had no choice but to leave them behind. In the hours that followed, firefighters returned to the building not just to contain the blaze but also to search for and rescue any pets left behind, ensuring that no one, human or animal, was forgotten.
Once the animals were brought to safety, many evacuees, now left without shelter themselves, were desperate to find a safe place for their beloved pets. That's when the community stepped in. Veterinarians, animal rescuers, pet owners, and complete strangers came forward, offering food, supplies, foster care, and free boarding to make sure the animals were cared for while their owners dealt with the aftermath.
Cami Ohara, the owner of Mike's Vet Clinic, was vacationing in Spain when the fire broke out. Despite being thousands of kilometres away, she immediately stepped in.
"I got frantic calls from people who had adopted cats from me, asking if they could board their animals because they didn't know where else to go,' she told Khaleej Times. 'I called my team and told them: anyone who needs help, all boarding is free. Then I called my social media manager and asked them to post it for everyone to see.'
Her clinic ultimately took in seven animals, six cats and a bird, and opened its doors after hours to give pet owners a safe place to bring their companions. What followed was a flood of community support.
'There's a WhatsApp group with more than 350 individuals, including clients of the clinic and people I've never met,' Cami said. 'Volunteers came forward to help with transportation, offer foster homes, or simply check in. It's been overwhelming, in the best way."
Treatment on the spot
Another group that mobilised quickly was Vets For Pets Veterinary Clinic, which teamed up with House Call Vet, led by Dr Sudhakar. Due to the short response window, Dr Sudhakar rushed to the scene and stayed until 3am, treating animals on-site.
'Thanks to this efficient coordination, none of the animals needed hospitalisation,' the clinic said in a statement. 'Only a few were boarded overnight; the rest returned to their owners or rescuers.'
Vets For Pets also offered completely free veterinary check-ups and boarding services for animals affected by the fire. 'For many, pets are family. In moments like this, the effort must go beyond economic value,' they added.
A moment of heartbreak
Not every pet made it out. Some residents shared painful stories of animals lost in the chaos of the evacuation. Among them was Ramy Mouni, who told Khaleej Times he had lost his beloved cat. Struggling to put his grief into words, all he could say was, 'I'm so sad.'
Save lives next time
While some rushed to help during the crisis, others were already working on how to prevent such losses in the future. Yvonne from Doggie Adventures, an online community for dog lovers in the UAE, shared one simple yet powerful idea: emergency door stickers that notify first responders that pets are inside a home.
'We give them out for free,' Yvonne said. 'They're available at Pretty Paws in Al Barsha. We also distribute wallet cards with a red tag that sticks out, saying: 'My pet is home alone.' In case of an emergency, this helps responders contact someone to care for the animal.'
The goal, she said, is to raise awareness within the community and ensure no pet is ever left behind again.