Is There A Climate Cost to Pawfect Companionship in the UAE?

As temperatures heat up from climate change, what does warmer weather mean for our pets, particularly in a desert climate like the UAE?

For most, summer means swapping sunny afternoons outside for indoor air conditioning. For those with pets, it quickly becomes a whole lot of logistics. 

Rescheduled early-morning walks, strategically placed cooling mats, specialized grooming, and an electricity bill that keeps everyone comfortable. Pet ownership in the UAE comes with invisible and often expensive infrastructure. And as temperatures climb, so does the question of what it really takes to give an animal a good life here.

The country’s appetite for pets is certainly growing. An independent US Department of Agriculture report found the UAE’s pet population grew from 588,700 in 2014 to 938,000 in 2024. 

As the adage goes, where there are pets, there’s no shortage of things to buy for them. If summers add to the cost, pet ownership certainly is a privileged affair. A summer-ready dog might need regular grooming, de-shedding, or a hygienic trim, with sessions at local pet-care hubs costing anywhere between AED 80 and 280. 

Climate-controlled daycare, indoor exercise areas, and premium global supplements are already established parts of the UAE’s pet-care sector. The challenge is not mistaking the availability of pet-friendly solutions for sustainable ones.

But can artificially engineered environments indoors compensate for the real world, and at what cost?

“Products can have a role, but they cannot replace a suitable environment and an understanding of the individual animal,” says Sean de la Harpe Parker, Chief Animal Officer at Coro, a dog park and community hub across the UAE. 

As Dr Susan Atkins, Veterinarian at Aura Veterinary Center, puts it, “Restricting the outdoors is fine. Restricting stimulation is not.” In summer, walks might move to early mornings and late evenings, while indoor play and puzzle feeders help replace the activity lost outdoors.

“Temperature control isn’t a luxury for animals; it’s part of their safety and recovery.” 

This holds especially when you zoom out of individual homes to large animal shelters. Compromised space and heat can further agitate animals and hinder their rehabilitation, many of whom already come with a history of abuse. 

So what’s the cost for pet owners and their fur-babies in an ever-warming world?

Just chill, but what’s the DEWA bill? 

The air-conditioning humming away at home is one thing; Scaling that comfort across a veterinary clinic or rescue shelter is quite another. 

“Cooling is one of the largest energy demands in running an animal-care facility in the UAE,” says Sean, adding that keeping pets comfortable has long been an infrastructural challenge. 

At Coro, solar power is being explored to supplement grid electricity, but it’s not as straightforward as putting solar panels on the roof. Battery storage and backup systems are essential, as are insulation, building orientation, shading and efficient ventilation.

Once again, the stakes climb with rescue shelters. The Stray Dogs Center in Umm Al Quwain houses nearly 1,500 dogs across 146 pens. Located in a remote, off-grid area, it runs entirely on diesel generators, with water delivered and stored in tanks. 

The facility is roofed to protect its residents from the desert sun, and has recently created micro-pens, with plans to repair sprinklers for cooling mists throughout the day. The facility’s infrastructure is a reminder that climate resilience for animals is not always a matter of installing another air-conditioning unit. It can mean finding the money for diesel, water, repairs, and the infrastructure to keep basic systems running. 

Animals & Us, another UAE-based rescue organization, has reported veterinary bills reaching AED 70,000 a month in some cases. For shelters operating on donations, the cost of keeping animals safe can be relentless.

“Investment in more reliable and affordable energy systems could help them protect animal welfare while managing their running costs,” Sean suggests.

The pet we want, and the life it needs

Climate change is real, and responsible pet ownership means ensuring that an animal is suited to the climate.

For instance, flat-faced breeds can struggle to cool themselves because their compromised airways affect their ability to pant efficiently. Heavy-coated dogs can also have a difficult time in the heat, particularly if their temperament or socialization limits their access to daycare and other indoor activities. “If you can choose any dog and you live in the desert, a snow dog would not be on my list,” says Susan.

Sean shares the concern, arguing that breeders should prioritize healthy airways and functional anatomy over exaggerated physical features. “The starting point should always be whether we can meet a dog’s needs throughout its life, rather than whether we like its appearance.”

Currently, no laws require vets to educate prospective owners on an animal’s climate suitability, although Susan considers it part of their professional responsibility. While not having personally consulted on many heat-stress cases, UAE pet owners, in her experience, are generally alert to the risks.

For Sean too, education is an important part of the service: helping owners understand safe exercise, hydration, coat care, and how their pet regulates its temperature. “Those everyday decisions matter more than buying another accessory.”

The problem isn’t ignorance among pet owners, but the increasing need for essential systems to protect pets. 

Love, actually, is being constantly on-call

Rupkatha Bhowmick, founder of Wiser Woofs, knows this through life with Popo, her senior beagle, who has lived in the UAE all his life. 

Popo has canine cognitive dysfunction and Cushing’s disease, the latter contributing to panting and increased thirst. His mobility has declined, his walks have shortened, and his care now revolves around a much more carefully managed routine.

Since he developed Canine Lafora, Rupkatha is now a certified integrative palliative care practitioner for dogs, with a KHDA-certified diploma in holistic grief counseling.

“I cannot think of a single night where I have slept for 5 hours straight,” she says, a reality for many senior pet owners. While living in an individual unit now keeps the house relatively cool, summers and health conditions have restricted Popo’s once long walks to the block. Complete with cooling vests and water bottles, of course. 

But Popo’s story is not an argument against keeping pets in the UAE. It is a reminder that responsible ownership has to account for your companion’s entire lifespan, as well as all the factors that shape it. 

The UAE has been making concerted efforts to strengthen its animal welfare ecosystem. In July, Dubai Municipality opened a new integrated pet shelter at the Birds and Pets Market in Warsan. 

Initiatives such as trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs for stray cats, the Ihsan smart feeding stations, community awareness, education, and outreach activities are all welcome steps. Unfortunately, these do not address the issue of resilience in an increasingly hostile climate. 

The pet industry sells desperate owners an answer to almost every discomfort, often in the form of consumerism and another product to buy. All that does is distract the conversation from unsuitable conditions and overstretched infrastructure. 

As the effects of climate change become ever more intertwined with our daily lives, keeping our beloved pets healthy and comfortable is a difficult but necessary conversation for the entire family. 

We’re all trying to stay cool out here, whether we’ve got a long or a short-haired coat.