What We Do
Helping others help animals
Animal Welfare Consultancy
We provide professional consultancy services to:
- Government bodies
- Private sector partners and veterinary clinics
- Members of the public who care for rescue animals.
Our support includes:
- Support in creating animal welfare prioritised protocols.
- Teaching individuals and organisations to place animal welfare at the centre of decision making.
- Population management strategies (e.g., TNVMR)
GOAL
Advocacy and Policy
Turning compassion into legislation. We work alongside local authorities to:
- Advocate for humane, enforceable animal protection laws
- Promote responsible pet ownership
- Address the stray animal crisis with sustainable solutions
GOAL
Education and Awareness
Inspiring empathy through knowledge. We deliver public education through:
- School and community workshops
- Awareness campaigns
- Practical guides for animal interaction and care
GOAL
Volunteer Training and Support
Empowering hands and hearts
Our volunteers receive:
GOAL
Our current focus areas include:
Community Cat Care Program (CCCP)
At Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi (AWAD), we believe in creating compassionate, sustainable solutions for the stray and community cats of our city. Our Community Cat Care Program (CCCP) is a key initiative that focuses on humane, internationally recognized methods to care for, stabilize, and gradually reduce the community cat population in Abu Dhabi. Working hand in hand with residents, volunteers, and partners, CCCP is built on three vital pillars:
Controlled Feeding
Structured and responsible feeding is the foundation of our program.
Through designated feeding areas and high-quality nutrition, generously sponsored by partners like Royal Canin.
We ensure that community cats are fed safely and consistently. Controlled feeding not only improves the health and welfare of the cats, but it also helps build trust, making it easier to move into the next phase of care.
TNVMR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Microchip, and Return)
At the heart of CCCP is the proven practice of TNVMR.
By humanely trapping community cats, we are able to neuter or spay them, provide essential vaccinations, implant microchips for identification, and return them safely to their original location. This cycle breaks the chain of overpopulation, improves public health, and enhances the cats’ overall well-being by reducing the stress and behavioural challenges associated with mating cycles.
Community Education
Long-term success depends on informed and engaged communities.
Through workshops, events, and outreach, AWAD provides education on best practices for living harmoniously with community cats.
We work to dispel myths, encourage responsible behaviors, and promote volunteerism, creating stronger bonds between residents and the animals that share their neighborhoods.
Get Involved
Are you already feeding cats in your neighborhood? Interested in making a difference?
We invite you to become a registered AWAD volunteer! Volunteers help with:
Community feeding
Trapping and transportation
Fostering cats in need
Organizing CCCP educational events
Together, we can build a safer, healthier, and more compassionate community for everyone – humans and animals alike. Contact us by the CTA below or at awad@oda.gov.ae to volunteer or learn more.
Animal Ownership System
Supporting responsible pet ownership in Abu Dhabi
AWAD is proud to support the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) in the rollout of Abu Dhabi’s new Animal Ownership System. Launched in February 2025 and currently invitation-based, the system applies to dogs and cats.
It is designed to promote responsible pet ownership, reduce impulse purchases, prevent abandonment, and help reunite lost pets with their families ultimately reducing the stray population in the emirate.
To register a pet, owners/breeders/pet shops must ensure the following:
- A functioning microchip
- Full, up-to-date vaccinations
- A recent veterinary check-up from any licensed private clinic in Abu Dhabi
Once these requirements are met, the pet is officially registered on the government’s TAMM system, which links the animal’s profile directly to the owner’s Emirates ID. This creates a traceable and accountable record of pet ownership across the emirate.
AWAD is supporting this initiative through:
- Public education and awareness campaigns
- Pop-up educational workshops, providing access to vaccinations and microchipping for residents, especially those facing financial hardship
Together, we’re building a safer, more accountable system for companion animals in Abu Dhabi.
AWAD Helpline: Voice for Animals
Your First Call for Compassionate Animal Welfare Support. We’re proud to introduce the AWAD Helpline: Voice for Animals, a dedicated phone line staffed by trained volunteers providing the public with clear, compassionate guidance on animal welfare concerns. Whether you’re unsure how to help a stray, need to report suspected neglect or abuse, or are simply seeking advice, our trained volunteers are here to assist.
Through the AWAD Helpline, we offer:
- Clear direction to the appropriate government entities for reporting violations of animal welfare laws or suspected cruelty
- Support in accessing services, such as veterinary care, rescue coordination, or companion animal registration guidance
- Education and advice to empower compassionate action in your community
AWAD Helpline: Voice for Animals exists to make doing the right thing easier, because animals deserve an advocate, and so do the people who care about them.
Promoting accountability and compassion in the pet trade.
Pawsitive Standards program
AWAD’s Pawsitive Standards Programme is a volunteer-driven initiative designed to monitor and improve the welfare of animals in Abu Dhabi’s pet retail sector.
As part of this programme, our specially trained volunteers called Animal Welfare Guardians act as anonymous evaluators, visiting pet shops across the emirate to observe and record compliance with existing animal welfare standards and regulations.
Key components of the programme include:
- Monitoring compliance with legal standards of care, housing, hygiene, and animal well-being
- Reporting non-compliance to the relevant authorities for follow-up and enforcement
- Encouraging pet shops to elevate their practices through education and feedback
- Recognising high-performing retailers through AWAD’s Pet Shop Assurance Scheme, with the opportunity to become AWAD Approved
This programme not only protects animals currently in the retail system but also educates businesses and empowers the public to make more informed, welfare-conscious choices when interacting with the pet trade.
Together, we’re creating a marketplace where animal welfare is a priority not an afterthought.
