emirates7 - -Other pet owners, however, were confused by the regulation and questioned how the rule would be enforced
As Abu Dhabi prepares to begin enforcing fines of up to Dh1,000 for failing to register cats and dogs on the TAMM app from February 3, pet owners across the capital have expressed a mix of support, confusion and scepticism about how the new rule will work in practice.
For some residents, the move is a welcome step towards greater accountability and animal welfare.
Caroline Hall, a 31-year-old administrator at NYU Abu Dhabi, said registering her rescue dog was straightforward and long overdue.
“We found our dog, Hoover, at a construction site in a remote industrial area of Abu Dhabi. He was one of a litter of stray puppies — just six weeks old and weighing under four kilograms when we brought him home,” she said.
“Fast forward six years, countless walkies, and thousands of treats later, Hoover is a happy, healthy boy and the most special member of our family.Hall said the registration process through TAMM was simple with the help of her veterinary clinic. “We just filled out a short form and shared our Emirates ID and Tawtheeq documents, and that was it,” she said.
“As the proud mum of a rescue dog, this initiative is very close to my heart,” Hall added. “Registering animals reinforces something I strongly believe in — when you adopt a pet, you take on full responsibility for their wellbeing. In the long run, this kind of regulation can help reduce pet abandonment and give animals the protection they deserve.”
Other pet owners, however, questioned how the rule would be enforced.
Abdulla, a 34-year-old gamer who has owned his dog for nearly 13 years, said he was unsure how authorities would identify unregistered pets inside homes.
“Honestly, not much to say. I’m not really sure how they’re going to enforce it on everyone who has a pet in their house — like how will they know?” he said.
“If it does work, I’m hoping that means less abandoned pets,” he added. Abdulla said his dog is not yet registered but that he plans to complete the process this week.
Confusion was also common among some residents who said they were unaware of the regulation altogether.
Susan, an Abu Dhabi resident who owns two cats and preferred not to give her real name, said she was hearing about the requirement for the first time. “What? I never heard of this law before?” she said.
Although her cats are already microchipped, she questioned the need for additional registration. “They already have a scanner to know who the owner is from the microchip, but sometimes the owner runs away,” she pointed, adding that she was unsure how authorities would identify owners who fail to register. “How will they find me? And how do we register and how can they catch us?”
Some residents believe the rule could improve public hygiene and responsible pet ownership, particularly when it comes to dogs.
Musab Omar, a fitness coach who regularly runs in Al Raha Beach, said he supports the regulation, largely because of what he described as widespread neglect by some dog owners.
“Especially for dogs, they always poop in the streets and most of the dog owners don’t clean up after their dogs. It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Whenever I run, I see a lot of poop in the street.”
Omar believes registration could make owners more accountable. “Implementing this rule means maybe people would be more accountable for their dogs.”
He also said linking pets to registered owners could help discourage abandonment. “That’s a good thing as well,” he said, referring to the fines. “If you’re paying, you’re not going to abandon your pet.”
The Abu Dhabi authorities have said pet registration is mandatory for cats and dogs and that enforcement will be linked to access to veterinary services, among other measures, as the emirate steps up efforts to regulate pet ownership and improve animal welfare.
As the deadline arrives, reactions from pet owners suggest that while many support the intent behind the rule, clearer communication and enforcement details may be key to ensuring widespread compliance.
As Abu Dhabi prepares to begin enforcing fines of up to Dh1,000 for failing to register cats and dogs on the TAMM app from February 3, pet owners across the capital have expressed a mix of support, confusion and scepticism about how the new rule will work in practice.
For some residents, the move is a welcome step towards greater accountability and animal welfare.
Caroline Hall, a 31-year-old administrator at NYU Abu Dhabi, said registering her rescue dog was straightforward and long overdue.
“We found our dog, Hoover, at a construction site in a remote industrial area of Abu Dhabi. He was one of a litter of stray puppies — just six weeks old and weighing under four kilograms when we brought him home,” she said.
“Fast forward six years, countless walkies, and thousands of treats later, Hoover is a happy, healthy boy and the most special member of our family.Hall said the registration process through TAMM was simple with the help of her veterinary clinic. “We just filled out a short form and shared our Emirates ID and Tawtheeq documents, and that was it,” she said.
“As the proud mum of a rescue dog, this initiative is very close to my heart,” Hall added. “Registering animals reinforces something I strongly believe in — when you adopt a pet, you take on full responsibility for their wellbeing. In the long run, this kind of regulation can help reduce pet abandonment and give animals the protection they deserve.”
Other pet owners, however, questioned how the rule would be enforced.
Abdulla, a 34-year-old gamer who has owned his dog for nearly 13 years, said he was unsure how authorities would identify unregistered pets inside homes.
“Honestly, not much to say. I’m not really sure how they’re going to enforce it on everyone who has a pet in their house — like how will they know?” he said.
“If it does work, I’m hoping that means less abandoned pets,” he added. Abdulla said his dog is not yet registered but that he plans to complete the process this week.
Confusion was also common among some residents who said they were unaware of the regulation altogether.
Susan, an Abu Dhabi resident who owns two cats and preferred not to give her real name, said she was hearing about the requirement for the first time. “What? I never heard of this law before?” she said.
Although her cats are already microchipped, she questioned the need for additional registration. “They already have a scanner to know who the owner is from the microchip, but sometimes the owner runs away,” she pointed, adding that she was unsure how authorities would identify owners who fail to register. “How will they find me? And how do we register and how can they catch us?”
Some residents believe the rule could improve public hygiene and responsible pet ownership, particularly when it comes to dogs.
Musab Omar, a fitness coach who regularly runs in Al Raha Beach, said he supports the regulation, largely because of what he described as widespread neglect by some dog owners.
“Especially for dogs, they always poop in the streets and most of the dog owners don’t clean up after their dogs. It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Whenever I run, I see a lot of poop in the street.”
Omar believes registration could make owners more accountable. “Implementing this rule means maybe people would be more accountable for their dogs.”
He also said linking pets to registered owners could help discourage abandonment. “That’s a good thing as well,” he said, referring to the fines. “If you’re paying, you’re not going to abandon your pet.”
The Abu Dhabi authorities have said pet registration is mandatory for cats and dogs and that enforcement will be linked to access to veterinary services, among other measures, as the emirate steps up efforts to regulate pet ownership and improve animal welfare.
As the deadline arrives, reactions from pet owners suggest that while many support the intent behind the rule, clearer communication and enforcement details may be key to ensuring widespread compliance.
الرجاء الانتظار ...