"I was driving home from work and driving over a bridge. I had had such a horrible day," says Sarah (name changed on request). Feeling overwhelmed by her stressful job in healthcare, the Dubai resident had one thought running through her mind.
“I was shaking and crying, and just felt so worthless. I kept wanting to drive off the bridge. But all I could think about was how upset my cats would be and how they would miss me,” she says.
The 32-year-old was eventually diagnosed with depression and anxiety, but credits her rescue cats for saving her life three years ago. “They just seemed to know I needed them and wouldn’t leave my side when I was at my worst,” she adds. “They meowed at me to get up every day, rather than just lie there all day. I realised I had more to live for – my family too, of course, but I never wanted to burden them with anything.”
Animals really can heal their companions to a certain extent
Sarah’s story isn’t uncommon. Many pet owners find that living with and caring for an animal has serious upsides. A study conducted by research organisation Ipsos on behalf of Boehringer Ingelheim pharmaceutical, sampled three groups of 3,000 people from five countries: healthy owners, owners with health issues, and owners with kids suffering from health issues. The findings, which were published in January, confirmed what many pet lovers have long suspected: dogs, cats and other pets have a positive impact on health, well-being and happiness.
More than 90 per cent of pet owners surveyed said their pets influence their quality of life, specifically in terms of forming a strong emotional bond that can help people cope with or overcome physical and mental illness.
“Animals are so grateful for their relationship with you. They are thankful that you gave them a home and all that love,” says Dr Fadi Daoud, a veterinary surgeon at Australian Veterinary Hospital in Abu Dhabi. “So when there is something [wrong], they are more than happy to return it back to you. They connect to you on a high emotional level that’s almost unbelievable.”
Bina Shah, another Dubai resident, also understands this bond and admits that a street cat changed her life, a surprise considering she used to not like them. "Honestly, I hated them. I just found them creepy," says the 48-year-old. "I used to tell my daughter that I'll never have a pet. I could never imagine myself to ever be a cat lover. Sometimes I would walk away from places if I saw any cat around." However, a chance encounter with a stray outside her home changed her mind.
Shah lives in a shared villa, with many cats around her, but one caught her eye. She was there when he was born, watched him grow, and he ended up waiting for her at her villa gate every evening, something she came to look forward to. "One day during the month of Ramadan, he was getting attacked by an older male cat. It broke my heart to see him that way, and we finally took Billy in for good," she says. After restoring his health, Shah found her feelings had changed. "In time, I realised this was the best feeling I ever felt. Today, I cannot imagine my life without Billy; he's just so loving. Now I have a reason to go home, to spend time with him."
Another pet owner, who made sure to bring her furry friends with her when she moved to the UAE, is Sophie Elizabeth Caslin. The 23-year-old brought her dog and Bengal cat from the UK to Dubai two years ago. And when she was diagnosed with depression, she found strength through her loving pets, especially her dog. "I've always suffered with depression, but I could never trust anyone else to care for my dog the way I did, and I can honestly say he is the only reason why I am still alive today," she says of her eight-year-old Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix, Chinkles. "I realise now that it wasn't a healthy way of thinking, but knowing that we had a bond and that he wouldn't have the same love as I gave him if he went to someone else, kept me from doing anything stupid."
Chinkles’s unconditional love became apparent once again when Caslin went through a difficult period when she lost her father in 2014. “If I am sad, Chink knows and will rest his head on me, and lick me and tears,” she says. “He brings me his favourite toy and places it on me as an offering of happiness. Normally, he wouldn’t let it out of his grip for more than a few seconds.”
It's not only mental health that gets a boost when you own pets, as Sharjah resident Afreen (name changed on request) can attest to. After giving birth and going through many years in a difficult marriage, she developed depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also began developing physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, joint pains and severe migraines, or what she believes was stress manifesting in different ways. Hailing from North India, Afreen says there is little awareness in her hometown with regards to mental health; and she didn't find support from her in-laws or her husband, but rather from her kittens.
“When I adopted my first kitten, I received love from a source I had not expected,” she says. “My Arabian mau would follow me around, sleep on me, purr at being touched. Very soon I adopted another kitten to keep him company. Both of them now wait for me to open my bedroom door early in the morning so that they can cuddle with me. I don’t remember the last time I had a migraine.”
This change in her health isn’t merely a physiological or placebo effect, as Daoud explains. “Once you elevate the serotonin levels because you’re happy and relaxed, it indirectly improves your immune system and that improves your physical health,” he says. “Animals really can heal their companions to a certain extent.”
Most owners who have experienced such positivity, believe their pet-less counterparts are seriously missing out. "I think having a pet at home just means adding a new member of the family, who loves you unconditionally, and who has their own soul and personality," says Caslin. "They won't argue with you, and will appreciate every little thing you do, even if it just means leaving them a space next to you on the sofa.
“To have something to love and to never be judged, it opens your heart and gives you a different kind of happiness that humans couldn’t ever give.”
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Racecard
6pm: Mina Hamriya – Handicap (TB) $75,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
6.35pm: Al Wasl Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.10pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,900m
7.45pm: Blue Point Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,000m
8.20pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (T) 2,810m
8.55pm: Mina Rashid – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (T) 1,600m
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email [email protected] or visit www.cultures.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
The five pillars of Islam
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Match info
Huddersfield Town 0
Chelsea 3
Kante (34'), Jorginho (45' pen), Pedro (80')
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
