When Tiffany Dickinson discovered a disoriented pigeon struggling on a Dubai sidewalk, she never imagined she was welcoming a new family member. The bird, eventually named Boots, was suffering from a neurological virus that left her too frail to survive in the wild.
Now, two years on, Boots resides in an apartment with Tiffany and her partner. She flies short distances indoors, enjoys three weekly showers, and even has her own Instagram account, @mybalconypigeons.
Boots’ tale is far from unique. Throughout the UAE, many residents encounter distressed animals in places like cardboard boxes, parking lots, and construction sites. A year or two later, these rescued creatures, from kittens and puppies to pigeons, become cherished family members.
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With an animal rescue background, the Australian expat volunteered for a charity focusing on often-overlooked animals like pigeons, seagulls, and swans.
“I fell in love with pigeons,” she reminisced. In April 2022, during her morning walk, Tiffany noticed a baby pigeon that was separated from its flock and unable to fly. After a vet visit, the bird was diagnosed with a neurological virus causing dizziness, making flying and self-care impossible.
Boots moved in with Tiffany, and years later, she remains a family member, living with Tiffany and her partner. “She’s incredibly clean with a big personality. If she hears the shower, she rushes to bathe first.”
For Tiffany, watching Boots fly across her living room is a reminder of her choice. “People think pigeons are dirty,” she explained. “But it’s their environment that makes them sick. Boots showed me how misunderstood they are.”
‘Our fosters became family’
Returning from a holiday last July, Shirin Zemmo and her husband were surprised by what awaited them outside their Arjan building. “As we exited the taxi, I saw a pet crate near some construction,” she recalled. “Inside were two tiny newborn kittens with an open tuna can.”
Already having two cats, they couldn’t walk away. “I’m a huge animal lover, so leaving them wasn’t an option,” Shirin said. “We took them in until we figured out what to do next.”
That night, the only open vet told them the kittens had a better chance at home than in the clinic. “So we bought kitten formula and took them home,” she shared.
The following weeks were a crash course in newborn care. “We learned to bottle-feed and help them with bathroom needs,” she noted.
A year later, those kittens, initially meant for a night’s stay, have become family. “We grew super attached, and they to us,” she said. “I never knew I could have such affectionate cats. They’re very attached to me, constantly following, sleeping beside me, and seeking cuddles. It’s very heartwarming.”
‘A lifelong habit of rescue’
For Dubai resident Natasha D’Souza, rescuing animals is nothing new. “Every pet I’ve had in the past 30 years, dogs and cats, were rescues,” she said. “Some have left us over time, but they stayed with us till the end.”
Her oldest cats, Boney and Mindy, are now 15 years old. “They were born to a cat we fed in my old Deira neighborhood,” she explained.
When they moved to Dubailand in 2010, Natasha brought the surviving kittens along. “Of three, only two remain, Boney and Mindy. They’re senior cats now but thriving,” she noted.
Her next rescue, Rosie, came during the pandemic. “She was a pandemic stray in our neighborhood,” Natasha said. “I first saw her pregnant in June 2020, unsure how she survived the summer. Neighbors must have fed her.”
By early 2021, Rosie found her way to Natasha’s home. “She discovered our cat food and stayed. We spayed her once her kittens were gone. She has a hernia, likely from abuse, but she’s thriving and fits in with the others.”
Ruby and her kitten Tun Tun were the latest additions. “Ruby was another abandoned pregnant cat,” Natasha shared. “She appeared in our courtyard in early 2023, starving. Her smartest kitten, Tun Tun, followed her. They’re now part of our home, indoor-outdoor cats, but always sleeping inside with us.”
