Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison has condemned expats fleeing Dubai who have left their pets behind amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The 38-year-old television personality took to Instagram to express her outrage at those abandoning animals as they escape the region.
"Just a note...if you are abandoning your pets in Dubai - you didn't deserve that animal to begin with and I pray it finds a better home. Shameful," she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
Pattison, who has adopted dogs Milo and Max in recent years, described the behaviour as unacceptable.
The couple recently visited the country on their holiday
|Her comments come as animal welfare organisations across the UAE report being inundated with requests from owners seeking to surrender their pets whilst fleeing Iranian strikes on the region.
The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and her husband Ercan Ramandan were holidaying in the Emirates when the crisis erupted following strikes between Israel, the USA and Iran.
After three flights were cancelled, the couple opted to travel overland to Oman in a bid to return to the UK.
The journey took approximately 11 hours, including a two to three-hour wait at the border crossing for document and passport checks.
The country is currently involved in the terror threat by Iran
|GETTY
Ms Pattison apologised to followers for her silence during the ordeal, explaining she had not wanted to say anything "insensitive or hyperbolic" that might fuel panic.
She acknowledged that many people remained in Dubai feeling calm and safe, but said she and her husband wanted to return to their "babies, work and normality."
Animal shelters across the UAE are struggling to cope with the surge of abandoned pets since the conflict began.
K9 Friends Dubai, a dog rehoming organisation, has been inundated with calls about deserted puppies and owners wishing to surrender their animals.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Vicky has spoken out about the amount of people abandoning their pets
|Photographs of dogs tied to lamp posts have been shared widely on social media, whilst hundreds of posts about abandoned pets have appeared online.
Disturbingly, veterinary practices have received enquiries from owners seeking to have healthy animals put down rather than face relocation costs or paperwork.
Claire Hopkins, a Dubai resident who volunteers with animal organisations, said shelters were already at capacity and under severe financial strain.
"I'm sorry to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting," she said. "Most vets would pass them on to the shelters, but we're already full."
Expats and influencers have been fleeing due to the crisis
Several influencers have faced accusations of abandoning their animals, though some have vigorously denied the claims.
French influencer Maddy Burciaga was publicly criticised by the French Animal League, which alleged she had left her dog Maya behind whilst travelling to Mauritius.
Ms Burciaga rejected the accusations, insisting she was merely on holiday and would return to her pet.
"I would never abandon my dog; my dog is my baby, she's part of our family," she stated, threatening legal action against those damaging her reputation.
Fellow influencer Sarah Lopez also denied abandoning a cat, claiming the animal was a stray she had been feeding rather than her own pet.
Lopez similarly warned she would pursue legal proceedings against anyone making accusations or threats against her family.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter