How Microchipped's Abu Dhabi Event Helped Rescue Cats Find New Homes

Eight rescued cats successfully found new families at an adoption event hosted in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, with another four adoptions currently pending. The gathering, organized by the microchip database service Microchipped.ae alongside the Rosewood Abu Dhabi hotel, aimed to encourage residents to embrace the long-term commitment of pet ownership.

The event brought together animal rescuers, prospective adopters, families, and 56 cats available for adoption. Beyond securing permanent homes for the animals, the initiative also raised awareness about responsible pet ownership and the critical role of trap-neuter-return programmes in managing stray cat populations.

Support for the initiative was robust through Volunteers.ae, filling all 80 available volunteer slots and generating a reserve list. For Dave Appleby, founder of Microchipped.ae, witnessing the community unite was an emotional milestone. Animal rescuer Dina Taji was also among those who participated in the event.

The roots of the initiative trace back to Dave Appleby and his wife Jacqueline experiencing the loss of their own pets in late 2022, when they began searching for three missing cats in Khalifa City: Monty, Blacky, and Winnie. Following Monty's return after 100 days thanks to an online photograph, Dave Appleby developed Microchipped.ae as a free online platform connecting pet microchip numbers with animals found at vets and shelters.

Sunday's event built upon that mission by encouraging visitors to adopt rather than buy animals and to appreciate community cats. Dave Appleby emphasized that adoption represents a lifetime commitment rather than a transaction. For residents looking to support animal welfare, he advised starting small and local, whether through short-term fostering, volunteering for vet transport, or sharing adoption posts.

People who discover a lost cat can photograph the animal, check its microchip at a vet, and share the details on the Microchipped website to help reunite families. Dave Appleby also stressed the importance of supporting everyday rescuers who form the backbone of animal welfare in the UAE.