On its Twitter account, the Dubai Media Office noted that, “This community service came as a punishment to those irresponsible persons who committed a brutal and barbaric act, which contradicts our values and true Islamic teaching that urges mercy to animals.”
On Tuesday, Major General Khalil Al Mansouri, Director of CID, confirmed that police arrested a man who posted a horrific video on social media which depicting him feeding a live cat to dogs, reportedly because the cat ate one of his chickens.
The video sparked widespread outrage across the UAE, with many people taking to Twitter and Facebook to call for severe punishment to be meted out to the culprit.
UAE law stipulates that neglect and cruelty towards animals is punishable with imprisonment and a fine not exceeded Dh1,000.
The latest incident isn’t the first time that Sheikh Mohammed has ordered an innovative form of punishment for those who break the law.
In February, he ordered that a stunt driver and his friends – who were filmed performing dangerous maneuvers near City Walk – clean Dubai streets four hours a day, for 30 days.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com