Well there's so much bad news around at the moment, that it's so great to add a sprinkle of good!

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100601/NATIONAL/705319819/1010

The National announces today that the government of Abu Dhabi is to open an Animal Shelter here!! HURRAY!!

''.......The capital will get its first shelter for stray and feral cats and dogs, which until now have been euthanised or picked up and cared for by volunteer organisations.

The facility will be managed by the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital in cooperation with the Center of Waste Management – Abu Dhabi, it was announced yesterday.

No details on the cost or timetable involved in building the new centre were revealed and there was no mention of whether animals brought there would be put down. Animals will be neutered or spayed and some of them offered to people looking for pets, the centre said.

The proposal for the shelter – which will also feature a quarantine station, surgery and treatment rooms – was drawn up after studying control programmes for feral and stray cats and dogs in major cities in the US, Canada and Europe''.............

I'm sure it is also thanks to Mr. Hamad Al Ghanem, Director of The Saluki Center of Arabia whom we had the pleasure of meeting about our  'Strays of Abu Dhabi' charity Art Auction. I've certainly never sat so close to a white falcon before! As it sat so beautifully on his arm!

"The show (third Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest) gives us the opportunity to highlight not only the incredible characteristics of the breed itself, but to further create public awareness in our proud Cultural Heritage, especially for the younger generations. Throughout the times and the changing generations, the traditional values and ethics of Arabian Bedouin are being forgotten and it is our duty to preserve and celebrate them for future generations.

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''The Arabian Saluki Centre, established in 2001 by Hamad Al Ghanem with the support of the Emirates Falconers' Club, commits itself to both the preservation of the pure breed Arabian Saluki and the traditional way of the Arabian Hunting as an essential part of Cultural Heritage. Arabian Salukis are one of the world's oldest breeds; history shows that they can be traced back almost 13,000 years. Originating from the Arabian Peninsula, these desert hounds, which are known for their exceptional stamina, intelligence and loyalty, were bred to assist man in chasing prey and catching it in the harsh desert climate. Arabian Salukis are highly prized by the Bedouins not only for the hunting purpose, but as a companion and a member of the family.''

You can see these amazing dogs on The Saluki Center link here: http://www.arabiansaluki.ae/

Bear in mind, these dogs are probably the fastest dogs on the planet!!

Suki, our rescue dog from Strays Of Abu Dhabi is a Saluki mix with a bit of greyhound thrown in. I think we should have called her 'Blur', for she can really run.............