Ghina Saemdahr and Hana Saemdahr are sisters from Aleppo, Syria twinning their way towards keeping outcast cats in Abu Dhabi well fed. They look alike and one can’t easily tell them apart! Together they make sure that Abu Dhabi’s stray cats don’t starve or go thirsty. Theirs is a sustained and organized effort and is not some sudden burst of charity. Every single evening, for the past 10 years, they’ve taken turns to feed 65+ cats along the Abu Dhabi Corniche and continue to do so unfailingly. In the extremes of UAE’s heat, cats and kittens are never left exposed or unattended to. They’ve found a reliable savior in the Saemdahr sisters who are ‘Cat-Women’ in their own right.

Ghina and Hana Saemdahr at Lake Park, Corniche

While most of us do occasionally pass tiny treats to strays, none of us do it regularly enough. This leaves these fur-balls at odds with the elements and at the risk of starvation. Ghina and Hana Saemdahr have changed all of that, by implementing a neat and organized system of feeding strays. As they go about their daily routine, they make it a point to count the cats and make sure that every cat is accounted for. This means that should a cat be taken ill or is injured, they are immediately alerted about it and are able to effectively cater to its needs. On a daily basis, Ghina and Hana Saemdahr are greeted, at every park lining the Abu Dhabi Corniche, by a throng of cats that gather around almost immediately at the sight of them. They gently nudge against their knees and purr contentedly. It is a wonderful sight to witness!

I find it all too saddening that while most people crave the love and attention of animals, very few want to put in the efforts to win them over. Caring for a pet is a lifetime contract. One is obligated to see it through its entire life-cycle, through thick and thin. Some people who grow bored and uninterested of their pets with age, actually kick them out without any forethought. This is the horrifying truth. This is problematic because the pet has nowhere do go and is forced to acclimatize to the harsh outdoors environment. The Saemdahr sisters have brought home back to pets who’ve lost one! They’ve taken it upon themselves to ensure that strays get all the love they deserve for the wonderful creatures that they are.