I know many people would feel that we should work on human rights or other more urgent matters in Saudi Arabia first, but many of us fail to understand that even if we still need to sort out other major issues;  it doesn’t mean we should disregard everything else. We need to shed light on all the issues facing our community in order to raise the society’s awareness.

Let’s not forget that change takes time, so the sooner we start discussing and realizing the problems we need to solve; the better.

In Saudi Arabia, one of the first Hadeeths by the Prophet (PBUH) taught to children is about a woman who got punished for torturing a cat. As such, one would think we should be one of the most animal friendly places in the world.

Unfortunately, that is not the case.  Dogs are hated and are viewed as “impure”, stray cats are all over the streets and are not safe, black animals are thought to be “evil” in some way, and many people don’t know how to properly care for a pet; or know which animals actually fall under the category of pet and which don’t. Why would anyone keep a tiger, a wild cat or an alligator in their home? They definitely don’t belong there and it’s dangerous to keep them there!

The reason behind all this is simple: Animals need us and we need animals. Why? The well being of our planet is OUR responsibly and that includes everything from keeping our planet healthy and taking care of all the living creatures inhabiting it.

Animals need us because they can’t object or fight for their rights, so they depend on us for making sure they are safe and happy. We also need animals because they are  an essential and vital element in keeping the equilibrium and state of our planet in a good condition.

Furthermore, it’s not only a matter of need. It’s a matter of respect to life too.

My concerns:

1. Riyadh Zoo’s upkeep of their animals is deteriorating every year, and the animals are in bad shape. A zoo is a wonderful and fun educational experience for both children and adults, that’s why we must try to improve its state.
   This might help:
   For more information, read this article by Arab News and join this cause on Facebook.
2. The large number of street cats. There are cats everywhere, and we don’t have many supported animal rescue centers to take care of them.
   This might help:
   Visit Saudi Paws and Open Paws. Both rescue, vaccinate, deworm and clean abandoned or stray animals. They also put them up for adoption or foster care. Join Saudi Paws’ cause on Facebook here.
3. Pet shops. Before buying your pet from a pet shop try to look for other options, check the links above or ask around for any animals that are threatened to be abadoned by their carers for any reason.
4. People keeping pets without commiting to the responsibility of caring for them. You shouldn’t keep pets in your home only for your entertainment or treat them like fashion items. They need love, care and attention.

Photographer: Talal Alamri

Last night a Taiko (”drum” in Japanese) performance was hosted by the Embassy of Japan at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh, and it was an open invitation. the group performing was made up of three members; with the famous percussionist and composer  Joji Hirota being the lead, along with my sister’s classmate and friend Moriya Keisuke and Akinori Fujimoto.

The show was brilliant, the music was lovely and Joji Hirota really swept the crowd off its feet with his performance and attitude. He is a true legend, it’s worth checking his official website to learn more about his accomplishments and talent.

Furthermore, I was very much pleased with the whole set up. it was quite organized and the crowd showed much enthusiasm and support that got the performers to add new elements to the show that were not originally part of the it! Joji Hirota asked the crowd to sing along some of the songs with him, and they did a great job. Even the performers were amazed by the crowd’s excitement and by how fast they picked up the lyrics they were asked to sing along with them.

In short, it was a success. I only hope for more events of this kind in the future of Riyadh.