Kissing Sharks? Sarah Oxley Heaney - PhD Candidate
Fighting for Community Animals
REFRAMING 'STREET ANIMALS' IN SAUDI ARABIA AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS
During my 17 years in Saudi Arabia, I established a volunteer group for the rescue of street-living non-animals in need. This group has now become a legal charity, and our primary mission is to assist injured and abandoned street-living animals. As an anthrozoologist, I've begun writing about the plight of the, primarily, cats and dogs; the witnessing of rescuers, and advocating for a shift in perception regarding ‘street-living animals.’ I aim to promote the reframing of 'street-living animals' as non-human animal neighbours worthy of respect, care and a life free of suffering.
2024
Oxley Heaney, S. (2024) Abandonment in Arabia: Acknowledging Feline Experiences (Felis silvestris catus). In László,B. and Lovas,A. (Eds.), Studies on the Human-Animal Relationship Anthrozoology Series III. University of Debrecen Anthrozoology Research Group, ISBN 978-963-490-644-5, pp 49-83.
2023
Oxley Heaney, S. (2023) ‘Arabian feline (Felis silvestris catus) lives: Insights into abandonment’, EASE Working Paper Series, 1, pp. 54–88. Available at: https://anthrozoologyassymbioticethics.wordpress.com/the-ease-working-paper-series/.
Conference Presentations
Podcasts
Saudi Arabian Feline Lives
(based on MA Anthrozoology research and autoethnography)
Mikey - an ex street-living, community cat from Saudi Arabia
Domestic cats are a ubiquitous presence in Saudi Arabia (KSA), inhabiting the streets and homes, being bred, traded, and unfortunately, often abandoned. Many struggle to thrive in the harsh street environment, merely surviving, and a significant number perish once abandoned. With Saudi Arabia's increasing openness to tourism and the amplifying impact of social media, the domestic cat landscape in KSA has become a focal point for various stakeholders.
Having dedicated seventeen years to the Saudi Arabian rescue community and establishing one of the first legal animal welfare charities in KSA, I have gained a unique perspective on the reasons behind cat relinquishment and abandonment in the region.
My MA Anthrozoology dissertation research presents findings upon which strategies aimed at enhancing the feline landscape for all stakeholders can be based, with a particular focus on the marginalized feline population. I aspire to make a positive impact on the lives of both cats and humans in Saudi Arabia by sharing my findings. My goal is to initiate constructive dialogues with stakeholders invested in the welfare of Saudi Arabian cats, with the ultimate aim of significantly and ethically improving the lives of street-living cats, irrespective of their origins.