Animals suffer in hot Al-Rai market

The animal market in Al-Rai area is still working daily during the holy month of Ramadan, but is not much visited. The market is open the whole day, from 10 am to 10 pm. But people only come in the evening after iftar. "I still have to come in the morning, although there are no customers coming in this hot weather, as I have to feed the animals. The most sought animals during this period are fish. I also sell birds and other animals, so I have to feed them. The prices haven't increased and are still the same," Shafeeq, a salesman in one of the shops told Kuwait Times yesterday. Different kinds of animals can be found. The majority are birds and fish, and a few shops have cats, dogs, rabbits and other animals. The birds for instance differ in price from KD 1 to KD 250. "The bird worth KD 250 is a mynah and can talk. It comes from Malaysia. I have the same kind from Saudi Arabia, but this doesn't talk, so it costs only KD 15," said Mohammed, another salesman. The bad condition of some animals was obvious and sad. Four of five shops with pets had cages displayed outside the shop in the hot weather. The temperature was about 50 C and the cats and dogs were breathing with difficulties in their cages. Some were even without water and their tongues were out. When this reporter asked the salesman to put some water for them, he said he will do it soon. But passing by the shop after about 15 minutes, the cages were still without water, and had to be pestered until he gave the suffering cats some water. It seems the salesmen don't really care about the animals. Some cages with geese and chicken were placed under the hot sun, and the birds were breathing hard and looked close to death. It's really hard for these animals to stay outside with their warm fur and feathers. These animals are waiting for a family to adopt them and take them away from these harsh conditions and hot weather.