RIYADH: The steady rise of animal welfare in the Kingdom was celebrated at Saudi Pet Expo 2025 this week.
The event, now in its fourth year, was held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center and brought together pet owners, rescuers, industry professionals and families.
This year’s edition featured grooming stations, veterinary clinics, pet accessory brands, breeders, tech startups, training services and educational workshops. It reflected a nationwide shift toward responsible pet ownership and the increasing interest of Saudi families, youth and volunteers in animal welfare.
Among the most popular events was the third “Pet in My Life” competition, which took place on Tuesday.
The entire edition was dedicated to pet rescuers — those individuals who have stepped in to save neglected or injured animals, providing them with safety, medical care and a permanent home. It honored “heroes of compassion” — ordinary people whose efforts often go unnoticed but have a profound impact on animal welfare in Saudi Arabia.
Organizers emphasized how many rescue stories show not only animals being saved, but also humans finding emotional healing as part of the process.
The competition aimed to raise awareness about the importance of rescuing stray and neglected animals, encourage the adoption of rescue animals rather than those bred for sale, and highlight the emotional and social transformation that happens when someone rescues and cares for an animal in need.
Open to those aged from 12 to 65, it drew hundreds of entries from across the Kingdom. Prizes included honorary shields, veterinary clinic discount cards, and pet and pet food supplies. The winner received SR1,500 ($400) in cash and a year’s supply of pet food.
(AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
A panel including representatives of Royal Canin, City Events, Pet Oasis, Logma and the Amthalakum Endowment judged the submissions, eventually selecting Mashael Al-Bassam, Rahaf Al-Asiri and Tahani Abdullah as the three finalists who most strongly captured the spirit of the competition.
The three then shared their stories live in front of the judges and audience members.
Winner Al-Bassam told how she rescued her cat, Peanut, who was discovered as a 3-month-old kitten with severe medical issues. Peanut faced repeated surgeries, uterine removal, bleeding episodes and colitis, in addition to vision problems.
Al-Bassam described how she dedicated herself to the cat’s recovery and how, over the course of three years, Peanut became “a part of me,” a companion whose resilience mirrored her own.
Al-Asiri, who took second place, recounted a deeply emotional story of finding a critically ill cat which was barely able to stand. Al-Asiri spent weeks nursing the animal back to health, feeding her around the clock and staying beside her through long nights of worry.
At times, she admitted, she cried while holding the fragile animal, determined to keep her alive. Her patience and resilience became a central part of the story, symbolizing the emotional bond that can develop between rescuer and animal.
Third-placed Abdullah shared how her rescued cat became a source of healing during a difficult period of isolation and stress in her life. As a doctor working long hours, she faced emotional exhaustion and bouts of depression. The presence of her cat, she explained, “brought joy back into my life.”
She eventually built a dedicated space in her home for cats, channeling her love for rescue animals into a comforting environment that also helped her cope with the pressures of her profession.
Eman Al-Rajab, head of the media committee at the expo and presenter of the finalists’ interviews, told Arab News both she and the audience were deeply moved by the stories.
“Human stories always move me, especially those filled with emotion,” she said. “The story of Mashael Al-Bassam touched me the most. Her cat went through tremendous suffering, yet she never gave up on her. You could feel how strong their bond was.”
She added that Al-Asiri’s story demonstrated remarkable patience and devotion: “She fed the cat, stayed with her, cried with her, she did everything she could. It was truly inspiring.”
Al-Rajab said Abdullah’s story resonated for a different reason. “Her cat became a source of joy and healing. It pulled her out of depression and brought light back into her life. These stories show how rescuing an animal can transform both sides,” she said.
She added that, on top of the prizes, the participants’ real achievement was in spreading awareness about rescue work.
“These individuals are heroes,” she said. “Their real victory is encouraging adoption and protecting the lives of animals in our communities.”
Organizers of the Saudi Pet Expo say the event attracted a strong turnout, reflecting a broader cultural shift in the Kingdom that showed animal welfare was becoming more visible and valued in Saudi society.
