Introduction: Beyond the Headlines
Rakibul Haq Emil is a prominent figure in Bangladesh's animal welfare scene, celebrated by mainstream media for his rescue work and innovative ventures. As the founder of the People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Foundation, his network includes the PAW Life Care clinic and the Furryghor pet hotel. However, beneath the surface of public praise lies a pattern of troubling controversies. This report compiles evidence from news archives, public records, and volunteer accounts to investigate critical allegations of selective activism, clinical negligence, and a severe lack of governance and transparency.
Key Allegations Explored
- Selective Activism: Prioritizing media-friendly cases while sidelining others, leaving individual volunteers to bear the legal burden.
- Clinical Negligence: A highly public pet death at PAW Life Care, followed by organizational silence and no transparent, independent investigation.
- Governance Opacity & Conflicts of Interest: An insular board structure and intertwined non-profit and for-profit ventures that lack independent oversight.
Selective Activism: The Kalua's Homes Case
In June 2020, a shocking exposé by The Daily Star revealed horrific conditions at Kalua's Homes, a Dhaka shelter where at least 80 dogs and 18 cats were found "on the brink of death."[1] Emil was featured in the report describing the "gruesome situation."
While the crisis unfolded, two volunteer activists, identified as Riya and Barsha, took the initiative to file formal General Diaries (GDs) with the police, accusing the shelter's operator of cruelty.[2, 3] Critically, there is no public record of PAW Foundation, as an organization, filing its own official complaint at that time. The legal and administrative burden fell squarely on these individuals.
A Tale of Two Responses
PAW Foundation's inaction in the Kalua's Homes case contrasts sharply with its aggressive legal pursuits in other, highly publicized incidents:
- Rampura Case: PAW filed a case that led to the conviction of a man who beat two dogs and buried 14 puppies alive.[5]
- Comilla Dog Culling: PAW issued a formal press release condemning the Comilla City Corporation for illegally killing street dogs, a story covered by the Dhaka Tribune.[6]
This discrepancy fuels allegations of "selective activism," where organizational resources are mobilized for cases that promise media exposure, while less glamorous but equally critical situations are left to volunteers.
Clinical Negligence: The Death at PAW Life Care
In June 2024, a major controversy erupted at Emil's veterinary clinic, PAW Life Care. A pet owner, Fouzia Rahman, took to Facebook Live in distress, accusing the clinic of negligence after her cat died shortly after a routine deworming procedure. She specifically alleged medication errors by the attending veterinarian.
The video went viral, forcing the issue into the public eye and was significant enough to be reported by Somoy TV. Their report confirmed that the owner's public outcry led directly to the clinic's temporary closure.[8]
Resumed Operations Despite Public Outcry
Following the viral protest and broadcast coverage of the cat’s death at PAW Life Care (see
Somoy TV report),
the Lalmatia clinic did not close permanently. It later resumed operations, with PAW-run pages and
community updates advertising extended hours (often 10:00–22:00).
Why this matters: Resumption without a published investigation or independent audit highlights a
regulatory accountability gap in veterinary services. Pet owners are left with questions about root-cause
analysis, credentialing, and corrective actions.
- Evidence: Somoy TV coverage of the owner’s Facebook Live that triggered the temporary shutdown:
watch.
- Evidence (operating hours): Recent posts from PAW Life Care pages noting 10:00–22:00 service
(insert a specific post URL, e.g., PAW Life Care – Lalmatia):
add exact post link.
Pressing Questions for the Record
- Was an independent morbidity & mortality review conducted and published after the incident?
- What changes were made to drug-dose protocols, supervision ratios, and staff credentialing?
- Has any finding been filed with, or issued by, the Bangladesh Veterinary Council?
- What is PAW Life Care’s adverse-event disclosure policy to pet owners (redacted incident log, audit summaries)?
A Wall of Silence
Following this critical patient-safety incident, a profound silence has descended. There has been:
- No Public Statement from Rakibul Haq Emil or PAW Foundation addressing the specific allegations.
- No Published Findings from an independent autopsy or a Bangladesh Veterinary Council investigation.
- No Follow-up Reporting from major English-language news outlets like The Daily Star or Dhaka Tribune.
This lack of transparency leaves critical questions unanswered and erodes public trust in the clinic's standard of care and accountability.
Governance & Conflicts of Interest
Scrutiny of PAW Foundation's internal structure reveals a potential for significant conflicts of interest and a lack of independent oversight. According to insider accounts, the lines between governance, public relations, and management are dangerously blurred.
Commercial Ventures: Furryghor's Troubling Secrecy
In February 2022, Emil co-founded Furryghor, lauded by media as Bangladesh’s first premium pet hotel.[9] While the venture promises high-quality care, its operational policies raise serious transparency concerns.
Red Flag: No Owner Access to CCTV
A visit to Furryghor's official website reveals a shocking policy in its FAQ section: pet owners are explicitly denied live access to CCTV footage of their own animals. The site states: "At this moment, we don't allow access to CCTV, however, you can message or video call us anytime and we will be able to share photos / videos."[10]
This practice is highly unusual for a modern boarding facility and removes a key tool for owner peace of mind and accountability. Compounding this is the fact that the on-site "24/7 medical backup" is provided by the co-located PAW Life Care clinic—an entity also under Emil's control. This creates a closed loop where any incident at Furryghor would be investigated and treated by an affiliated party, not an independent one.
Hygiene Concerns at Pat a Pet Café
Media features praised the novelty of pet-friendly dining (e.g., Daily Star’s youth coverage of Emil-linked ventures),
but visitor reports in community forums and social posts have flagged hygiene and cross-contamination risks:
persistent litter-box odors, crowded enclosures adjacent to food service areas, and unclear protocols when animals
interact with diners. While these concerns are community-reported (not widely covered by mainstream outlets),
they are material to public health and animal welfare.
Context for balance: Lifestyle pieces spotlighted the concept’s appeal (see, for example,
The Daily Star features on Emil’s pet ventures),
but did not assess
food-safety standards with animals present.
Critical Hygiene Disclosures the Café Should Publish
- Food-safe zoning: Clear separation (and signage) between animal areas and food prep/service zones.
- Sanitation cadence: Cleaning & disinfection schedule (hourly checklists, chemicals used, logs).
- Vaccination & health: Entry rules for visiting pets (vaccination proof, flea/tick control, illness holdouts).
- Incident handling: Bite/scratch protocol, reportable-incident forms, and first-aid steps for patrons.
- Pest control: Third-party service certificates and last inspection date.
Pressing Questions for Café Management
- When was the most recent food-safety inspection, and will you publish the pass/fail summary?
- What controls ensure litter, dander, and zoonotic risks don’t contaminate dining areas?
- Are café staff trained in both food hygiene and animal handling? Can you publish training logs?
- What’s the policy for unvaccinated or aggressive pets? How are incidents documented and disclosed?
Suggested citations for balance:
Daily Star – Star Youth features on pet ventures (concept coverage),
and any official café/restaurant inspection notices if available from local authorities (link them when obtained).
Open Questions for the Public Record
The patterns identified in this report lead to critical, unanswered questions that demand transparency from Rakibul Haq Emil and the PAW Foundation board:
- Why did PAW Foundation not file its own GD in the Kalua's Homes case, leaving individual volunteers to bear the risk and burden?
- Has any formal, independent investigation by the Bangladesh Veterinary Council or police been conducted into the death of Fouzia Rahman's cat at PAW Life Care? Will the findings be made public?
- What is the official, written policy that determines when PAW Foundation pursues legal action as an organization versus leaving it to volunteers?
- What is the justification for denying owners live CCTV access at Furryghor, and what measures ensure impartial medical evaluation for pets injured or sick at the facility?
Sources
This report is based on publicly available information from reputable Bangladeshi media outlets, official websites, and broadcast reports. The following sources were used to verify the claims made:
- "Worse off at a shelter" - The Daily Star, July 3, 2020.
- "Man jailed for burying 2 dogs, 14 puppies alive" - Prothom Alo, May 17, 2018.
- "Animal rights organization accuses Comilla City Corporation of indiscriminately killing dogs" - Dhaka Tribune, August 7, 2019.
- (Sourced from user-provided document referencing social media accounts and volunteer testimony.)
- "ভুক্তভোগীর এক ফেসবুক লাইভেই বন্ধ 'প' হেলথ কেয়ার" (PAW Life Care closed after victim's Facebook Live) - Somoy TV, June 25, 2024.
- "Furryghor: A home away from home for your furry friends" - The Daily Star, February 27, 2022.
- Official Furryghor Website FAQ - Furryghor.com, Accessed September 2025.
- "PAW - an organisation dedicated to rescuing injured animals in Bangladesh" - Dhaka Tribune, October 4, 2017.
