One of man's best friends

Omani Maryam Al Balushi lives in her home in the capital Muscat with around 500 animals that she has saved from roads and disease. Al Balushi, 51, says living with 480 cats and 12 dogs on the ground floor of her two-story house has helped her get through the harsh conditions in her life, despite complaints from neighbors and rising costs. Many kittens and dogs gather in front of Al Balushi, who told the French news agency: "I have found that animals, especially cats and dogs, are more efficient than humans."