What you must know before buying pets

When the Isaacs decided on getting a dog, their four children were ecstatic. Caramel brown and playful, the family fell instantly in love with Fudge. Six months later their golden retriever passed away while the family was on a ten-day vacation.

Though they left him in the care of a dog-sitter friend, Fudge missed his family. “My husband, older kids and I were devastated. The older kids still cry sometimes,” admits Shahene Isaac.

So would getting another dog help matters? “I would love to,” she says. “We have been trying to convince my husband but he refuses flat out. He says he cannot go through the separation anxiety again.”

Despite numerous hotels, kennels and catteries, managing pets in the UAE is difficult. More than the fee or fear of contracting viruses at kennels, the dread of leaving a loved one behind is emotionally excruciating. Vastu consultant and animal lover Komal Jain and her husband often cut short holidays to ensure that one of them is always around for their rescued Spitz, Buzz. “He is part of our family now and like you would make adjustments for any family member, you make the same for your pet too,” says Jain.

Along with being an emotionally rewarding experience, keeping pets also helps improve physical wellbeing. That is, perhaps, why residents across the UAE are indulging their fondness for wagging tails, soft meows and gliding gold fishes. “Pet ownership has grown three-fold over the last five years within the UAE. The main reasons are physical, mental, and emotional improvement, enhancing social skills and lastly to reduce or control health-related issues such as heart attacks, stress, blood pressure, blindness, diabetes and disability,” says Gaurav Mahendra, general manager Pet Corner.

With hot, humid weather almost through the year, keeping pets in this country is not exactly a walk in the park, especially when it comes to canines. “It’s quite difficult taking care of dogs in Dubai as they need space to run around,” admits Andrea Fernandes, a conference director who moved into a villa so her pooches Nikki and Coco could do just that. “We got our first caretaker because of the dogs. We did not want to leave them alone when we were at work,” she adds.

Keeping animals — especially exotic varieties — requires discipline and hard work. Veterinarian Dr Max Spicer, managing partner at The Veterinary Hospital, Dubai, believes prior to purchase, owners should acquire in-depth knowledge regarding the animal’s husbandry and welfare. They should be honest with themselves and ask if they are truly capable of consistently providing humane and healthy support to the animal.

“If this is possible, a mutually rewarding experience can be developed. If not, please reconsider or enjoy exotics maintained by professional animal care takers. Alternatively, watch National Geographic,” says Spicer who over the past 16 years has treated exotics such as giraffes, lions, tigers, cheetahs, golden eagles, falcons, flamingoes, iguanas and numerous snakes — including a five meter long python who was suffering from pneumonia.

While it’s easy enough to buy and adopt dogs in UAE, the social environment is not entirely dog-friendly either. “We lack facilities for pets in the UAE. They are not allowed on beaches and parks and there is none specially made for them. Yes there are day care centres, but not everyone can afford them,” says Jain.

Animal rescue centres stand witness to the fact that people in this city get animals, then mistreat or abandon them when looking after the pets starts to take a toll on their time. Apart from daily maintenance, food, exercise and possible medical costs, owners must be prepared to clean litter boxes, fish bowls and bird cages and scoop that poop.

An avid animal lover, Jain advises people to ask the following four pertinent questions before getting a pet. “Can you stay committed for the next 15 years to the pet? Will you get time to educate yourself about handling one? Will you be able to spare time at least thrice a day to take your dog for exercise? Do you have funds for day care and boarding or friends who will help out when you must travel?”

Top 5 accessories you need (available at all leading pet stores in the UAE)

1. Cool jackets: gel-filled jackets that cool pets during summertime reducing risk of heat stress and increasing exercise tolerance.

2. Drinkwell Pet fountain or portable water bottle

3. FURminator® deShedding Tools

4. Dog treadmill

5. Cat/Dog pee pee pads

Are you ready to have a pet?

Exotic pets are expensive and difficult to maintain. Dr Max Spicer says it is essential to do proper homework prior to purchasing them as they need access to an air-conditioned, clean environment along with fresh food, water and adequate exercise on a daily basis. Here are some useful tips to keep in mind when buying any of the following pets -

• Parrots and tortoises: Make sure you receive a genuine C.I.T.E.S. captive bred certificate at the time of purchase, without this you cannot travel through international borders with the pet.

• Reptiles: Change ultraviolet bulbs in the enclosure regularly. Due to inadequate exposure to ultraviolet light of the correct wavelength, reptiles often develop skeletal diseases.

• Parrots /psittacine birds: Provide a broad menu of foodstuffs ranging from vegetables and fruits along with nuts and seeds. Overfeeding with just sunflower seeds, peanuts and other oily /fatty nuts and seeds can lead to eventual liver failure.

For more information log on to www. vet-hosp.com

Dog breed selection

When it comes to choosing a dog that’s just right for your family, take one of innumerable online breed selector quizzes or an expert’s advice.

• For a family with young children choose:

Pug, Bolognese, Cavalier King Charles, West Highland Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Jack Russell Terrier and Toy Poodle.

• Best breeds for this climate

Large dogs: Labrador Retriever.

Small dogs: Toy Poodle.

For more information log on to www.petcornerdubai.com

Shahana Raza is a Dubai-based freelance writer