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spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Please bear with a stupid question from a, well, not newb to the field at all, but to considerations of the Middle East.

The dog's lived in six countries with us. Are we gonna have to leave him with long term babysitters no matter what Middle Eastern country we end up posted to, or are there any at all that will allow a 'filthy' animal to legally cross the borders and live quietly, cleanly, and discreetly with us?

I know 'cleanly' isn't really an English word, but it should be, to maintain parallel grammar in my sentence above!

007 · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: Stupid ? re: dogs

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

First off, ignore the usual irrelevant drivel from 007.

I know many people who have brought their pets to the Middle East with no problems... both dogs and cats... even a bird to Kuwait I recall. Do a search on here the different country sections and you will find discussion of it.

Most Muslims consider dogs unclean and can't understand our tendency to have these animals in our homes. But that said, I know of some that have small dogs in their homes. You won't be able to let it loose outside at all as there are feral packs running wild in most of these countries and also you will be unlikely to have a yard or garden. As long as your dog is used to living in a flat and just being out to walk a couple times a day with you, it will be fine.

VS

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I've been reading 007 for a long time now - he lends a bit of regional authenticity to the thread and I quite enjoy reading his posts.

However, 007, too bad, the dog isn't legally eligible to live in the US, not having the proper passport or visa. Just Europe and Canada. Quite honestly, he wouldn't like living in the States because they have bans on dogs in restaurants and many hotels. In Europe, he's free to ride on public transportation, join us for lunch in restaurants, and stay in hotels when we travel.

C'mon over to visit Europe - you'll enjoy the beautiful cities (and their dog-friendly ways ) Very Happy

VS, thanks for the realistic info. It's interesting about the feral dogs; we had the same problem in Moscow last year. Having taught Saudi gentlemen in Canada last year, I am aware of the muslim feeling about dogs, and I am a great respecter of local sentiment on the matter.

Our dog's got a flat in Canada and one here in the Czech Rep, and no garden anywhere, so that's SOP for him. I don't suppose we expect a stint in the ME to be paradise for any of us (I hate hot weather) but so long as we can live quietly under the radar and not offend our neighbors (likely to be all expats - we will most probably be in a compound thru international company; my teaching job's secondary) it's all ok.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It depends on the country. Only Saudi seems to have compounds as the norm, and I have read here that Qatar may have some. In the rest of the Gulf, the vast majority of teachers live in flats spread around whatever city they are in. Most of your neighbors will be other expats, but not necessarily Westerners. There are no 'compounds' in Kuwait, Oman, or the Emirates that I know of unless there are companies that stick you out in the middle of the desert somewhere. Hopefully, you will get to live like the rest of the expats in a more normal environment. Personally I prefer living in a functioning city where I can walk to shopping. Laughing

VS

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

We won't be coming primarily as teachers, but with my spouse's international company. They tend to group their staff and families in villa neighborhoods and compounds, from what we've been told.

I'm with you, I'd prefer to be in the city, but we'll have cars.

Also not an issue not living around Westerners. We've done that before as well, and in some ways, prefer it!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Definitely... much more interesting. I was glad that there were no compounds where I was. (though my first job in Oman, there was on campus housing but the faculty was very international).

VS

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I'll likely be the only teacher in a gaggle of air traffic controllers and their families. Rolling Eyes

Well, at least there'll be little cross-over in gossip from living/neighborhood/neighbors to work Smile

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Ahhh... out in the desert near an airport?

That is why I never wanted to be on a compound... living with the same people that one works with... way too incestuous. Cool

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:01 am Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I know a couple who just moved to the UAE from Saudi Arabia. Getting their cat into the Emirates was a mega-hassle with requirements for blood tests and all sorts of complicated and expensive procedures. Make no assumptions !

FDor dogs I am sure it could be equally full of hassles.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yeah - scot's right. We'll make no assumptions, and do fresh research when it's close to time...though I'm grateful to hear from VS that such things aren't entirely unheard-of.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Still wondering whether our friend 007's going to take me up on the invitation to visit European capitols. There are daily flights Riyahd - Prague these days, I understand.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

I've travelled in and out of the Gulf with my pets. Paperwork can be an issue if you try to do it all yourself. Contact a pet relocation service in the country you're traveling to. (British Vet in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Kennels, Qatar Pet Relocators, etc.) They can really smooth the transportation of your pet and make sure you have all the correct documentation.

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

I've taken my cats to Saudi, Kuwait and Qatar. Saudi needed paperwork from the Embassy but it wasn't difficult once I got past all the various interpretations of what I needed from the various people who answered the phone at the London embassy. The Kuwaiti embassy in Ottawa told me I didn't need anything which was completely untrue. I figured it was but how are you supposed to get the papers from them that they say don't exist? Anyway, the vet in Kuwait City sorted it when they arrived. Qatar didn't require anything. I would have taken them to the UAE except that they required a permit that I didn't have and due to other circumstances we went somewhere else. Arabs seem to like cats - although not in the way westerners do.

Dogs are another story. I know people in Riyadh who have A dog. The papers I got from the Saudi embassy in London give a whole list of breeds of dogs you can't bring in. If you live in a compound you are unlikely to have trouble with your neighbours. You need to contact the Saudi embassy in the country you are in and get their current requirements for the importation of dogs.

Another issue could be how to get the animal into the magic kingdom. Saudi airlines REQUIRED that the cats travel in the cabin. One cat per customer. I don't know about dogs. You need to check that one out with the airline you fly on. I took my cats on Lufthansa in the cargo secion of the plane.