Job Discussion Forums

[tillymd]

I know this may not be a big deal for many of you, but my dog is very important to me. Does anyone know the requirements to bring a dog into the country or are they considered "livestock"?

[johnslat]

Dear tillymd,

Please check these threads. I went to the Search function, entered "dogs pets" and for Forum, I chose Saudi Arabia and for Category, I chose Middle East Forums.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=69281&highlight=dogs+pets

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=61238&highlight=dogs+pets

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

[shadowfax]

Dogs are okay in Kuwait. They might be okay in KSA compound life but outside of that it would probably be risque if not disastrous.

[GlobalDawg]

A colleague's arrival in Doha with his dog was delayed because he had difficulty with a stop-over in Riyadh. I'm not sure how he managed to leave the States enroute to Saudi with the dog, but he did have a problem once the plane landed. After a day or two things got sorted out and he was able to fly on to Doha. Perhaps he had to pay a fine--not sure.

[Mia Xanthi]

[trapezius]

And what's even weirder is that a lot of big Saudi families (big in money and fame, not size) keep pretty large dogs in their mansions.

[AirHorn]

I didn't bring mine, and now that I am here I am glad I didn't. Some of my students tell me they have several dogs while others are very quick to tell me that they are haram. My decision not to bring my dog was based on the fact that it would draw attention to me promoting haram and the fear of what might happen if he bit a saudi child for example. Truthfully, although I am enjoying myself in Saudi Arabia, my dog would have hated it. He is better off staying in the U.S. with relatives.

[TABING]

Dogs are "nah-jess" unclean.

I brought my Suluki to SA, (I had a little "wasta"), but Sulukis aren't really considered "dogs".

Sulukis and Afhgan hounds seem to be acceptable because they are desert hunting dogs.

[Sheikh Abdullah]

You have it wrong. Cats are permissible in Islam. In fact, one of the prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) closest companion was named Abu Hurairah (Father of the cats). In Islam, dogs are seen as Najis (unclean) and if you have one it should only be for security of your home. They are not allowed inside the home because they are dirty and the angels will not visit that home. This is the ruling in accordance with Islam.

Hope this helps,

Abdullah

[trapezius]

Saluki

[runninggirl]

So is anyone on here that actually has a dog in Saudi at a compound? Or has anyone seen teachers with dogs at compounds?
I heard from someone that was there last year about puppies being sold in petshops and that families in some of the compounds do have dogs.

If any dog owner does read this I hope you will write me. Some of the threads I found were a couple of years old and hopefully things over there are dynamic.


I would like to come to Saudi -teach women and live at a compound. If I cannot have my little dog there safely I will look for someplace else. It is a already enough rules there and since they consider 50% of their population to be less than the other half that is enough. I've spent plenty of time in the middle east but just not Saudi.
And as it looks by these threads I may never end up in this country.
I'll get back to the other countries and see what is available.
Any favorites?

[tillymd]

Dear Runninggirl,

I originally posted this question 3 months ago as a joke. I would never send my "little angel" to the KSA. From what I've read, ESL teachers do not live on the nice compounds suitable for pets.

Don't you think it's funny we would go live in a place we don't consider welcoming enough for our beloved little creatures.

It's interesting that dogs have the vocal cords to speak, they are lacking a developed frontal lobe. Although I've known a few people with this problem.

Tillymd

[Cleopatra]

[veiledsentiments]

I guess that puts poor TEFLers on a lower tier... perhaps true?

VS