Job Discussion Forums

[crazycatlady]

does anyone out there work at zayed, or know someone who works at zayed, who has cats?

according to the zayed faqs, you can't bring cats with you when you arrive, and it's rare that zayed-approved housing will allow cats.

help! i'm a crazy cat lady!

[veiledsentiments]

I find that very odd because I know of so many people who have brought cats to the Emirates with few problems. I can't see any reason why the landlords would worry about cats as they can cause little damage to the concrete and marble. Not to mention there is no cultural bias against cats.

Have you been offered a job with them? That would be the time to discuss this with them. Don't expect them to help you, but there are vets in the UAE that will help you with the required paperwork and board them for awhile until you are settled into your flat.

VS

[crazycatlady]

that's a relief, vs. i've gotten a "proposed offer" from zayed, which i've accepted, so i'm waiting to hear back again.

i'll be in dubai. what's life like there for cats who go outside? one of my cats spends time outside every day. will she be able to do that in dubai? or will she have to become an inside cat?

[veiledsentiments]

Absolutely not... unless you are in a villa with a yard and even then it would need to be a cat who doesn't wander at all...

The chances of a single person getting a villa instead of a flat are pretty much slim and none...

VS

[MsParker]

Hello crazycatlady,

My advice would be to keep it on the down-low and just bring them along anyway. I also had a "no pets" clause in my contract, and my 2 cats are living quite happily in the supposedly "pet-free" apartment. There's another cat down the hall, and another 6 upstairs...

If you can speak directly to someone who works for the same company (which I did), you can find out if people have cats in their apartments and/or if anyone cares.

I'd be wary of letting them outside though for their own safety: The City of Abu Dhabi's "solution" to the feral cat problem is poisoning outdoor cats. The heat is terrible. People drive like maniacs. The list goes on...

To help you through getting them in the country, look up the American Vet Clinic in Abu Dhabi. They are really amazing when it comes to importing/exporting pets and helping you deal with all the regulations.

[helenl]

I have a friend who has a cat at Zayed. Basically it's a don't ask don't tell policy - so long as your cat doesn't disturb anyone (noise or smell) most probably won't know you have one.

Asking the HR dept forces them to give you "the party line" of "no cats"/

[crazycatlady]

this is a relief. thanks for the info on the vet!

[herenow]

Lots of people openly have cats who work at ZU. In fact, all three campuses even have a population of "campus cats." I would recommend that you are upfront with HR that you need housing that will allow pets. Be insistent. Settling in to a new place can be stressful, so you don't want to add to that the stress of hiding a pet as well. Also, best to have the cat arrive after you since the first few days will be spent in a hotel.

[veiledsentiments]

Goodness... that advice is all over the place. You will have to flip a coin as to whether to ask or not...

VS

[007]

Good news for the Kingdom of Cats, and bad news for the Kingdom of Dogs!

I have heard that some types of dogs, like the American Bull dog and Staffordshire Terrier are banned to enter the UAE!
It seems the the dogs of Uncle Sam are troublemakers!

[johnslat]

Dear 007,

You heard wrong:

"Residents who are found walking their dogs who are found in the Dubai municipality prohibited list in residential and public places unmasked and un-leased will be fined Dh 2000 and get their dogs confiscated.
Staff Reporter Published: 06:01 December 31, 2007
Dubai: Residents who are found walking their dogs who are found in the Dubai municipality prohibited list in residential and public places unmasked and un-leased will be fined Dh 2000 and get their dogs confiscated.

The rule comes into effect from January 1, 2008.

�If the dog has a tag number and is registered with us it will be returned to its owner in three days provided the fine is paid. A repeat violation will come as a last warning,'' said Dr. Hisham Fahamy, head of veterinary services at Dubai Municipality.

The Dubai municipality had issued a circular that prohibits sixteen breeds of dogs in residential and public areas.

The circular read: �In order to protect the public from animal diseases, the presence of following breeds of dogs is prohibited in residential areas, public places, markets and shopping centers from January 1, 2008. All pet owners are hereby requested to keep their dogs on a leash on streets and beaches and not to walk them without masks.
"Owners shall be responsible for any damage resulted from their non-compliance. Dubai Municipality will confiscate dogs if it causes harm or poses threat to people, animals and properties. Violators will be dealt as per municipality rules and regulations''

A debate about laws governing dangerous dogs is brewing in UK after a 13-month-old boy died after he was attacked by Rottweiler in Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Fahamy yesterday told Gulf News that a four month grace period was given to dog owners to make themselves and their pets acquainted with the new regulation.

�We have been receiving a lot of complaints from residents who were concerned about dogs being kept in apartments and walked un-leashed,'' said Fahamy.

Municipality prohibited list of dogs include

American Staffordshire Terrier
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Bull Dog
Bull Terrier
Old English Bull Dog
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tosa
Husky
Rottweiler
Doberman
Shar Pei
Perro de presa mallorquin/Bull Dog
Neapolitan
Argentinean Mastiff
Miniature Bull Terrier
Canary dog fila brasilerio/ Brazilian Mastiff"

http://tinyurl.com/2fhqtk7

Banned from the UAE? No. Banned from WALKING those dogs in certain public and municipal areas IN the UAE.

Sometimes I think you merit a full-time fact-checker.

Regards,
John

[007]

[helenl]

WTH? This is about cats, not dogs.

[johnslat]

Dear 007,

Did you happen to notice that my list and yours are the same. The problem here is that some people don't seem to understand what the "banned" means. It was, admittedly, a very poor choice of words; restricted would have been much more appropriate.
But then, English likely isn't the first language of some of the people involved.

"Your vet will need to issue you with a pet passport or export permit for your dog, this will have to state the breed or cross breed so you will need to have you vet state his breed.

Copies of this have to be sent to the ministry in Dubai for an import permit to be issued. I would contact the ministry here for clarification. They were VERY helpful when I brought my animals from the UK. I had to get some special dispensation letters and they issued them immediatly.

If your dog is crossbreed and not on the banned list you will be OK.

Also, the banned list is misleading, as you can keep one of the dogs on the list in a villa, not in an apartment, but it must be muzzled and on a lead whilst being walked."

"Misleading - They are not exactly banned, when they allowed in villas and are OK to be exercised in public as long as they are leashed and muzzled. "

"Once again, the 'banned' dogs need to be leashed and muzzled as confirmed by the municipality, so not really 'banned' just additional restrictions."

"Dubai - Dog owners across Dubai have been left confused and worried after officials warned that 16 breeds have been listed as dangerous and could be confiscated. Dubai Municipality has also warned that anyone owning a dog now classified as dangerous cannot keep more than one such animal in a villa, while they have been banned completely in apartment blocks.
Breeds of dogs now branded as dangerous include the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Rottweiler, the Doberman and the Husky - as well as 12 other breeds. A directive issued by Dubai Municipality stated: �As part of the public health departments responsibilities in preserving public health and safety and in order to protect members of the public from animal related diseases the presence of the following breeds of dogs� is prohibited in residential areas, public places, market and shopping centres, as they pose a threat to society.�

The new rules take effect from January 1. However, Doctor Hisham Fahmi, veterinary specialist at Dubai Municipality, told 7DAYS yesterday that despite the inference in the directive, there is not an outright ban on the dogs in Dubai, but all dogs will now have to be muzzled in public places.
He said: �Any dog found on the street without a leash and collar from January 1 will be confiscated and the owners will have three days to pay a fine for the return of their dog. No dog from the 16 breeds listed as dangerous is allowed to be homed in a residential apartment block. In a villa, only one such dog is allowed. Anyone housing more than one dangerous dog in a villa will need to find them new homes.�
Dog owners across the emirate were left shocked by the announcement. �My dogs are like my babies, they are like my kids and totally non-aggressive. I can�t even think about giving them up. These dogs are part of my family,� says Vicky White, the owner of three Huskies. Another concerned owner of two American Pit Bulls said his entire family would be heart-broken to lose their pets.
�We have had them eight years now and they are like an old married couple together. We cannot split them up, the kids would be distraught. The dogs would be distraught. We�d all be distraught.� Robert Murrell and Lesley Murphy, who own Rottweiler Max, (pictured) said: �We need more clarification as to the exact ruling being introduced. It all seems very confusing at the moment.�
Max Spicer, managing partner at the Veterinary Hospital in Al Quoz, warned: �If dogs are to wear muzzles in the scorching summer heat, then we are going to see a lot of dogs dying of heat-stroke. Ordinary muzzles do not let a dog pant and release body heat. In light of this new ruling, I urge all dog owners to buy special open-mouthed muzzles, similar to those race dogs wear.

Dog walking ban is bone of contention for owners

By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
Published: November 30, 2007, 01:03

Dubai: A Dubai Municipality circular prohibiting 16 breeds of dogs from residential and public areas has caused concern among owners who fear their dogs may be confiscated.

The municipality circular reads: "In order to protect the public from animal diseases, the presence of the following breeds of dogs is prohibited in residential areas, public places, markets and shopping centres from January 1, 2008.

"All pet owners are hereby requested to keep their dogs on a leash on streets and beaches and not to walk them without muzzles.

"Owners shall be responsible for any damage resulted from their non-compliance. Dubai Municipality will confiscate dogs if they cause harm or pose a threat to people, animals and property."

Dr Hesham Fahami, head of veterinary services at Dubai Municipality yesterday told Gulf News the circular has been issued keeping in mind public welfare.

Complaints

"One of the main reasons for the circular to be brought out is to protect the public from animal-related diseases. The breeds that have been brought under question are the ones that are not suitable to be raised in apartments. They can pose a danger to children. We have acted on numerous complaints received from the general public."

K9 Friends yesterday said the circular was unclear and would appreciate it if more information was provided.

"What we would like to know is why those breeds are targeted. Does it mean they will be banned from being bred here," said Jackie Ratcliffe, chairwoman of K9 Friends.

"The circular surprised me. If dogs are living in a situation where dog fighting takes place or are not looked after properly any dog can turn bad. For example a Husky should not be brought into this country because the climate is unsuitable for them but they are not dangerous."

She said K9 Friends had been bombarded with calls from dog owners.

"People who have these dogs are worried somebody will come and confiscate them. We should understand that every dog is an individual."


Regards,
John

[007]

Well, John, to ban or not to ban, I am not against dogs, and I understand that every dog is an individual!
I think Zayed university should be clear in the interpretation of the pet laws, and help its future employees to understand the laws.

Now, who said that this thread is about cats not dogs? Don't you know that each dog is an individual and should be respected!
Correct, Uncle Scott?