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Dubai pet owners applaud new quarantine rules
| Published: | 20 Mar at 6 PM |
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As reported by The National, new rules in Dubai will be making it easier to transport dogs and cats to the UK, reducing the amount of pets abandoned by British expats, say animal welfare groups.
Since the British government changed its quarantine regulations in January, many pet relocation companies have noticed a rise in the number of expats who want to take their animals with them when they depart the country.
Dr Elizabeth Thomas, who owns Pets Oasis, a Dubai-based vet clinic and relocation service, says the new law will make it more convenient to travel with pets. More expats will be sending their pets back, and there will be fewer abandoned animals, she predicted.
Under the previous regulations, domestic animals had to have blood exams six months before arriving in the UK. During this period, pets were either held in the UAE or put in quarantine kennels in Britain.
During the global economic crash, when many expats lost their jobs, hundreds of animals were left in the UAE, either in shelters or on the streets. Many owners were cancelling their visas and were unable to fulfil the six-month waiting requirement in the UAE, or could not pay the kennel fees for transporting pets to the UK.
Under the new regulations, owners will only pay the cargo fee of shipping their pets back to Britain - Dh5,500 for a large dog and Dh1,000 for a cat - and obtain an EU health certificate, which costs Dh920 through certain agents. No further blood tests will be needed.
Since the British government changed its quarantine regulations in January, many pet relocation companies have noticed a rise in the number of expats who want to take their animals with them when they depart the country.
Dr Elizabeth Thomas, who owns Pets Oasis, a Dubai-based vet clinic and relocation service, says the new law will make it more convenient to travel with pets. More expats will be sending their pets back, and there will be fewer abandoned animals, she predicted.
Under the previous regulations, domestic animals had to have blood exams six months before arriving in the UK. During this period, pets were either held in the UAE or put in quarantine kennels in Britain.
During the global economic crash, when many expats lost their jobs, hundreds of animals were left in the UAE, either in shelters or on the streets. Many owners were cancelling their visas and were unable to fulfil the six-month waiting requirement in the UAE, or could not pay the kennel fees for transporting pets to the UK.
Under the new regulations, owners will only pay the cargo fee of shipping their pets back to Britain - Dh5,500 for a large dog and Dh1,000 for a cat - and obtain an EU health certificate, which costs Dh920 through certain agents. No further blood tests will be needed.
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