(MY) Saudi's ban on pets

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Reasons for Saudi's sale ban for pets-Malaysiakini

Arbibi Ashoy

Sep 25, 06 4:26pm

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I refer to the letter *Cats and dogs: Saudi's sale ban

unwise<http://www.malaysiakini.com/opinionsfeatures/55899>

* by Anthony Thanayasan. I feel he has misunderstood the reason for the ban.

The ban is upon the sale of pets, not the feeding or grooming or showing

kindness to animals.

 

This ban is necessary for a number of reasons. First of all, pet owners

prefer exotic breeds or pedigrees compared to the local breeds or mongrels.

This means that these cats and dogs have to be imported. Animals carry

diseases and in a country where rain is lacking and where carcasses and

faeces are not washed away, diseases can spread easily.

 

Second, keeping pets is an alien culture there. While cats and dogs do roam

the streets, their numbers are small as the dessert is not a hospitable

place for them.

 

Third, buying and selling pets can be cruel. Pet shops keep cats and dogs in

small cages without any space for them to run. Transporting animals over

long distances is cruel. Subjecting pets to strange weather conditions can

be cruel.

 

Fourth, the law does not require pet owners to take their pets for medical

checkups and injections also in providing nutritious and well-balanced food.

There is no regulation requiring the maintaining of hygiene as well as

requiring owners to provide sufficient space for roaming.

 

Finally, keeping pets involve a lot of money. Many people do not even do the

minimum, that is spaying and neutering their pet. Their pets get pregnant,

they give birth and their litters are dumped in public places and left to

fend for themselves.