Come October, there will be six more dog breeds banned from entering the country.
When the new rule kicks in, the list of banned dog breeds that authorities deem as dangerous will expand from the current seven to 13.
The announcement was made in a statement by Dr Thani Al Zayoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who explained that the new rules for importing dogs and cats will be implemented by the end of the year.
“The move is to protect against infectious animal diseases and to streamline regulations into one legislative text, making requirements easier to understand,” said Al Zayoudi to the Emirates News Agency WAM.
However, the ministry did not reveal the new breeds of dogs that will be banned under the new changes.
What do these rules mean?
The UAE does not permit the import of pets under the age of four months and all pets (dogs as well as cats) must have their rabies vaccination when they are at least three months old and at least 21 days before entry.
According to Dubai Municipality, there are currently seven types of dog breeds prohibited for import:
Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu, Tosa Fighting Dog)
Argentinian Fighting Dog (Dogo Argentino, Argentinian Mastiff)
Brazilian Fighting Dog (Fila Brasileiro, Brazilian Mastiff)
Wolf dog hybrids (any dog mixed with a wolf)
American Staffordshire terrier
Cross breeds with extract of the above listed breeds
Louai Abdul Rahman Ahmad, principal veterinary specialist at Dubai Municipality, told Gulf News on Monday the new regulations will help ensure the safety of residents, as there are other dangerous dog breeds – even though they are not yet listed in the ban on imported dogs.
“The new rules will regulate the breed of dangerous animals. Up until now, we have been focusing on dangerous cats, like cheetahs and lions that are kept as pets,” said Ahmad.
Fines
“But now the new rule will include both cats and dogs. Once the rule takes effect, it is likely that authorities will also start imposing fines on residents if they are found with such dangerous dogs in their homes,” he said.
Dr Sara Elliott, Chief of British Veterinary Hospital, stressed that the key message when keeping dogs as pets is to provide them with the necessary training, in order to prevent accidents from taking place.
“Any dog can be dangerous, and it is common in a lot of countries to ban dogs from being imported into the country. Because of their nature, some dogs are more likely to attack than others,” she said.
“But with any breed, it is important to train the owners as well as the dogs, so that people know how to react in certain situations,” said Dr Elliott.
By Mariam M Al Serkal
