Alarm over spate of dog deaths
Animal lovers demanding answers after several animals bought from a Dubai pet shop died from killer canine viruses
DUBAI // Pet owners are demanding tighter regulations on puppy imports after several cases of unvaccinated young dogs contracting lethal viruses. Dog lovers who bought puppies from a Dubai pet shop claimed animals were sold with false pet passports that stated they were older than the vendor claimed. Many puppies contracted deadly canine viruses, with some dying days after the new owners took them home.
Fourteen owners who said they bought sick dogs from the shop joined forces on social media to gather evidence in support of their claims and to push for action from Dubai Municipality.
Brit Janey Robertson was looking for a cocker spaniel puppy for her 14- year- old son for Christmas, paying Dh7,000 for Chip.
The dog died weeks later from a virus. “I was given a pet passport that said he had the necessary vaccinations, and was 12 weeks old,” she said. Chip was diagnosed with highly contagious canine distemper virus (CDV).
“I was suspicious, as some of the detail on his pet passport had been blacked out with a marker pen,” said Mrs Robertson, who lives in The Green Community.
“Chip was sick almost immediately. The most distressing thing was we had to have him put down. We went to say goodbye to him at the vet and when he saw us, he started wagging his tail thinking we were taking him home. It was so distressing.” Stephane, a French IT consultant who lives in Jumeirah Beach Residence, bought a puppy from the shop but it died days later.
Stephane complained to the shop and Dubai Municipality.
“After less than 36 hours, the puppy was badly sick,” he said. “He passed away a couple of days later. Dubai Municipality advised me that, following my complaint, the shop received an unspecified fine.
“This practice is bringing a negative reputation to Dubai animal care and I hope it can be changed and controlled.”
Natalie Kardoush was bought a miniature poodle by her husband from the same shop as a Valentine’s Day gift this year but it also soon became unwell.
“Al Barsha vet clinic checked Marley for the parvovirus and said she had just 48 hours to live,” Ms Kardoush said. “She’s a fighter and pulled through, but has had one illness after another since. The vet said she was much younger than the three months her passport claimed.”
Alena Hlushonak, from Belarus, bought bulldog Mylo for Dh7,000 from the shop.
“After two days he started having bad diarrhoea,” she said.
“I took him to the vet, who did some blood tests. The vet said it was impossible the dog was four months old.”
While Mylo survived parvovirus, he needs constant care, with eye and nose drops, and treatment for a related skin infection. “I asked the vet why the dog has so many problems, he said it was because of over-breeding and that he had probably come from a puppy farm,” Ms Hlushonak said.
The owner of the shop said he offered a one-month warranty for all puppies and has denied wrongdoing.
“I’m not aware any of these dogs died,” said the owner, who sells about 100 puppies a month.
“All of the animals I sell are healthy, vaccinated and micro- chipped with a passport. The municipality visits the shops every week.
“I don’t think they have ever found dogs that are too young or that anything is wrong. We deal with live animals. It happens that they get sick sometimes.” Dr Dominik Saurek, from VetCare in Dubai, treated Stephane’s dog.
“Incidence of pets being sold very young is common,” he said.
“To have proper immunity, two or three vaccinations need to be done. If the puppy was not vaccinated, or had contracted the virus before he was vaccinated, that is probably what has happened. “The dog may have had other vaccinations outside of the UAE but it is hard to tell.
“This is not a way of selling puppies. They should be vaccinated at 8 and 12 weeks, and the sold at 14 weeks.
“Pet shops are selling puppies under-age because the breeders do not want to keep the puppies for long as they are an expense. “Many are imported from abroad, and the vaccination cards are not always accurate.
“Pet shops are not always responsible, it is more the breeders from Europe who are not vaccinating the dogs correctly.”
Dubai Municipality did not comment on the case.