JEDDAH, 14 May 2004 — New European Union regulations coming into force on July 3 mean unless carnivorous pets coming into its territories from Saudi Arabia were tested for and vaccinated against rabies at least three months before traveling, they could be destroyed.
According to an Air France information bulletin, all animals must also be identified by tattoo or microchip, and must have a sanitary certificate issued by an official veterinary from the country of origin.
“From July 3, 2004, to be allowed to enter the European Territory, any domestic carnivore will have to be currently vaccinated against rabies and been submitted to a blood test and titling for rabies antibodies,” the bulletin says. “This test must be performed three months before importation. So before April 3, 2004 for a scheduled arrival July 3, 2004. The period (runs) from the date of the blood test. To this period may be added also the additional period for rabies vaccination validity if your animal has not already been vaccinated against this illness. Consequently add four months before shipment,” the bulletin continued.
“This is very serious”, said Dr. Deborah Zahid, of the Tahlia Veterinary Clinic. “What it means is that if you want to take your animal to Europe this summer, it has to have already been vaccinated and tested for rabies. If you do not have the proper documents with you on arrival, your animal will be put to sleep.”
Dr. Zahid explained that in her native France the airports are not equipped to store a large number of animals for a long period of time. “Not a single airport in France has the facilities to hold these animals. Without the proper documentation, your animal will have to be sent back. But in order to return to Saudi Arabia, the animal must have a health certificate from France. France will not issue these certificates because the animal was not accepted into France. The animals will basically be stuck without a country to travel to and will have to be put to sleep”, she said.
Her clinic can implant the microchip and any vet can perform the vaccination. But the blood test is a problem.
“Equipment that is accepted to the EU to test blood is not available anywhere in Saudi Arabia. I have contacted all Saudi hospitals and none of them have it. What we are doing now is sending the blood to Europe to be tested. This takes a lot of time, time that people wanting to travel this summer simply don’t have,” Dr. Zahid said.
“They have to work out something”, said Amina Rasheed, a Saudi graphics designer. “It is inhumane to kill people’s pets. Some concession has to be made to allow the animals back into Saudi Arabia, because not everyone can pull a favor at the airport.
