9.29.2006
my dogster page...
hey everyone lu finally set me up at dogster.com, here is a link to my page, it will be updated soon...hope to see you there! hey molly, hope yer reading this cause i missed ya! we can keep in touch more easily now :)
small pooch, high maintenance
according to this article at 7days, dubai's dogs are getting smaller...is it just a trend? most dog owners don't realize that the smaller the pup the more high maintenance it gets, especially when it comes to grooming...although dubai doggies aren't seen often, the lucky ones are treated to the best the city has to offer, by their owners...
meet lachlan, another lucky dog in dubai
being a dog in dubai...there is hope...
the following article was found @ 7days.ae:
Dubai’s bored mutts to get a proper job
People may complain that there is not enough to do in Dubai. But what if you are a dog? For much of the year it is too hot for fur, but even when it is cool, the leisure opportunities are abysmal.
No wonder a big slice of the city’s sizeable pooch population is turning bad, says Martina Boor. “I think there is a lack of activity. That’s where 90 per cent of behavioural problems start. Dogs are not physically or mentally exercised properly,” she says.
However, Boor is set on doing something about this. As a first step, the 29-year-old Slovakian marketing exec has already recruited a motley collection of breeds for regular Friday afternoon sport sessions. This, though, is a mere scratch on her high-reaching aspirations for emirates mutts.
“We are at the very beginning but I am currently trying to set up canine therapy in Dubai. Animal-assisted activities and therapy is very big in the United States, Canada and Europe. I’m looking for people who would want to join me or had an experience of this,” she says.
Among the examples of canine care-givers already at work in Dubai she gives the example of a friend’s assistance dog. This dog, which flew with its owner from New York in its own seat, has been trained to spot when its owner is about to suffer a seizure.
“The dog keeps eye-contact with him constantly. It can detect a hormonal change in his skin and sweat. It signals him six hours before a seizure so he can take his medicine,” she says.
As well as seeking out easy-going dogs for weekly encounters with the disabled and unwell, she is also planning a resource for dog owners to provide information and try to organise facilities such as a “doggie beach”.
Her mission on behalf of Dubai’s dogs develops naturally from an outdoorsy background in what was once the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Her childhood she says was “very horse related”.
To the assertion that it sounds a bit of an aristocratic background she gives an evasive “sort of”. “My grandmother was a countess and my grandfather once lost two castles in a game of cards,” she admits.
That sounds pretty cool, I suggest. “Not really. Everyone was very upset,” she says.
Anyway, in finding ways to keep her own three dogs occupied, she has uncovered a vast and wildly diverse population of frustrated animals and owners.
“I talk to people who import dogs and the Ministry of Agriculture. There are thousands of dogs here. You can find every kind of breed and people are dying to do something, to have some information and get involved. There are such limited opportunities,” she says.
So far, her biggest bite at the canine activity deficit has been bringing the sport of lure coursing to Dubai. This involves dragging an imitation hare or plastic bag along the ground for dogs to chase after.“I bought a machine from the States. It took me six months to figure out how to work it. I had to educate myself. I now know all about solenoids, brushes and motors,” she says.
In theory, coursing is a sport for the Lamborghinis of the canine world like greyhounds or whippets. In Dubai, the dearth of alternative recreation gives Dubai Coursing’s Friday meetups a far more diverse constituency.
“People are so excited about any activity. They come to coursing with Jack Russells and British Bulldogs. Any dog can run,” she says.
As Dubai settles at gas mark 7 for the summer, she hopes to keep her club’s diverse community intact with evening walks. “I want to keep the dog together for a social thing (social for the dogs that is). The socialising is very important. Aggressive dogs become well-behaved. Shy dogs become sociable,” she says.
“Besides, if I don’t walk them, my dogs will eat me,” she says.
For more information: www.dubaicoursing.com
dubaicoursing
dubaicoursing [Email address: dubaicoursing #AT# yahoo.com - replace #AT# with @ ]
Article printed from 7DAYS: http://www.7days.ae
URL to article: http://www.7days.ae/2006/05/10/dubais-bored-mutts-to-get-a-proper-job.html
Dubai’s bored mutts to get a proper job
People may complain that there is not enough to do in Dubai. But what if you are a dog? For much of the year it is too hot for fur, but even when it is cool, the leisure opportunities are abysmal.
No wonder a big slice of the city’s sizeable pooch population is turning bad, says Martina Boor. “I think there is a lack of activity. That’s where 90 per cent of behavioural problems start. Dogs are not physically or mentally exercised properly,” she says.
However, Boor is set on doing something about this. As a first step, the 29-year-old Slovakian marketing exec has already recruited a motley collection of breeds for regular Friday afternoon sport sessions. This, though, is a mere scratch on her high-reaching aspirations for emirates mutts.
“We are at the very beginning but I am currently trying to set up canine therapy in Dubai. Animal-assisted activities and therapy is very big in the United States, Canada and Europe. I’m looking for people who would want to join me or had an experience of this,” she says.
Among the examples of canine care-givers already at work in Dubai she gives the example of a friend’s assistance dog. This dog, which flew with its owner from New York in its own seat, has been trained to spot when its owner is about to suffer a seizure.
“The dog keeps eye-contact with him constantly. It can detect a hormonal change in his skin and sweat. It signals him six hours before a seizure so he can take his medicine,” she says.
As well as seeking out easy-going dogs for weekly encounters with the disabled and unwell, she is also planning a resource for dog owners to provide information and try to organise facilities such as a “doggie beach”.
Her mission on behalf of Dubai’s dogs develops naturally from an outdoorsy background in what was once the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Her childhood she says was “very horse related”.
To the assertion that it sounds a bit of an aristocratic background she gives an evasive “sort of”. “My grandmother was a countess and my grandfather once lost two castles in a game of cards,” she admits.
That sounds pretty cool, I suggest. “Not really. Everyone was very upset,” she says.
Anyway, in finding ways to keep her own three dogs occupied, she has uncovered a vast and wildly diverse population of frustrated animals and owners.
“I talk to people who import dogs and the Ministry of Agriculture. There are thousands of dogs here. You can find every kind of breed and people are dying to do something, to have some information and get involved. There are such limited opportunities,” she says.
So far, her biggest bite at the canine activity deficit has been bringing the sport of lure coursing to Dubai. This involves dragging an imitation hare or plastic bag along the ground for dogs to chase after.“I bought a machine from the States. It took me six months to figure out how to work it. I had to educate myself. I now know all about solenoids, brushes and motors,” she says.
In theory, coursing is a sport for the Lamborghinis of the canine world like greyhounds or whippets. In Dubai, the dearth of alternative recreation gives Dubai Coursing’s Friday meetups a far more diverse constituency.
“People are so excited about any activity. They come to coursing with Jack Russells and British Bulldogs. Any dog can run,” she says.
As Dubai settles at gas mark 7 for the summer, she hopes to keep her club’s diverse community intact with evening walks. “I want to keep the dog together for a social thing (social for the dogs that is). The socialising is very important. Aggressive dogs become well-behaved. Shy dogs become sociable,” she says.
“Besides, if I don’t walk them, my dogs will eat me,” she says.
For more information: www.dubaicoursing.com
dubaicoursing
dubaicoursing [Email address: dubaicoursing #AT# yahoo.com - replace #AT# with @ ]
Article printed from 7DAYS: http://www.7days.ae
URL to article: http://www.7days.ae/2006/05/10/dubais-bored-mutts-to-get-a-proper-job.html
let's meet-up!
i don't know if any dubai doggies have found my blog yet, but if you are in dubai and you want to make friends, lu found this cool site you can go to called meetup.com, there is no dubai meetup group started yet but i think lu and i will be setting one up soon...i am soooooo excited, so are nikkita and sicau :) we just gotta find a place where we can be off our leashes safely and where people won't complain about us...see guys this is why we need a dog park here in dubai! 
9.26.2006
sad story of an abu dhabi saluki
this story was published today on gulfnews.com:
Saluki found in Abu Dhabi with jaw broken but still wagging his tail (click for full story)
Saluki found in Abu Dhabi with jaw broken but still wagging his tail (click for full story)
9.21.2006
my favorite toy...
here is a picture of me with my 'lioni' (lee-o-nee), he makes my tail wag! i love chewing his tail, and playing tug-o-war with him against buci and lu...i also sleep with him, he keeps me comfy and cozy on the bed, i don't like to share him, so he stays in the bedroom!
9.20.2006
Tagged 2x's!!!
wow, i have been tagged twice! so here goes...5 things that make a good doggie friend:
1. don't complain if our chew bones and pigs ears get swapped...
2. let me win wrestling matches...
3. leave me your leftovers...
4. take turns knocking over the trash can so i don't always get the blame...
5. you clean my ears and i'll clean yours
next to be tagged are molly, booger, isabella, tigersan and waffles...
1. don't complain if our chew bones and pigs ears get swapped...
2. let me win wrestling matches...
3. leave me your leftovers...
4. take turns knocking over the trash can so i don't always get the blame...
5. you clean my ears and i'll clean yours
next to be tagged are molly, booger, isabella, tigersan and waffles...
:-(
Dear Mirabella,
:-( my mommy is going to cancel my blog..... :-(
i'll miss u! wait! do you have a "dogster" account on http://www.dogster.com ?
I do. Maybe if you do then we can still keep in touch! :-)
Luv,
~Molly Annette Minson
:-( my mommy is going to cancel my blog..... :-(
i'll miss u! wait! do you have a "dogster" account on http://www.dogster.com ?
I do. Maybe if you do then we can still keep in touch! :-)
Luv,
~Molly Annette Minson
9.16.2006
far from home...
a few thousand miles or so back west is the fun filled city of los angeles, where i was born...dogs living back home have it made!
check out this article:
los angeles dogs living the lush life
found at www.khaleejtimes.ae
although the day to day lives of dubai dogs is pretty boring, we do have a special day where we get to show off, buci and lu haven't taken me yet to this event but we are already preparing for next years Dogs Day Out/Dog Show
check out this article:
los angeles dogs living the lush life
found at www.khaleejtimes.ae
although the day to day lives of dubai dogs is pretty boring, we do have a special day where we get to show off, buci and lu haven't taken me yet to this event but we are already preparing for next years Dogs Day Out/Dog Show
culture clash
being a dog in a muslim country is a very difficult situation, read the following and you will understand what i mean...dubai is a place where very differing cultures meet and co-habitate, dogs are allowed into the country, and many people keep pets here, especially european expats; but there is an underlying cultural factor that makes life difficult (or not as pleasant as it could be) for dogs living in dubai and the uae...
*Advice: Beware of keeping dogs in your home One of the habits that have come to us from the kuffaar (non- believers) is the custom of keeping pet dogs in the home. Many of the people in our society who are following the ways of the kuffaar bring a dog into their home.They spend money to buy the dog, although the price of a dog is haraam (according to the hadeeth narrated by Imaam Ahmad, 1/356; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3071). Then they spend money on feeding it and keeping it clean, money which they will be asked about on the Day of Resurrection. Having a dog at home has become a status symbol among many rich people and high-level employees. The dog’s saliva is naajis (unclean, impure), and the dog licks the members of the household and their vessels. If a dog licks a vessel it must be washed seven times, one of which must be with earth. How about if you realize how much reward is lost by those who keep dogs? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no member of a household where a dog is kept, but their good deeds will be reduced by one qeeraat (according to a report narrated by Muslim, by two qeeraats) every day, except in the case of a dog kept for hunting, agriculture or herding sheep.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 1489; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5321). The ban on keeping dogs does not apply to working dogs kept for agriculture, hunting or guarding homes, buildings, livestock, etc. This also includes dogs kept for necessary purposes such as pursuing criminals, sniffing out drugs, and so on, as some scholars have explained. (Al-Ta’leeq ‘ala Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Shaakir edn., 3/267). Jibreel (peace be upon him) explained to our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) the reason why he could not enter his house at a time they had both agreed upon. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Jibreel came to me and said: 'I was going to come to you tonight, and nothing stopped me from entering the house you were in except the fact that there was a statue of a man in the house, and a curtain on which there were images, and there was a dog in the house. Tell someone to cut the head off the statue, so it will look like a tree; tell someone to cut up the curtain and make it into two pillows; tell someone to get the dog out of the house.’” So the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did that.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 68).
dubai is growing and ever changing, other cultures are tolerated here. there are already many veterinarians in dubai as well as businesses that cater to pets and their needs...i am optimistic that doggies will be more widely accepted and that they and their families will be accomodated eventually...a dog park is not an impossibility, it will just take a lot of convincing...
keep in mind...
when living in a muslim country pet owners must be sensetive to the culture, these are some general guidelines to remember:
*Most Arabic people are not used to pets. Dogs, especially, are thought to be unclean. Therefore, do not be alarmed if your Arabic neighbors and co-workers are not comfortable around your pets. You may want to keep them in a closed room if you have Arabic visitors to your home. You should not have your pet in your vehicle when you have an Arabic friend in your car.
*taken from uae university new employee guide
*Most Arabic people are not used to pets. Dogs, especially, are thought to be unclean. Therefore, do not be alarmed if your Arabic neighbors and co-workers are not comfortable around your pets. You may want to keep them in a closed room if you have Arabic visitors to your home. You should not have your pet in your vehicle when you have an Arabic friend in your car.
*taken from uae university new employee guide
lu found this article in khaleej times, a news paper that is circulated in the uae...
An Abu Dhabi resident complained that there are a lot of stray dogs in Mussafah area in Abu Dhabi, saying that it is difficult to send children out.
Reply
An Abu Dhabi Municipality official said there are special health department teams which roam neighourhoods to catch stray animals, including dogs, cats etc. The problem is always caused by the lack of cooperation by pet owners who let their pets out without attending to them. Residents are advised to report to the authorities in case of any danger posed by stray pets.
The official advised residents not to take the risk of approaching or dealing with any suspected dangerous animals and avoid direct contact with them. The official also advised pet owners to keep an eye on their pets and not let them unattended on the street, so that they don’t endanger people’s lives.
Reply
An Abu Dhabi Municipality official said there are special health department teams which roam neighourhoods to catch stray animals, including dogs, cats etc. The problem is always caused by the lack of cooperation by pet owners who let their pets out without attending to them. Residents are advised to report to the authorities in case of any danger posed by stray pets.
The official advised residents not to take the risk of approaching or dealing with any suspected dangerous animals and avoid direct contact with them. The official also advised pet owners to keep an eye on their pets and not let them unattended on the street, so that they don’t endanger people’s lives.
i understand people are worried about their own safety and the safety of children, which is very important; but i think people should also be made aware that they are endangering the lives of their own pets by letting them roam around the neighborhood unattended, or 'setting them free' when they do not want them anymore...
9.14.2006
Lucky Puppy...
click here to read about a lucky rotteweiler puppy living here in dubai...you will also find out a little more about how animals are often treated here...warning it's very sad...
Doggy Diner in Dubai???
lu and i were shocked when we heard this...
'The Dubai upper-class enjoy their pets and the pet shop has become a “to be seen at” destination “Doggy Diner” situated in one of the up-market shopping malls creates a theatrical window display by having the shampoo grooming parlor in the window. '
we have never seen or heard of this place before and have to find out where it's hiding!...
Dubai Animal Welfare- Slowly Headed in the Right Direction
lu want's to help me with my goal of creating animal welfare/pet awareness in Dubai...she found this page and read me the following article:
Stray Control Breakthrough In Dubai
Dubai has become the first Emirate to successfully adopt a humane stray control programme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the support WSPA and member societies K9 Friends and Feline Friends. In response to growing concerns over the shooting of stray dogs and poisoning of feral cats, WSPA was invited by Dubai's municipality to hold humane stray control workshops in Autumn 2002. WSPA's input has resulted in the adoption of a humane policy to control the number of stray companion animals, with the municipal veterinary section, rather than the pest control section, assuming responsibility. Further WSPA training workshops were held in January 2003.The number of stray dogs in Dubai is relatively small, with approximately five dogs being caught each week. Now, instead of being shot, those captured will be kept in a holding facility for up to ten days. After that period, they will be re-homed wherever possible, although strays that are certified aggressive or severely ill will be humanely euthanased. WSPA has also succeeded in persuading the authorities to abandon the poisoning of feral cats in Dubai, where large numbers of cats tend to congregate around reliable food sources, such as large hotels. The majority of cats are now being caught humanely, by live trapping methods, and are neutered and vaccinated before being returned to their original locations. WSPA’s spokesperson said, "The steps being taken towards the adoption of a humane dog control programme in Dubai are a real first. Stray animals are a problem all over this region and are often dealt with in an extremely cruel manner. The UAE is the first country in the Middle East where WSPA has been permitted to carry out work for companion animals and we hope that other countries will follow its lead and set up their own humane stray control programmes."
Stray Control Breakthrough In Dubai
Dubai has become the first Emirate to successfully adopt a humane stray control programme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the support WSPA and member societies K9 Friends and Feline Friends. In response to growing concerns over the shooting of stray dogs and poisoning of feral cats, WSPA was invited by Dubai's municipality to hold humane stray control workshops in Autumn 2002. WSPA's input has resulted in the adoption of a humane policy to control the number of stray companion animals, with the municipal veterinary section, rather than the pest control section, assuming responsibility. Further WSPA training workshops were held in January 2003.The number of stray dogs in Dubai is relatively small, with approximately five dogs being caught each week. Now, instead of being shot, those captured will be kept in a holding facility for up to ten days. After that period, they will be re-homed wherever possible, although strays that are certified aggressive or severely ill will be humanely euthanased. WSPA has also succeeded in persuading the authorities to abandon the poisoning of feral cats in Dubai, where large numbers of cats tend to congregate around reliable food sources, such as large hotels. The majority of cats are now being caught humanely, by live trapping methods, and are neutered and vaccinated before being returned to their original locations. WSPA’s spokesperson said, "The steps being taken towards the adoption of a humane dog control programme in Dubai are a real first. Stray animals are a problem all over this region and are often dealt with in an extremely cruel manner. The UAE is the first country in the Middle East where WSPA has been permitted to carry out work for companion animals and we hope that other countries will follow its lead and set up their own humane stray control programmes."
dubai still has a long way to go in my opinion, because eventhough there are many vets and grooming facilities, there are only 2 or 3 humane organizations that foster and rehome strays, but they are run solely on a volunteer basis; pets still have a tough time here, especially us doggies, cause we don't have anywhere to socialise or exercise safely or to run freely with our humans...lots of people don't even like seeing us...
9.12.2006
some cute buttons to share
you can have these buttons to link to my page from yours!
more choices coming soon...
btw- here are some easy instructions from lu, for anyone who needs info on how to display the button on your own page:
*first open your template
*type this html text into your template,
wherever you want the button to show up (should be all one line):
*mirabella's site url is: http://mirabella-in-dubai.blogspot.com
*then right click on the button image that you want to use from Mira's page
*click on 'properties' for the image url address
*click on 'properties' for the image url address
*copy the text you see by 'address (url)'
*paste this text into the html code in your template, between the quotations after IMG SRC=
*preview to see if it worked
*paste this text into the html code in your template, between the quotations after IMG SRC=
*preview to see if it worked
*click save template changes and republish your blog
thanx for using my buttons!
thanx for using my buttons!
9.11.2006
In Loving Memory
i just wanted to wish my little sister kiara a happy 3rd birthday...
kiri and i were the best of friends, and we were inseparable; then at the end of 2004 i had to leave to dubai with buci, and kiri stayed back in los angeles with lu- we were all supposed to be together in dubai very soon...but then kiri got lost and my momma (lu) couldn't find her for 3 whole days, i remember how upset buci (my papa) was when he found out...we couldn't do anything to help find kiri 'cause we were so far away from her and lu...
i still remember the day that lu called buci, she told him that she had found kiri but that she was 'gone'. buci held me for a very long time, and wouldn't let go of me, i knew he was very sad. he didn't want to tell me what had happened to kiri, but i found out because i heard accidentally...my little sister was hit by a car, and my momma had to 'bury' her...
kiri and i were the best of friends, and we were inseparable; then at the end of 2004 i had to leave to dubai with buci, and kiri stayed back in los angeles with lu- we were all supposed to be together in dubai very soon...but then kiri got lost and my momma (lu) couldn't find her for 3 whole days, i remember how upset buci (my papa) was when he found out...we couldn't do anything to help find kiri 'cause we were so far away from her and lu...
i still remember the day that lu called buci, she told him that she had found kiri but that she was 'gone'. buci held me for a very long time, and wouldn't let go of me, i knew he was very sad. he didn't want to tell me what had happened to kiri, but i found out because i heard accidentally...my little sister was hit by a car, and my momma had to 'bury' her...
i don't know where kiara is now, but i do know that i miss her very much and hope that i will be able to play and wrestle with her when i see her again...i dream about her a lot, and i like when buci and lu talk about her and show me pictures of her...
i love you kiara, and i miss you very much!
happy birthday,
licks & lovies
mira
9.10.2006
Thx!
9.05.2006
i want to be free!
here is an article that lu found at the 7days site about how frustrating it is to be a dog in dubai:
my flat mates
Name: Sicas aka SicauBreed: Pekingese
Relation: We live together
Location: Dubai, UAE
Name: NikkitaBreed: Tibetan Spaniel
Relation: We live together
Location: Dubai, UAE
9.04.2006
Family Pix
Name: ZuccerinaRelation: Biological Mother
Breed: Shihtzu
Location: Los Angeles, California
Name: AylaRelation: Half Sister
Breed: Shihtzu/Poodle
Location: Los Angeles, California
Name: Cody Relation: Half brother
Breed: Shihtzu/Poodle
Location: Los Angeles, California
Name: Dubba
Relation: Sister
Breed: Shihtzu/Chihuahua
Location: Los Angeles, California
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