Mê Thú Cưng - Pet Magazine for Vietnam TET 2017 Issue | Page 61

Expats Pet Owner ’ s Guide for Vietnam
daily situations that confront pet owners and their pets . From the threat of dog / cat-napping , from munching on grass sprayed with rat poison in public areas without warnings , to the extreme heat and humidity creating constant parasite problems , to projectiles thrown at your dog for ‘ kicks ’ and other abuse from neighbours that just seem to hate dogs and cats , to the lack of quality pet care products and veterinary services , as you see , the list of concerns becomes quite extensive .
First , a few items to consider before bringing a pet into your home . Consider the security of inside and outside your home , including the neighbourhood ? Is your house adequately ventilated from the extremes of heat and humidity if get a long haired western style of dog or cat ? Who will be home with the pet during the day , if you work ? Separation anxiety is a big problem . Do you have a housekeeper / babysitter that is ‘ dog friendly ’? If you consider a small dog , do you have children ? Small dogs and children can be lethal , unsupervised .
So , if you have given the idea of owning a pet considerable thought with family or spouse , there are a few options available . You can either buy from a local , reputable dog / cat breeder , adopt a rescue pet from a animal shelter , or consider a foster dog or cat .
Buy People usually buy a dog or cat because they want a specific breed . For a dog , it is best to buy locally from members of the Vietnam Kennel Association ( vka . vn ). They breed their dogs in Vietnam and can provide documentation of the purity and health of the breed . Cautions : do not buy dogs from street vendors , no matter how cute . Avoid the pet shop area in the Lê Hong Phong Street , District 10 ( 300 block ). From the street to these shops all of these pets are sickly and might die soon . However , there are good home breeders found through friends or family , look around and do your research . And , never buy a dog without a proper ‘ health passport ’ that records vital vaccinations complete with times , dates , labels
( notable brands from Merial , Vibrac and Bayer ) and the signatures of Veterinarians .
Adopt Adopting a rescue pet is one of the most unselfish acts in becoming a pet owner . Especially in Vietnam were some dogs and cats experience all types of cruelty and abandoned regularly . A warning , if you are a first time pet owner , a rescue dog or cat may have many behavioural and medical problems . They need a stable period of adjustment in their new home with constant supervision and some might require special care .
You will be briefed on the vaccinations and medicines received . There are fees to pay , including the price of these medicines , vaccinations , and food . Before making a commitment , visit the rescue a few times , make introductions and observe their behaviour . In Saigon , there are a few organizations to contact to find a rescue Dog or Cat . ARC Vietnam ( arcpets . com ), YDV ( yeudongvat . org ) and Vietnam Animal Cruelty ( vietnamanimalscruelty . com ). In Hanoi there is Hanoi Pet Rescue ( tramcuuhomeo @ gmail . com ). In Da Nang / Hoi An there is Vietnam Animal Aid and Rescue ( VAAR ) organization ( vietnampetsandvets . com ). A few of these organizations you can arrange for a ‘ foster ’ pet .
Foster There are assumptions made that bringing in a foster cat or dog into your home is like a ‘ rent-apet ’. Not quite true . A foster pet is a rescue dog / cat that cannot stay in an animal shelter due to lack of space or requiring special needs . It is short term homing arrangement , where the goal is to ‘ rehome ’ the pet into a permanent ‘ forever-home ’. If you do take a foster home and have other pets , slowly introduce the foster and arrange their own room or space for somewhere to hide or stay if they feel intimated . But the best part is that sometimes foster ‘ pet-parents ’ become smitten with their new four-legged friend and make them part of the family , and that is a very happy ending for both the foster and the pet owner . If you are interested in caring for a foster dog or cat contact any of the animal shelters previously mentioned .
Mê Thú Cưng / Volume 01 2017 / methucung . vn 61