Doggy Dilemma

[JCMach1]

Okay here's the deal. As you know, I live in the UAE in a villa with my family. We have the opportunity to take a medium-sized mixed, solid white saluki. He is pretty young (my guess is about 10months). He is beautiful, friendly, housebroken, and a pretty polite boy. Also, Salukis don't really bark.

Here is the heartbreaker... he is a rescue dog. Someone had obviously tried to stab him viciously with a knife in the chest. He has been treated for this and is doing well.

Our dilemma is that we leave the UAE for at least one month vacation every summer. We are very worried about boarding, or leaving a dog in someone's care. Also, we have cats who OPEN DOORS... Yes, regular doors!

Would it be fair to the dog to leave him every summer? Anyway, we are stuck with our decision right now and want to know what you think?

Should we go ahead and take him?

[Lil Missy]

1. I'm not sure I understand the problem? Boarding him for a month, or the cat doors?

He is a rescue that is healed from being stabbed viciously. (Good gawd, :cry:)

What is your question? Board him for a month while you go on vacation? In a nice place, hopefully, and I assume?

What do the cat doors have to do with this? Or, do you mean they can open the doors in the house? Why would that matter, if the dog was boarded?

I think a few details are missing here. Including why the cats would be left alone for an entire month.

[JCMach1]

2. Boarding... keeping in mind 115F temperatures

and kennels... :(

[Lil Missy]

3. 115 degrees? Dry or humid? What is he accustomed to?

Are kennels a bad thing there?

What are his alternatives if you do not adopt him?

I would ask flvegan. And I hope it is not presumptuous of me to suggest him.

[flvegan]

4. My opinion.

It would seem that for a 10 month old dog, he's had a somewhat decent (his demeanor and temperament) and somewhat shitty (getting stabbed...probably not his first abuse) life thus far. The opportunity to have a glorious 11 months per year of love, affection and attention as well as a purpose as the dog he was created to be overrides a month you may be gone. He'll miss you, but it's only 8% of the year. Not a bad trade.

I saw your concerns on boarding. 115 degrees does seem pretty extreme. Are there other options for boarding or where he can stay, or is that the norm in the UAE? If that's the norm for boarding, make sure that the kennel is well staffed and that they provide enough shelter from the elements and that they provide plenty of water.

So yeah, take him. Thanks for considering adopting.

[Lil Missy]

6. Thank you. n/t

[JCMach1]

9. Have found that kennels here have AC

I didn't know that before... However, it can be a bit expensive $15-20 per day.

[wartrace]

5. No problem- take him in.

1) Put chains on all exterior doors so if a cat DOES open it the won't open it far enough to let the dog out.
2) Visit the local boarding kennels, find one that is acceptable.

I used to leave my six guys with my vet but unfortunately the conditions at his office leave a LOT to be desired. I then started visiting other kennels and found one run by a woman who absolutely LOVES dogs. She lives on site, the kennel is always spotless and she has a large fenced area for running around. She also has an adorable young son who spends a LOT of time playing with the dogs, when my guys see the kid their tails all start wagging. One time after a weeks visit as I was driving away my old dog "Buddy" jumped out of the trucks window like he wanted to stay there! When I went to pick them up the last time I was leading them out to the truck and as we passed the door for the yard they all sat down waiting to to be let out into that area instead of following me to the truck. I got lucky.

Just find a place that will treat him right and a months vacation is nothing to worry about.

[seemunkee]

7. Saluki's are a desert breed

Just make sure the kennel supplies enough water and shade and he should be fine.
Do you have a place were he can run? If he's like most sight hounds he'll need some place to stretch his legs for a few short bursts and then become a couch potato.
My dad went to SIU when I was a kid. Saluki's were the school mascot, beautiful animals.

[Arugula Latte]

8. I'd say take him, but make it your mission to get to know more dog people

Maybe they can come up with good options -- someone takes dogs into their house, etc. Or maybe one of them would be willing to dogsit for a month for a little compensation.

[jobycom]

10. Can you take him with you on vacation?

I don't know what all that would entail in terms of paperwork and fees, but if you could, even boarding him someplace you could visit while on vacation might make it easier on both of you.

If that's not possible, maybe you could find a family or someone who would board him for a fee, but that you trusted to give him attention and affection, instead of just locking him in a cage.

Any way it goes, you're in love with this pooch, and you can give him love back, and that will make up for one month out of twelve away from you.

[XemaSab]

11. Can you get a house sitter?

Keeping him in the house while you're gone might be better for everyone's peace of mind while you're gone.