Taxing vet visits raise hackles of pet owners

Taking care of pets is no longer a walk in the park for many residents, with dog owners especially complaining that veterinary centres are charging exhorbitant rates for their services — adding a further burden to their monthly expenses. Laila Sahawneh, who owns an English pitbull, takes her dog — which is all of one year and seven months — to the vet three times a year. She says she shells out Dh900 for each consultation. “I find the cost of vets expensive in the UAE compared to countries in Europe, where my other dog is located. Apart from the high cost of vaccinations, the standard of living for a pet here is also higher. Vets promote all these dry food brands that are unnecessary and expensive; however, we as dog owners do not have many options to use as substitutes,” she said. Sarah B, 27, from Australia owns a five year-old pooch. She takes her pet to the vet about three times a year, and is charged an average total of around Dh1,500.