Animal welfare is changing as vets turn to innovative ways to calm pets during a trip to a clinic or on a long-haul flight.
From Beethoven to Bob Marley, and the soothing sounds of classical cello, music is increasingly being trusted as a method of relieving stress for pets, with one Abu Dhabi clinic looking to make the practice standard procedure for all veterinary visits.
With more cats and dogs travelling by air each year, the same calming techniques are being used to ease the pain of moving beloved animals around the world when their owners relocate.
“We know trips to the veterinary clinic can be stressful for owners and pets because of their health, spending lots of money and all those things,” said Nora Shackleford, clinical manager at the German Veterinary Clinic (GVC) in the emirate.
“It's not something people typically look forward to.
“From the dog's perspective, you're put into a room that smells like other animals that might be threatening.
“And then they receive an injection and leave again, that builds anxiety and stress for every time they come in the future.”
Trailblazer
Fear Free is an international organisation providing online education to veterinary and pet professionals, animal welfare communities and pet owners to alleviate animal stress.
US vet Dr Marty Becker is viewed as a trailblazer of the project, promoting the latest animal welfare techniques at Washington State University, Colorado State University and the University of Missouri, as well as on the board of directors of American Humane, a non-profit group.
Before a visit to a vet, owners are sent a questionnaire to understand more about their pet, including their stressors and reactions to certain situations.
It helps owners and vets alike to learn more about the animal's preferences, to make the experience more enjoyable, and music has been scientifically proven to calm some animals.
“The team has to be trained to recognise subtle signs of stress or anxiety with animals and how to address that right away,” said Ms Shackleford.
“We're developing this relationship with the animal for the rest of their life, whether it's here with us or at another clinic, we want to show that vets aren't scary.
“When animals come to a vet and are super stressed, they're not showing us what's wrong.
“If they come into environments where calming pheromones, relaxing music and their owner are part of the treatment plan, they are much more relaxed.
"There is science that supports this. For example ... the cello has the same frequency as the cat's purr, so it is quite relaxing to them.
“And for dogs, classical music and reggae are known to be calming.”
Air travel can be particularly stressful for animals, who can require sedation to make the experience easier.
Regional carriers offer dedicated services to relocate pets around the world, while US Department of Transport figures show national airlines transported 188,223 animals around the world in 2022.
It can be an expensive process, costing up to Dh12,000 ($3,265) to fly a dog from Dubai to the UK in cargo, adding to the stress for pet owners.
Relocation anxiety
Kate Davies worked in schools in Abu Dhabi for about 15 years and decided to take on a foster dog during the pandemic in May 2020.
The British teacher later decided to adopt Tatty but struggled to deal with her dog’s anxiety, particularly when he was left at home.
“We think Tatty was bred in a puppy farm and then flown on a plane at a young age to the Middle East so it was quite traumatic,” she said.
“I’d only had him 10 days and when I left the room he would get very upset.
“He just bonded with me very quickly and I couldn't be out of his sight.”
His separation anxiety had to be addressed as Ms Davies was returning to Europe after 15 years working in the UAE.
After visiting specialists at the GVC, the Fear Free techniques paired with anti-anxiety medication and long walks reduced Tatty’s stress dramatically.
After weeks of training at the GVC and getting used to a special crate he would sleep in during the flight, Tatty was ready to fly back to the UK on Tuesday, before permanent relocation in Spain.
“We used medication called Clonidine and I bought this compilation of special music for dogs on Amazon, mainly classical, that worked really well at relaxing him,” said Ms Davies.
While airlines offering cargo services remain the most common method of transporting pets from the UAE, a more bespoke service is becoming popular.
Luxury option
Flying out of Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, K9 Jets is offering a special kind of luxury travel for pets and their owners.
The pay-per-seat private jet charter specialises in safe and comfortable travel and is becoming a more affordable option in the face of the rising commercial costs of moving pets overseas.
The company’s founder and client director, Adam Golder, launched the service post-pandemic to feed the demand from people leaving the UAE to work in Europe and the US.
“We're flying nearly every month to and from Dubai, and about to launch new routes to Geneva and Milan,” he said.
“We try to remove the fear factor for a lot of people, as more want to have their pets with them in the cabin rather than put them in the hold.
“Once everything is settled down and the aircraft is at cruising altitude, the white noise of the engines sends all the dogs sleepy.
“We rarely have to do anything to calm them down, it is similar to the white noise that helps a baby sleep.”
K9 Jets currently operates in 10 countries and, to comply with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) endorsement process for moving pets around the world, has teamed up with Pawsitive Pet Health Certificates (PPHC).
Since its launch, the company has flown more than 1,600 pets from the Middle East.
Most dogs sleep on the plush carpets of the cabin floor but others choose to sit back and relax in the seats, next to their owners.
The premium service is not cheap, costing about Dh46,000 for two dogs and a human passenger, but brings peace of mind to owners, Mr Golder said.
“Bigger dogs especially have to have custom-made crates built for the aircraft in cargo, which can get expensive, so our ticket costs are comparable,” he added.
“There is a lot of room for growth in this industry. Our goal is to go to Australia and Singapore, so we're looking at new routes all the time.”
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Spec%20sheet
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
Messi at the Copa America
2007 – lost 3-0 to Brazil in the final
2011 – lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals
2015 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
2016 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
