Beware Importing a Pet to Kuwait

RIP Beautiful Winston

You may have heard the story by now of a Kuwaiti woman (@leya_and_winston) who brought her cat back to Kuwait from study in the States - in the cabin - only to have the cargo company (NAS - National Aviation Services) responsible for checking animals "loose" the cat and later find it dead?

 

Im fucking crying my ass off while i type this. Winston is missing. When we arrived Kuwait the officer stopped us at the airport and told us we needed to get a paper signed to get winston in kuwait (even though i showed him all the correct paperwork specifying winston is healthy and up to date in all his shots, ect). Since they are too lazy to accept the documents they made me sign a paper. As i picked up winston’s bag they stopped me and told me that he needs to go see a doctor at the airport to make sure hes not carrying any diseases and apparently thats what happens to all animals that arrive the country. I fought with them and begged them not to take him but the officers said those were the rules.

I waited for 3 hours and in the end they told me that he fucking ran away in the cargo on the way to the doctor. He ran away out in the open where all the planes and trucks are. Ive been crying screaming and hysterical ever since and im not authorized to go search for him. We begged the guards to let us in and we were able to scout the area but i wasnt allowed to leave the car. It’s currently 95 degrees and will continue to get hotter to 114 degrees . I am so devastated and destroyed. I dont know what else to say. I am charging my phone and will be back at the airport in a few hours. If you are in kuwait and can help please let me know. They wont even let me SEARCH FOR MY OWN CAT please if anyone has authority and can help please let me know this cat is my entire life please help me.

The cargo company, National Aviation Services posted this:

We regret the unfortunate turn of events with Winston.
We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Laila and her family during this difficult time.
We are very sorry for their loss.
We are conducting an in-depth internal investigation into the matter.
People will be held accountable.
We will also be putting in place more stringent procedures under “FOSTER” rules to ensure this does not happen again.
To ensure higher safety standards for each animal in our care, we are creating a $100,000 fun – “Foster” towards improvement of animal care facilities at the airport.
We carefully handled over 700 household pets last year without incident. We understand that each animal is unique and precious.

 Apparently there has been a law implemented in Kuwait that if you import an animal to Kuwait, it must be taken to the cargo section (where there is no AC in 50c heat) to be checked by a Kuwaiti vet. Usually the wait time is 3 hours from what I hear. 

One of my readers sent me this:

"They MUST change how they treat pets in the cargo terminal!!
The new rule is sooooo stupid, how they force taking your pet from you when it travels in the cabin with you and take it to the cargo terminal to see the vet!
This is such BS and so unnecessary!!!
If the vet needs to check a pet, I think they should come to the main terminal to check the pet!
Every pet that comes in is healthy and has all of its shots or the airlines would not allow them to get on the flight!
People bringing in pets must also have an import permit.
In order to get the import permit you have to have proof that the cat is in good medical condition!"

A recommendation from an animal group in Kuwait (translated from Arabic - sorry):

1.       If you travel from Kuwait to any second country with your pick-up or bring you both inside the cabin or under the plane in a private animal cabin, make sure your papers are complete and meet all the requirements and conditions of travel To the country they're looking for.

2.       they bought a suitable size cage so that the animal can turn its breath and wear it with comfort and for those who stop its head do not hit the roof of the cage.

3.       make sure that the cage you are wearing is the type that is intoxicating in screws from every direction and the door is strong.

4.       Buy Cable ties in family supplies colors and sizes or ace hardware ace hardware they took the size to your cage.

5.       some cages are ready with holes from the sides and open the door other than of course the openings to mascara in screws you can put in the wire bond more protection for the cage or you can put additional holes in the cage via dere or the way I always follow it no N I don't have dere hottest precious on the air and press tricks the place where I fix the hole in the cage and with the heat I melt the plastic and be I have a suitable hole whether if the cage has holes or I need additional holes of course the cage orbit with ties The wires are in the house and to whom you deliver the airport after you have completed all the travel papers and procedures before they take the flying cage, lock the door from all sides in the wire links.

6.       Be at the airport three hours before the travel date so that you and the staff of the airport will be easily and without rush to you and the airport staff.

7.       if the aviation officer asks you to see the animal of you, be there and with him you open the cage with yourself and you are possessed by the animal and you enter it and screw the door is fair.

8.       the best to stay after you complete all the procedures and wait with your live at the flight counter to the last time to enter the plane you can tell the flight staff that you will not be waiting for the animal cage now you are waiting for me the last time to sit outside the plane for a while Especially long since Jonah has mercy and usually the staff are understanding and cooperative in this respect.

9.       when they take the cage from you take it down so that I go to the plane reached the transport employee and and it is fair to take care of the animal justice and what I offer to anyone i can hurt (normal workers or people put the cage with animals or Insist on them or open the door from the anchoring is necessary to lock the door in the wire links because it only opens in scissors) and also above that you have the worker give him a reserve to take care of justice.

My advice:  Unless you absolutely HAVE to (as in Leila's case), never import an animal to Kuwait.  Never never never.  And if you need further confirmation of this, refer to my last post on animal poisoning.