Having a dog in Egypt can be hassle. Most vets are not as experienced as those in other countries, and it is often difficult to find places to walk your best friend without scaring off a few Egyptians each time. Perhaps the most burning question for those looking to travel to Egypt with their pets (either for a short visit or to live here) and for Egyptians who are planning on owning a dog (or already do) is: where do I leave my fluffy friend if I plan on travelling around Egypt? The majority of hotels in Egypt do not allow dogs and so in most cases you cannot take your dog with you. I faced this dilemma with my Samoyed, Teddy Bear, on three occasions so far where my family wanted to travel. Finding a good boarding kennel was frustrating, and so to help you decide where your buddy should go, I prepared a short review of the two top kennels in Cairo.
International Veterinary Hospital & Pet Motel
Teddy stayed at this dog hotel – his first ever stay at a kennel – during our trip to Egypt’s lustrous El-Gouna. Upon our visit there prior to taking Teddy there, we were impressed. The ‘rooms’ were relatively spacious and looked onto a nice, shallow pool. During hot weather, some rooms were even air conditioned (which is great for a Siberian dog like Teddy).
The friendly receptionist told us that Teddy would be allowed to roam in the area in front of him a few times a day, and that they would give him a bath (but no other grooming is involved). Anxious and short on time, we decided to leave Teddy here for the duration of our trip (4 nights). Before they accept him, they require proof of vaccination and a birth certificate (or some sort of identification). Once you arrive, they take your dog and perform a quick check up to ensure that he is in ‘good health’. After that, you say goodbye, and let him go with one of the staff.
Four nights later, we returned and were shocked at the state Teddy was in. He was muddy, smelled really bad, and had a yellow mark on his snout – indicating that they had tied his mouth (even though Teddy only barks if there is something wrong). Overall: he seemed to be upset and not in good shape. Before letting us go, they do a quick ‘check up’ to ensure that he is healthy. When we remarked about his color and smell, they said he had recently been bathed. They must have used a hose (and not a bath or other washing facilities) to clean him, and the mud (and smell) indicated that he hadn’t been properly dried. For the whole car ride home, he slept on my lap – visibly exhausted.
However, despite that, they did seem to care about the dogs they kept – but maybe were a bit inexperienced as to how to ‘groom them’ or ensure they are comfortable. Overall, I would recommend this place if you are unable to leave your pet at the next place I will review. It is still a lot better than many other poor dog boarding kennels that are available in Cairo.
Price: 100 L.E. per day for the ‘high-end’ package. For more information visit their Facebook page.
Eastwind Kennels
I had tried to book here first (prior to choosing the previous kennel) on December 14th but they were all booked out until January 5th 2013. After sending Teddy there for 3 nights, it was not surprising why this place is very popular among expat forums.
Prior to accepting your dog, you must ensure he has received a cough vaccination. This can be done at one of many vets in Cairo – however I have not tried enough in order to recommend any specific one. After calling them up, sending them electronic copies of all required paperwork (proof of vaccination, birth certification etc.) Teddy was ready to go!
Entering Eastwind you realize how spacious it is. There are approximately 90-100 kennels and the majority of the ones I saw were filled with all kinds of dogs: from Labradors and German Shepherds to Rottweilers and Poodles. Immediately, a well-dressed man greets you, takes your dog’s details and then asks you to say goodbye to the dog. Prior to taking him to his room, the man got to know Teddy and walked him around the spacious outdoor area – familiarizing him with the location. Of course, Teddy being stubborn, he simply laid down and was unwilling to move. The man was very kind and allowed us to walk with them for a few minutes, until Teddy was happily roaming around and we could silently disappear.
The whole process of giving them the paper work and releasing the dog lasted less than five minutes (at the other kennel, this duration was at least 20-30 minutes).
Upon returning 3 nights later, I was glad to see Teddy was in great shape. He was clean, playful with the man, and most importantly: he seemed happy.
I believe that is the most important aspect that any dog owner cares about: the dog’s happiness and comfort. It is therefore not a surprise that I would absolutely recommend this dog boarding hotel over any other kennel in Cairo. They are professional, clean, and provide great hospitality for your dog.
Teddy stayed at the indoor kennel section in a ‘room with a view’ that cost L.E. 100. Other options are available. For more information, visit their website http://2ewk.com/
Bonus Picture of Teddy!
Comments (437)
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You have a really good article here. I will definitely tell my friends who love dogs to read this post. Then their trip to Egypt would be fun using travelrepublic.co.uk.