How music is bringing new standards to animal welfare

Reggae and classical music easing the pain of a trip to the vet or long-haul flight for pets

A cat receives special care at the German Veterinary Clinic in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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.

Nora Shackleford, of the German Veterinary Clinic in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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.

K9 Jets launched its private jet service for pets from Dubai to Farnborough in the UK and is about to open new routes from the UAE to Geneva and Milan. Photo: K9 Jets

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).

A dog and owner on board a K9 jet. Photo: K9 JETS

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.”