DUBAI // Welfare campaigners welcomed a decision to suspend the live animal sale licence of a pet shop accused of selling sick puppies.
Petholicks was forced to refund money to several customers who bought puppies and found that they were seriously ill with contagious viruses.
Some of the dogs died, while other pet owners paid thousands of dirhams in veterinary bills.
Complaints were submitted to Dubai Municipality and spot checks carried out by the licensing authority, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), who in March issued a warning to the shop in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
It continued to trade and further cases of neglect and of animals being sold in ill health were reported to authorities.
DMCC has suspended the shop’s licence to trade live animals. “Petholicks still has a licence, but the shop’s right to sell live animals has been suspended,” a DMCC spokesman said.
“The owner is no longer allowed to sell animals and DMCC will not be renewing that licence when it expires, so no live animals are permitted on the premises.”
The trade licence expires in October.
Fourteen people who said they had bought sick dogs from the shop joined forces on social media to gather evidence to push for action from Dubai Municipality.
Natalie Kardoush was given a miniature poodle called Marley – bought from the shop by her husband – as a Valentine’s Day present.
Two days after taking Marley home, the dog became seriously ill with parvovirus and vets said the puppy had 48 hours to live. Although Marley survived, the couple had to pay a substantial vet bill.
“We are beyond excited this has finally happened,” said Ms Kardoush. “This should have happened a long time ago.”
Lakshmi Kewalramani, who lives in Dubai Marina, bought a Chihuahua called Pablo, who died days after taking him home, also from parvo.
“I’m glad the licence has been suspended but the concern is he will continue to sell puppies online and in other shops,” she said. “He’s not going to stop – the authorities need to go far deeper.”
Evelyn Priess, an executive management member of the Emirates Animal Welfare Society, was another campaigning for the shop to be sanctioned. “I am deeply grateful for the final action of the DMCC Authority and the continuous support of Dubai Municipality,” she said.
The owner of Petholicks said all customers signed terms and conditions accepting that pets were at risk of certain viruses, such as parvo, distemper and coronavirus.
The terms stated: “If any of our pet [sic] is diagnosed with the mentioned virus we only replace. If the pet is available with us or we will issue a credit note from the shop that can be used for one year from the date issued.”
nwebster@thenational.ae
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Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
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Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
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All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
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Atletico Madrid v Alaves (11.45pm)
Sunday
Girona v Getafe (3pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7.15pm)
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Malaga v Real Betis (midnight)
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Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
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Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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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.
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First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
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Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
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Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
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1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
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3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
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