A Romanian family with a minor child says they are having a hard time in Abu Dhabi, where they have been stuck for almost two weeks because they are unable to find a flight that will allow the transport of their puppy, a Maltese bichon. They refuse to abandon their animal, and for this reason they are not considered a priority case for evacuation.
The family has been trying since February 28 to leave safely, but so far three flights have been cancelled. Meanwhile, the stress became more and more difficult to bear, especially for the child.
“This week, with the help of the company the husband works for, we were able to go three hours outside of Abu Dhabi because both myself and the baby started having panic attacks,” the woman said.
On one of the evenings, the situation became even more tense when, while he was out walking the dog, an alert was issued and the child became very scared.
Complicated procedures for transporting the animal
The family tried several options of departure on commercial flights, but the strict rules regarding the transport of animals overturned their plans. A flight operated by Turkish Airlines was canceled on March 9, and other tickets purchased later, including a flight to Zurich and one to Greece, were also cancelled.
The woman says that the procedure for transporting the animal is difficult. “The procedure with the puppy is very complicated. To be able to fly with the puppy in the cabin, for example, at Etihad you have to give an email six days before the flight, they reserve your seat, after which you have to get a fit to fly permit from an approved vet, which is valid for 10 days“, she explained, according to Antena3.
“For us it is part of the family”
For the family, abandoning the puppy is not an option. The animal is 12 years old and has health problems, and the owner says it would not last if left in a center. “I could not live with this. It’s like abandoning a child. To me, my puppy is part of the family” said the woman.
The family say they asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy for help, but were told they had to keep trying to find a commercial flight. “We kept calling the MFA, the embassy, asking for help, and we were advised to manage on our own, because the priority is unaccompanied minors, urgent health cases, tourists who have run out of money, and then residents”said the woman.
Currently, the family continues to look for solutions to leave Abu Dhabi, while also hoping for a possible repatriation flight that will allow them to take the puppy with them.
