Quarantine for Gus

The Mad dogs have hit a road block in terms of their dog Gus.


We knew that we would have to be subjected to various rules and conditions to take the boy to India. We knew he would have to do 6 months quarantine on his return to Britain. But what we did not anticipate was that this 6 month period would be in solitary confinement with NO EXERCISE whatsoever.

Our dog is only a year old and I have spent the past year training and putting up with my all my plants in my garden either dug up or eaten, my kitchen chairs chewed to pieces and many, many toys destroyed. All of which are subsiding or ceased. I can see light at the end of the tunnel in terms of dog he will become.


It is common for dogs to pine away to their deaths in quarantine in Britain. They are allowed only 2 hours a day visits from their families. I'm really worried that the dog who enters quarantine will not be the same dog that leaves.


The British laws for rabies quarantine are nothing short of draconian and are completely out of date. Modern vaccines now can prevent rabies and other diseases. One of the criteria for entering India with a dog stipulates that they are completely vaccinated in the first place! The pet passport scheme allows dogs travel to associated countries of course India is not on the list.



Our relocation company suggested that Gus did his time in France where although they still subject the same 6 month rule, only that exercise the dogs every day.


We are giving up a lot to go and live in India. Our house, schools, friends, family, clean civilised environment, our cat and now possibly our dog whom we are deeply attached to. It just goes against everything I believe in to put him through such an ordeal. We have had a couple of offers for him, where I'm sure he would have the time of his life and live very happily. But leaving the dog behind may prove to be one step too far for the baby mad dogs in terms of settling into India.


We don't know what to do.