A Pets' Life in Bermuda
by Liz Jones

Yes, we have our pet likes, and these pets can range from horses to cats and dogs, guinea pigs to hamsters and gerbils, budgies to paraquets and parrots. We like our fish too. In fact, visit some of our pet shops specializing in aquariums and in tropical fish, and you'll see there's nothing fishy about their cultural diversity. They come from all over the world. Bermuda, by the way, has pet shops in many of our parishes. All have animal food and feed plus equipment for sale while some also sell fish, hamsters, mice, gerbils and birds. They sell a variety of animal toys as well so useful at Christmas if your pet is used to a stocking. A few offer pet grooming as well.

Four animal hospitals with highly qualified veterinarians ensure that our pets have excellent health care and treatment. In general their hours are from 8 AM to 6 PM, Mondays to Fridays and mornings only on Saturday. Of course they are always available for emergencies. Staff will give all sorts of advice, including on how to deal with the ever prevalent problem of fleas. What if you go on vacation? Most offer pet boarding but their policies differ. Some hospitals will board only their own patients while others work on a first come first served basis. Where summer and public holidays are concerned, it's wise to book as long in advance as possible. In addition, a number of kennels will board other animals as well as dogs. Prices depend on the size of the animal and the amount of care and attention it requires. Policies about bathing and grooming differ. Again, some hospitals will groom only their own patients or the animals there on vacation. A couple of grooming centres can also help out.

Does Your Pet need a passport?
So you have a family and other animals and you want to bring them to Bermuda. Do your animals need passports too? Well, no, but they do need papers, even if you're just visiting for a week end. Bear in mind that we have no quarantine so animals arriving without import permits will be turned away. At least two to three weeks before your arrival date, you should contact our Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for an application form. That form will explain the conditions required. Your next step is to ask your vet to fax health documents to the Department who will then fax back a permit (no charge). Bear in mind that the rules also affect the types of animals you're allowed to import. Our reputation as a paradise means we definitely exclude snakes. Remember what a snake did to Eden? Generally speaking we also exclude exotics and animals such as porcupines and ferrets and endangered species.

A Word about a Dog's Life in Bermuda
If you're living in Bermuda and want to acquire a dog, here are some regulations and considerations to think about. It's illegal to import a puppy under ten months old from North America or from any other country that has rabies. For that reason, people wanting specific breeds and younger puppies tend to deal directly with breeders in the UK, which is currently rabies free. Alternatively you can buy a pup from a local breeder or dog owner. And of course our SPCA is always happy to find good owners for their dogs. What kind of dog should you choose? Take our climate into account. Our winters may be cool but our summer's heat and high humidity can make life unpleasant for long haired dogs such as huskies. Of course having your dog clipped during the summer will help. Humidity can also cause short nosed dogs - for example, Pekinese and boxers - to have respiratory problems. And dogs such as cocker spaniels with long silky ears are prone to ear infections.

Bear in mind that you may have up to two dogs without a permit. If you want three or more, an inspector from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will examine your premises for suitability before issuing a free permit. If you want to breed puppies, then you must apply for a breeder's license (it costs $166). Again, your premises will be inspected before and after the puppies are born.

All dogs in Bermuda must have license tags, which you must purchase from any of our post offices every August. Spayed dogs, by the way, are considerably cheaper to license. Dog owners should ensure that their gardens are fenced since they can be fined if their pets run loose. This is where invisible fencing can be very useful. Wire placed around your garden's perimeter sends a signal to a special dog's collar, causing the animal to have a mild electric shock. After some days of training (usually about two weeks) your dog eventually learns to avoid being near the wire. Before choosing this option it's wise to ask your vet's opinion about whether it's suitable for your dog's temperament. (Cats, incidentally, can also be trained.)

Dogs love their walks. Remember, though, that they must be on a leash at all times. What about the beaches? From April to October, dogs may not walk on the beach.

Do you want your dog to graduate with an honours degree in Obedience? The Dog Training Club of Bermuda offers 6-week classes held at Admiralty House Park throughout the year.