Scrapbook Expets

Expets
Saved

Abandoned

Creating a
new family

Hello! My name is Oreo. I
was one of the many stray
dogs in Kenya. Some kind
humans saved me when I was
wounded by the traffic. Then
Mahua adopted me. She is an
expat from New York, who
lives in Nairobi now.

Oreo resting after treatment Courtesy of Mahua

Pets often become new family for expats that don’t have their original family around to make them feel safe and loved.
Tweets courtesy of Mahua

Mahua and me play in Karura
Forest almost every day. She
says I have to keep my leash on
most of the time because many
Kenyans are scared of dogs. I
love hiking through all the trails
and Mahua loves being out in
nature and getting extra exercise.

Oreo in the
special off leash
area of
Karura Forest in
Nairobi
Courtesy of
Mahua

We also snuggle
on the couch and
have pedicures

Pampered foot and paw
Courtesy of Mahua

Let me tell you the story of
another Nairobi stray animal
that was adopted by an expat.
Jonathan from the UK found
Ginger dying. He brought him
to the KSPCA. Whenever
Jonathan was in Nairobi, he
came to visit Ginger.

Jonathan found Ginger on a graveyard in Nairobi
Town, 2015 Courtesy of Kenya Society for the
Protection & Care of Animals

Regina and Paul of the KSPCA saying goodbye to The Kenya Society for the Protection &
Ginger, 2015 Courtesy of Kenya Society for the Protection Care of Animals is an organization that
& Care of Animals saves and shelters stray animals and

provides education about animal welfare.

Ginger was adopted and lives with the parents of
Jonathan in the UK, 2015 Courtesy of Kenya Society for
the Protection & Care of Animals

Not all expats take their pets
with them when they travel to
another country. Some take
their pets to a shelter, or worse,
abandon them. My friend Boris
is a famous blogger on the
website of the KSPCA. Please
tell us your story Boris.

Abandoning
Pets

‘I was adopted by some lovely
human things but they had to leave
the country and rather than take me
with them or leave me fending for
myself they brought me back here,
which was great – I really didn’t like
the idea of going to the UK, way too
cold, and I definitely didn’t want to
start scavenging and trying to
survive. It’s just not in my bones to
do that, actually it is not in any dog’s
bones and is just so wrong.’

Text from Boris’ blog, April 9. 2014
Courtesy of Kenya Society for the Protection & Care of Animals

At the KSPCA shelter I
meet many pets that were
abandoned. They often look
horrible when they first
arrive. Several of them were
abandoned by expats who
moved to another country.

Abandoned animals saved by the KSPCA
2016-2017 Courtesy of Kenya Society for
the Protection & Care of Animals

Mahua hates it when expats
abandon their pets. She has
written about it on her blog.

‘Dear Fellow UN People

Since adopting Oreo, it has come to my attention that, apparently, UN people
(international staff be it families, couples, or single people) are notorious for
abandoning animals (and not just in Kenya). A number of people, upon hearing that
we are with the UN, asked me (with grave concern) if we plan to take Oreo with us
when we eventually leave Kenya. A friend of ours, also UN, has experienced the
same thing since she rescued her dog earlier this year.

Of course we will take Oreo! She is our family. This is her forever home and she will
go wherever we go. There is no question about that. We think along the lines of a
certain couple we know who are with the Canadian High Commission: if a post
doesn’t allow for the dog, we turn down that post. No one is pointing a gun to your

head demanding that you take the assignment.’

Mahua urging UN people to stop abandoning animals on her blog, November 6. 2017 Courtesy of nyc2nairobi.com

Rules and
Regulations

Animals have been traveling
with humans for thousands of
years. To make sure your pets
have a comfortable and safe
journey, you have to know the
rules and regulations for
animal transportation.

‘Did you bring their papers? Your pet cannot
enter the EU without the correct certification’
Courtesy of European Commission

Dogs traveling on the steamboat Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, 1910
Courtesy of Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington LC-USZ62-52684

Each country has its own rules
and regulations. Moving a pet is
not always an easy process. I am
already looking up some
information in case Mahua wants
to move to another country.

Documents, registration and vaccines to arrange*

European Union South-Korea

• Pet Microchip • Pet Microchip
• Rabies Vaccination • Rabies Vaccination
• Health Certificate • Health Certificate
• EU Pet Passport • Additional Vaccines
• Rabies Titer Test • Vet Visit Within 10
• Tapeworm Treatment
Days of Departure
(dogs only)

* These are only some examples of documents, registration and vaccines that are needed for traveling to Europe and South-
Korea in 2017. Always check the rules and regulations on up-to-date official websites before traveling with your pet.

Kali’s microchip is scanned after arriving at the Osan Travelling in airplanes can be
Air Base passenger terminal, Republic of Korea, 2015 dangerous for animals.
Courtesy of United States Forces Korea photo by Staff Thousands of animals are
Sgt. Shawn Nickel killed or injured by heat, cold,
lack of oxygen and rough
handling each year. But
sometimes there is no other
way to take them with you.

Animal air travel tips

Avoid putting your pet in cargo Do not fly with your
holds if you can! Find out which pet in the cargo hold
airlines allow your pet to travel during extreme
in the cabin temperatures

reliable + min. min.10 cm
lock 8 cm rim ensuring
pets access to
standing oxygen when
length kennel is put
next to other
objects

Inform yourself on Book a non stop flight Demand that your
the right type and to avoid stress and pet is removed from
size of transportation trauma during transfers the airplane during
kennel long delays

Dear expats,

Be aware of the difficulties of moving with

expets so you will not have to leave us behind!

Oreo using the puppy eyes strategy Oreo

Courtesy of Mahua

Credits

Scrapbook by Eva Flipse & Lynn Baas

Special thanks to:
Mahua Cavanagh for sharing the great story and pictures of the adoption of Oreo

nyc2nairobi.com

The Kenya Society for Protection & Care of Animals for sharing their stories from the field and
the beautiful material from their blog
kspca-kenya.org

Professor Amy Levin and professor Manon Parry for many useful tips and tricks

Also thanks to:
Expatriate Archive Centre The Hague, Library of Congress, United States Forces Korea and the

European Commission for the visual material

Artwork by Lynn Baas