ABU
DHABI, United Arab Emirates--Silence greets the
uninitiated approaching the Saluki of Arabia Breeding
Project installation, just outside Abu Dhabi. None
of the usual yelping, yapping, barking, growling
that announces the presence of Man's best friend.
The usual dog smells are missing, too.
The
12 kennels--much larger than most kennels, about 12
ft by 15 ft, separated by 6-foot walls and each with
a door that swings out into a courtyard--are housed
in an airy building with large windows and air conditioning
for when the desert temperatures get too fierce. At
the entrance, visitors must step onto a foam rubber
mat soaked in disinfectant, just in case they carry
infectious agents on their shoes.
Each kennel has a raised platform the size
of a bed and covered with a beautiful rug.
Readers take note: Salukis do not sit on
the floor.
Which is not to say that they are snobs.
We were greeted with furious wagging of tails,
much licking of hands, and I was gently wrestled
to the ground by a band of inquisitive Salukis
when we walked into the kennels. Touching
them is a strange experience because their
thin bodies are very light and seem deceptively
fragile.
Salukis are are companions and hunters,
and are prized for their speed and temperament.
Lithe and graceful, they look like a slightly
smaller version of an Afghan hound, but without
the woolly hair, and range in color from
white to sandy beige to black, with many
shades of putty and cinnamon in between.
Their coat is completely smooth, except that
ears and tails are sometimes feathered, giving
them a curiously alert look. And then there
are the eyes. There are brown eyes, yellow
eyes, eyes the color of agate and carnelian,
and also blue eyes, or rather a shade of
grey-blue.
The naming of Salukis is not undertaken
lightly. No Rex or Fido here. Instead, puppies
are named when they are about three months
old--old enough for their personalities to
emerge. There are names like Snapper, Fleet
Runner and Father of the Deer, only they
sound more poetic in Arabic, and they are
chosen to suit the animal's color, size or
temperament.
Salukis
are indigenous to the Gulf region, and
the
purpose of the Saluki Breeding Project
is to maintain the purity of the breed, avoid
inbreeding and guide Saluki breeders in other
parts of the world. Hamad Ghanem Shaheen
Al Ghanem is the project's director, and
he is also Registrar General for the breed. "They
are part of our heritage," Al Ghanem
said. "Four animals are included in
our life here: Camels, horses, falcons and
Salukis." Hunting with falcon and Saluki
is a great tradition in the region.
The compound's white-tiled kitchen is the
size of a two bedroom apartment in New York.
On the stove, a giant pot filled with rice,
chicken and vegetables stood ready for the
next feeding. Salukis eat the same food as
their caretakers, and Al Ghanem swiped a
piece of chicken from the pot and ate it
with relish. Then he offered me a piece,
and I had no reservations about following
suit. Chicken is alternated with lamb, and
vegetables are sometimes replaced with beans
or lentils.
Salukis are fed small amounts three times
a day, and their diet is supplemented with
vitamins and minerals, indigenous spices,
salty cheese balls, dates and honey--a healthier
diet than that of the average Westerner.
Near the kitchen is the clinic, used for
regular visits by the vet. Minor mishaps
can be treated on the spot, but more serious
cases are taken to a hospital, where surgery
can also be performed. Mild shampoos, skin
oils and vinegar keep Saluki coats shiny
after a bath. A long, turquoise-painted swimming
pool offers Salukis buoyant relief from the
rigors of exercising in the sands of the
basketball-court-sized area .
The walls of the office are strewn with
photographs and paintings of, you've guessed
it, Salukis. This is where the pedigree records
are kept.
Salukis
are marketed and sold, each with a passport
showing its pedigree to five generations.
Al Ghanem said that, before they go to their
new owners, the animals are spayed or neutered--it
is the only way to control the purity of
the breed. He added that, though the Saluki
breeding project cooperates with the American
Kennel Club, its Salukis are not registered
with the club. "We will cooperate with
them and help them, but we have the Arabian
pure line," he said.
Al Ghanem was explaining that Salukis reach
speeds of up to 55 kilometers--35 miles per
hour--if they are in good condition and well
trained, when a plaintive dog howl pierced
the peaceful morning. Perfectly composed,
he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out his
cell phone--the howl was what he'd selected
as a ring.
To those readers contemplating the acquisition
of a Saluki, a reminder: a Saluki is not
a pet, it is a friend. It needs vigorous
exercise twice a day, constant interaction
with humans, cooked food instead of smelly
dried pellets, and a great deal of attention.
If you give it that, it will be healthy and
will reward you with its unconditional friendship.
But if you dress it up like a poodle and
cramp it in a puny apartment, you don't deserve
to own it. Caveat dog lover!
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