International
Ban on sale of cats and dogs in Mecca
8/24/2006
- By DPA
Dubai, Aug. 24: Authorities in the Saudi city of Mecca have banned the sale of pet cats and dogs at the request of religious police.
The commission for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice made the request after many young Saudis had gone outdoors with their pet dogs, violating the kingdom's culture and traditions, Arab News reported on Thursday. Authorities in the city of Jeddah have also begun enforcing the decision, the report said.
The commission complained that Saudi youths, apparently influenced by Western culture, were bringing their pets into public places, causing distress to families with young children. Islam considers dogs unclean and Muslim traditional families do not keep them as pets. But there is no mention of cats.
The Jeddah Municipality had received a letter from the Mecca governorate banning the sale of pet dogs and cats in the city, the report added.