Why are pets illegal in Saudi Arabia?

Ohh.. Yeah, because they spread diseases and can frighten small children and families. gotcha.

Ban on Sale of Pet Cats, Dogs
Saeed Al-Abyad, Arab News

JEDDAH, 24 August 2006 — The Makkah governorate, acting on a request from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has decided to prohibit the sale of pet cats and dogs. The commission made the request after it noticed many young Saudis going out in streets with their pet dogs in violation of the Kingdom’s culture and traditions. Saudi authorities in Jeddah have begun enforcing the decision.

The commission complained of Saudi youth, apparently influenced by Western culture, bringing their pets into public places, allegedly causing distress especially to families with young children. Arab News learned that the Jeddah Municipality had received a letter from the Makkah governorate banning sales of pet dogs and cats in the city.

The municipality is in the process of dispatching special squads to close down such shops. The growing trend in purchasing domestic pets has encouraged businessmen to open shops and clinics for such animals in Jeddah. Veterinary clinics charge SR100 to SR200 for diagnosing sick animals and the amount can increase if the animal requires special treatment or surgery.

The popularity of pets has increased the demand for breeds that are popular among pet lovers, such as Dobermans, boxers, pit bulls, Yorkshire terriers, etc. Pet cats, too, aren’t relegated to the countless street felines, but rather fancier breeds. These breeds of dogs and cats have increasingly been imported from the United States, Russia, Hungary, Ukraine and some other European countries.

Prices of dogs vary from one breed to another. Prices for boxers, pit bulls or other popular breeds can run into thousands of riyals. According to a veterinarian doctor, the danger of spreading diseases among humans through cats and dogs is limited, as most diseases spread through them are minor and can be easily treated, except for rabies, for which a vaccine is available and which can be treated.

However, diseases for which pets can be vectors could dangerously affect newborn babies, the elderly or persons with immune system deficiencies.