Loyal companion yet restrictions: The only country in the world where keeping a dog can lead to jail, strict rules for tourists too

Dogs have been considered the most loyal companions of humans for centuries. Whether it is guarding the house or removing loneliness, dogs always remain on top. Medical science and research by the ‘American Heart Association’ also believe that spending some time with dogs or patting them reduces the level of stress-causing hormone (cortisol) in our body very rapidly. Along with this, the level of happy neurotransmitters like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine increases, which are helpful in relieving depression and mental stress.

But can you imagine that despite all these qualities, there is a country in the world where there is a complete ban on breeding, keeping or even bringing this lovely and loyal animal with you from abroad? Yes, we are talking about tourists’ favorite islands. Maldives of.

Why is there a complete ban on dogs in Maldives?

According to the law of Maldives, no local citizen or foreign tourist can keep a dog within the country’s borders. If someone tries to break this rule, he has to face huge legal difficulties. Maldives has made this law extremely stringent under its ‘Animal Welfare Act’, under which heavy fines have been fixed for bringing banned animals into the country.

Officials confiscate tourists’ dogs on sight

If a foreign tourist unknowingly or due to lack of knowledge brings his pet dog to Maldives by flight, then the customs officers deployed at the airport immediately take it into their custody. After this, under safety rules only two routes are adopted:

• Either the dog is immediately sent back to its country of origin on the next flight.

• Or the dog is kept under special customs custody (customs bond facility) for as long as the foreign tourist is spending his holidays in the Maldives. Only when the tourist returns, his pet is handed over to him.

Only these have got permission to stay in the country

It is almost impossible for common people to see a dog in Maldives. Only those dogs are seen in the entire country which are used by the special sniffer units of the police or customs department. These trained dogs are used only for essential government duties like security operations, checking of drugs and narcotics and maintaining law and order.

Why has this strict ban been imposed?

There are mainly two main reasons behind this ban imposed on dogs by the Maldives government – ​​firstly the hygiene rules there and secondly religious beliefs.

Maldives is a completely Islamic nation and the rules of Sharia law are followed there. According to religious beliefs, dogs are classified as ‘impure’ or ‘impure’, due to which it is prohibited to keep them as pets at home. However, the people of Maldives have no hatred for animals. There is complete freedom to keep cats there. Apart from this, the people there also keep colorful birds and rabbits in their homes with great fondness.