As dusk fell on the shores of Nouakchott, the Kayo husky left paw prints in the hot Sahara sand, an incongruous but increasingly familiar sight in Mauritania.
Traditionally bred as sled dogs in the far north of Siberia, Huskies have become a popular pet in the northwest African state – where temperatures regularly rise to 40 °C (104 °F).
Kayo’s owner Ahmed Maham praised his majestic pet, saying, “I thought he might have trouble with the heat, but he doesn’t.”
Hella Rokbani, of France’s Animal Protection Society (SPA), said that although the extreme heat is not ideal for the Arctic breed, huskies have a great capacity for adaptation.
He explained that dogs have two layers of fur that act as thermal regulators, protecting them from cold as well as heat.
They renew their coats twice a year and automatically adapt their fur to the climate, he said.
“A shrew in Siberia will therefore moult differently to one in Africa,” he explained, even though Mauritania was not their natural habitat.
“You have to be alert and take precautions: give them fresh water, take them out at certain times of the day, shelter them in the shade…”, Rokhbani said.
like wolves
On his sun-drenched terrace in Nouakchott, husky owner Amadou Daff fills a bowl with water to cool off his pet.
Like many other owners around the world, Daff’s affection for the hardy dog breed began with the hit TV series Game of Thrones.
“That’s what I like about huskies, because they look like wolves,” he said.
“I wanted someone completely white, like Arya,” he said, referencing one of the main characters of the fantasy series.
“You have to take a lot of care and keep them in the right conditions,” he said, explaining the importance of hydration and making kennel roofs from wood rather than metal to avoid overheating.
“You really have to take care of husbands. They’re not just for anybody,” she said.
Amadou Mabodj, a dog trainer who specializes in selling and training huskies, proudly showed off his canine companion.
“Her name is Gloria – she’s my first husky. She’s been here for about seven years,” he said.
“I got her from a Syrian friend and since then I have been inseparable,” he said.
sign of wealth
Mboudaj imports the dogs from Morocco, which he said requires “a lot of paperwork,” permits and a vaccination certificate.
“It’s a long way and there are troubles at customs”, he said, “but it can be done”.
Mbodj warned that theft from husbands was on the rise.
Mauritania has not traditionally been a dog-friendly country, but Mboudaj said trends are changing and the number of adoptions is increasing.
He sells his husks for between $380 and $760.
“I would go for walks on the beach and in luxury neighborhoods and people would ask me about these dogs,” Mbodge said.
“Mauritanians love huskies because of their beauty, their sociability and their extraordinary coats,” he said.
Mouhamadou Ba, a dog expert and secretary general of the Veterinary Association of Mauritania, said the number of huskies has increased over the past 10 years.
But there are no reliable official statistics.
Ba described the pedigree dog as a social marker and sign of wealth in the desert state.
Breeds such as German shepherds, poodles and Chihuahuas have also become more popular, he said, especially among wealthier Moroccans traveling abroad.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
