Arusha dog farms tap exotic market
ARUSHA: DOGS from Europe and Russia are currently forming a new animal rearing industry in Arusha, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya.
Arusha, which has more livestock than the rest of the country, is also branching into a new sector of animal husbandry dog rearing with breeds imported all the way from Moscow, Russia.
The Caucasian Shepherd from Russia is said to be the most popular and widely distributed breed among dog keeping farms in the Northern Zone.
Other exotic high-class breeds commanding the market in Arusha include the Husky, also from Russia but available from Poland, Boerboel from South Africa, German Shepherd from Poland and Serbia, Doberman mostly from Europe, Saint Bernard from Romania and Maltese from Malta.
“Dog keeping is just gaining roots here, because most people are still not very interested or conversant with the sector but are slowly catching on,” said Nondo Oscar, the Executive Director of Arusha Boerboel Dog Farm and Lodge, during the Northern Zone’s Agriculture Show at the Nanenane grounds in Arusha.
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He said there is a strong network of dog farms operating in Arusha and Nairobi, working together to ensure quality production.
Mr Oscar said dog farming can be expensive because importing the breeds costs between 15m/- and 30m/- per dog and their food consumption costs can be staggering; however, the turnaround is usually fast and profitable.
“It takes passion to rear dogs. You must first love them. It should be treated more as a hobby than a business despite being profitable,” he said.
But who buys dogs? With rising security concerns in major cities, homeowners have been flocking to buy these breeds, which are said to be more reliable than human security personnel.
The police and security firms have also been purchasing guard dogs for surveillance and patrolling activities. Others train dogs to be assistants such as servants, escorts and even delivery personnel.
But according to dog farm operators, women and children also buy some breeds as pets and companions.
