Oh Sophie

Things are progressing nicely in terms of my move home to Texas. Yesterday morning, everything was falling into place, and I blindly assumed that they would continue to do so.

Think again, Paige. We’re talking about you, here.

In the afternoon, we took Sophie up to the vet to weigh her and her kennel and pick up her medical records so she can fly with us. Putting her on the plane with me and Dash costs about $100 - not a big deal. We scheduled a flight that goes through Dallas so we wouldn’t touch down anywhere too cold, and I was feeling great for being so organized.

When the lady behind the counter started talking, though, I immediately felt a sense of severe Uh Oh. I knew that she was about to give me bad news before I even truly focused on the words.

“Sophie is a week late for her Rabies booster, which means she’ll have to wait 30 days to fly.”
“But we’re leaving before that.”
“Well you can fly with her, but they’ll kennel her in the States until the 30 days is up.”
“Uh, so what do I do?”
“Get her shot right now and get her a ticket via Pet Air.”

Oh ok. This wasn’t too bad - Sophie won’t get to fly with me, but she’ll get a special pet fight and get to stay warm and cozy and everything will be ok. She got her shot, we left, and I explained the whole thing to Mike. After his initial “Oh shit I have to take care of the dog by myself” speech ended, we agreed that this is what we must do: we can’t risk having her kenneled back home because of how expensive it is, and we can’t leave her in Germany. Neither is an option. We agreed to call and see how much the Pet Air tickets cost today.

I just got off the phone with Pet Air. It’s about 500 U.S. dollars to ship her with them. That’s a 400% increase from what it would cost to ship her with me and Dash, but again, that’s not possible anymore because of the waiting period after a rabies shot.

Mike audibly groaned when I called to tell him about the cost. He loves Sophie, and it’s not that he doesn’t want to ship her, but his suggestion was that I wait until the 30 days are up to fly home. Two problems with that: 1, I don’t want to fly in between Christmas and New Year’s, and 2) it will be cold enough then that she might not be able to get on a flight anyway. The only reliable way to get her home is Pet Air, and that is what we’ll do.

As we were finishing up the conversation about it, Mike said he hoped I didn’t have any real high hopes for my Christmas present. I know it’s cheesy but if I can go pick Sophie up at the airport and not have to worry about her, Christmas will be fine.

I’m really sick of this place and ready to go home, but my dog is not disposable. We’ll just pay whatever it takes to get her home. The End.

Oh god Paige, I totally feel for you. I always fly with Simon and he’s almost too big to fly in the cabin, but I push it every time b/c there’s no way that I’m putting him in the cargo bay. But it’s always stressful to fly with the dog b/c he hates it.

Anyways….Sophie coming home safely will definitely be the best present and a huge relief. Although you ought to give the Hubby a smack upside the head for saying that imho.

I wish Sophie could fly in the cabin with me so badly right now. She’d hate it, but at least I wouldn’t have to wave goodbye to her.

Re: husband - it’s a good thing we were on the phone.

Oh, Paige…I am thinking of you! This situation would drive me to drink. I think you’re doing the right thing, and don’t worry! She’ll be home before you know it.

I’m already thinking about what a wreck I’m going to be the day she’s supposed to fly, not having me around to tell her it will be ok.

Oh God I’m a paranoid parent.

That sounds like a fine Christmas present to me. Though he could buy her a new collar. heh

I understand entirely about the dog.

I’m also excited to hear you’ll be in Texas! I don’t know much about your situation but, where in Texas will you be, and will your husband be meeting you there at some point?

“And to think that in some countries, these dogs are eaten.”

(There’s never a bad time to make a ‘Best In Show’ reference.)

my parents are in the foreign service and have lived in cairo and, presently, in south africa, and they’ve had to pay reeedickulous amounts of money to have their two dogs and three cats moved about — from DC to egypt, egypt back to DC, DC to S.A…. the only good point here in your case is that it sounds like you won’t have to have her quarantined, which is required by some govts. some friends of my folks were forced to put their cats in heathrow’s quarantine for over a month — i guess so the powers-that-be could be assured that they didn’t bring back Cat Flu or something with them from their nation of origin. sucky.

texas is too far away from maryland, btw. perhaps you should consider someplace closer?

heh.

I had the occasion to go out of town for almost a week during the summer…I wanted to go but I dreaded leaving my dog A) in a kennel or B) home alone with people coming by to watch and feed her. I was staying with family on my trip but had I had the time to plan I would have paid the hundreds it would have cost to take my animal with me. The good news is that when I decided I had to cut my trip shirt by a couple days, and I drove through the night to get home…the dog was waiting at the top of the stairs when I got there..and it really was awesome!

So, I KNOW what you mean about the dog getting home being a good christmas present. Very cool…bravo to you for loving your dog as much as you do.

Glad you aren’t mad about the “smack the hubs upside the head” comment. I was a bit worried that it would be taken the wrong way. (Yes, I seriously worry about this kind of shit.) I think most men need a goodnatured slap upside the head on a regular basis. It keeps their brains in working order. Like winding a watch.

Anyways…yeah, I’m sure Sophie will be fine. But I totally understand why you’re freaked out. I’d be a WRECK….and wouldn’t fly. But then again, I’m the one who posts videos of her dog doing absolutely nothing. So I’m probably the one who’s just a little bit loopy. I’ll admit it.

I’ll think good thoughts for you. I know how this feels when you can’t be with your little guy to make sure they’re OK.

But all will be OK.

I so know how you feel. Both with the dog and the husband. Sometimes I want to say to my husband “just act supportive - even if you don’t mean it, I’ll take what I can get right now”.

umm, i got nothiing on the pet flying talk, but i’m way behind on the moving back to the states talk! dude! i haven’t been paying attention! where in texas? listen to sweetney! someplace closer to MD/DC would be much more convenient for us. heh. dash needs some Rock-n-Romp action!

ps–if you feel like smuggling some fanta back to the states, let me know. heh.