Chi Chi’s Story II
So we needed to get a German traveling to Germany willing to say Chi Chi was with them, go to a vet and have the vaccinations and medical documentation done, buy a crate for traveling and purchase the ticket. All of this and only a day and a morning left before we were flying ourselves. I went back to Alexandra, the hotel representative, and told her the news and what we still needed to do. She was very helpful and assisted by making numerous telephone calls to locate a vet, a shop where I could buy a crate, the airline, and a driver. This was very helpful as she was able to speak the language. I don’t know how we would have done it without her. I also got Alexandra to write a note in Spanish that said “Do not bother this dog as she belongs to me and I am taking her out of the country.” That way when we did see any staff I could show them the notice.
I spoke to the vet over the telephone and he informs me I must find out exactly what vaccination is required and 
translate it into Spanish. Barbara sends the name of the vacation in German. I think it must be rabies, although there was nothing in the word that remotely looked like the word rabies. But I needed to get a definite translation. After much running around (and with time not on our side) we get a translation into rabies. That is all we need, only rabies. Another problem resolved.
Just as we were about to leave to get all the things we found out that the vet and crate would require a cash payment and the cost was going to be around US$200. This was out next problem. We didn’t have enough cash. We had a credit card but not a bankcard. We were at an all-inclusive resort. We went to Rudy and Edith, the Canadian couple who we hardly knew, and without hesitation, they leant us the money. Incredible how complete strangers willing to help in anyway they could, just gave us all the Canadian money they had.
We hire a car and driver, as we do not know where to go, everything is in Spanish. Alexandra tells the driver where exactly we have to go. And, if the first shop does not have the crate we will have to travel around until we find one. Unfortunately the nearest town to buy a crate is over a one-hour journey. We carry Chi Chi into the taxi but she is very scared, as she has never been in a car before. She cuddled right up to me hiding her head in my arms. I cuddled her all the way. She was sick (fluid) all over me, many times. I was soaked. We had to stop at the bank, and change our money. It seemed to take forever. We traveled for over an hour and finally arrived at the shop that had told us over the phone that they had a crate. Unfortunately, it was not big enough. I hated going in the shop, as I could not bear to look at any animal in there. They had too many birds together in small cages. I wanted to let them all out! We had to go to three different places until we eventually found one that was the correct size. I paid for the crate and also bought her a collar and lead. I did not like traveling through the town as I saw many starving dogs and it was breaking my heart to see. I choose not to look and instead, concentrated on getting Chi Chi out of the country. I could not wait for this to be over.
So after 2 hours we then had to take Chi Chi to the vets. The vet was very good and loved animals. We chose to get all the vaccinations not just rabies. We did not want to take any chances. We had a full medical done; heart, lungs, eyes, temperature, ears cleaned, nails, everything. We also had her de-wormed. Again Chi Chi did not enjoy this experience and showed her distrust of the vet. She was Ok with us though and eventually just allowed all this to happen to her. While at the vets the phone rings and it was for me!! Here I am in a vet’s office and the phone call is for me! It was Alexandra saying do not go to the airport, as the cargo guy is not there. We were flying home to Canada the next day, so we will have to purchase Chi Chi’s ticket that morning before our flight. Although worried about the fact we were running out of time, I was pleased with this, as we had spent most of the day already and to drive another 30 min back to the airport from the vets with Chi Chi would be awful. She was already frightened and stressed. We finally get back to the hotel and now we cannot let Chi Chi out of our sight.
Next problem, we leave on the Thursday and the people who are looking after Chi Chi (Doris & Peter) are on an all day trip that day so cannot look after her the day we leave. Doris found a young German couple to agree to look after Chi Chi after we leave the next day until Doris and Peter get back that night from their trip. They gave the couple their room key so they would put Chi Chi in their room. This way she will be safe. We gave Doris and Peter the crate with instructions about the important medical documentation that has to go into the crate (a special compartment at the top of the crate). I need the medical documentation to take to the airport though to get through animal control, so arrange to leave all this with the tickets at the German Airline Condor at the airport. Then Doris and Peter can pick up the tickets and place the medical documents in the crate when Chi Chi fly’s out on Sunday. We say our goodbyes, hugging them, to Doris and Peter and thank them a hundred times. It is amazing we hardly know them but are hugging each other so naturally. I just pray nothing goes wrong and feel for them as they have the awful task for putting Chi Chi in her crate and leaving her at the airport. My eyes are filling up again with tears, just at this thought.
The next day we have one more morning and then we leave for the airport. We are on the beach with Chi Chi, waiting for the young German couple to come. The bus is picking us up at 1200. It is 11.20 and the couple is still not on the beach. I am getting frantic. I had to get back to our room to shower, change, and get to the bus. What would I do if they did not show? I saw two teenaged girls who smiled at Chi Chi. I quickly asked if they spoke English, they said no, German. I started to ask them if they could help me. (Silly really they just told me they did not speak English, But I was desperate.) They said to me in broken English that they knew all about the dog. I talked and gestured my way through for them to look after Chi Chi until the German couple came. Then I saw the German couple arriving. I was so relieved. I gave them all the instructions I could think of to keep Chi Chi safe, and said my goodbyes. I burst into tears as I was leaving, and got a hug from the German lady, who again, I really did not know. I could not bear to leave Chi Chi. She tried to follow me, but they restrained her. I left and looked back; Chi Chi was standing there starring after me. It was just unbearable. (Even writing this up weeks later, I still cry at this part.)
When we get to the airport on Thursday midday we checked in for our flight and then quickly headed for animal control
with all the medical documentation. We had 3 hours until our flight so we really thought this was enough time! We had to find the animal control office. When we asked for directions, they did not speak English. I did a gesture of a dog and a guard gestured to me to follow him. We had to go through a metal detector as we were heading towards the actual planes on the tarmac. Then the detector computer crashed and we could not get through. I am telling myself it is Ok there is still time before our flight leaves!!! We waited a long time, but they could not get the computer to work. Then a guard just pointed at me to follow him. I followed him right out on to the tarmac, I was literally a few feet away from a huge plane being taxied into its gate. I follow him into a building and into the animal control office. I pray someone here speaks English. I was told at the hotel they would, or I would have asked Alexandra to write out what I needed to say. They did not speak English so I found myself acting like a dog and then a plane. (This must have looked very funny.) They understood and looked at the medical documentation. I then had to communicate to them that the dog was going to Muchen in Germany, not to Canada, and not today, but on Sunday. That was a bit more challenging, but eventually through many gestures and a calendar I got this information across. I was worried that they may find something wrong with the medical documents and not allow Chi Chi to fly. Anyway after much filling in forms, stamping and looking at me as though I am completely insane, everything was done. They asked for some money, I paid this and I was gone. Problem solved. Next problem was to purchase the flight for Chi Chi.
We found the Condor German airlines office and ask for the person we had called, he is not there yet! We were told to come back in 30 min. The time is ticking way. We wait about 15 min and then ask someone else if they can at least be doing the paper work as we have a flight to catch. A man called Alexis helps us. Next problem, he tells us that the ticket has to be purchased as cargo (since Chi Chi is flying without a passenger) and therefore we have to pay cash for the ticket. Oh I nearly fell over. We do not have any cash. I told him he had to find a way we can pay with MasterCard. After over an hour (he made about 12 different calls all in German or Spanish) and with minutes literally to go we get it paid by credit card. We call back to the hotel to remind them of the exact time of Chi Chi’s flight and location of where Doris and Peter have to pick up the tickets. We run to our plane with 5 minutes to spare and hear an airline person saying Air Canada this way. We literally ran straight to the plane. No time to even visit duty free, that’s a first!
We are now on the plane, at last everything done. That was the end of it. I have been worrying about this all week. I have been crying all week. I have not eaten much all week and to boot I got slightly sick the lasts 3 days, but of course I could not let that slow me down as I had so much do, too much to organize. Now surely I could relax. There was nothing else I could do. Although I was missing Chi Chi and pleased we were able to do what we did for her, I was so glad to end this vacation. Because of all these events and worry, I had not enjoyed it one bit. I felt extremely tired. I had not even been sleeping through the night. At least I had 3 days left to relax before I go back to work and a busy job.
When we arrived at Toronto airport, the limo we had pre-booked and paid, did not show up!!!
When we got home to I emailed Barbara that I am so happy Chi Chi is flying out to her. I was so pleased to be back as I could not stand all the worry, So there was a part of me that although still worrying about Chi Chi, I could at least relax a little now and perhaps sleep, thinking it was all over for me. I was mistaken.... Next problem