Chi Chi’s Story III
Barbara calls me the next day, Friday very worried about the vaccinations having to be done 30 days prior to Chi Chi leaving the country. Also she is told that another form in German has to be filled in. Oh boy now what… She sends me the form, we fax her all the copies (luckily we took copies) of all the medical documentation.
So now we try and find out more information regarding German immigration we call back to Dominion Republic (DR) and speak to the vet, he says everything is fine his end, but he does not know what will happen in Germany. Barbara was trying to find someone to look after Chi Chi in DR. This is really no good as Chi Chi hates the locals and is frightened of them so she would run away. We are doing this all for Chi Chi and the money we have spent is secondary to her welfare, but we have already spent over $630 on her. For her to run away now would be awful. We don’t want to ask Muchen airport and we do not want to alert them to the situation. We are worried though that if they don’t let her in the country they may send her all the way back. Worry, worry, worry. So with many calls back and fro to DR and Switzerland, we realize that the form has the same info as the one the vet filled out.
The next day Saturday (remember Chi Chi fly’s tomorrow) I just happened to check immigration to Canada as we were told it was 6 months quarantine when we were in DR. We find out it is zero. Damn we could have brought her here. So we think can we now change everything and bring her to Canada. It would mean the address of owner on the medical forms would have to be changed; they are at the airport in DR. Then we discover that the medical exam and vaccination for Canada has to be done not more than 72 hours, (3 days). Next problem… it was done 4 days ago! So we call immigration and they say it is Ok they will do another examination and we pay again for that in Canada. Great, another problem solved. I call Barbara in Switzerland and she is Ok with this, we could then send Chi Chi to her later.
So now with just hours to go we have to find out is there is a flight leaving DR tomorrow, for Toronto Sunday? Yes there is. Can a dog travel alone? Yes it can. Can we get Chi Chi on the new flight to Canada, We have to speak to an animal specialist, but they work Monday - Friday. It’s Saturday! Next problem … we have to book the flight through cargo in DR. Not here in Canada. Will the vet have to do new papers? We call him in DR but he is 3 hours away from his office so he cannot help us. Ok we will just ask animal control in DR if they will change the address over the phone. First we have to talk to cargo in DR. We call Alexis, the guy that helped us when booking the flight to Germany. I called him on his cell phone in DR. He is not there! I make 8 telephone calls to Dominion Republic; I eventually get him and explain the situation. He says he will speak to cargo to see what has to happen. I call him back later (time is ticking away. I am getting so stressed). He spoke to the cargo manager who says there is no problem with Chi Chi going to Germany. I explain why we are worried and he says the cargo manager knows this for sure. (But we know that immigration in Germany is 30 days!!!) So we stop trying to change the flight to Canada. We call Barbara in Switzerland and tell her this. She is worried sick as she thinks there may still be a problem when Chi Chi arrives because of the 30 days rule. We all agree to send Chi Chi as planned to Germany and hope for the best. We had planned that the German lady Tatjana, would create havoc at Muchen airport if they tried to send Chi Chi back. I was still worried, as Chi Chi still has to get into a crate, something she has never been in and fly for 10 hours at least, plus 3 hours at the airport prior to the travel. But she will have a terrible life in DR and we cannot leave her there.
We get a call on Sunday to say that Chi Chi has got on to the flight Ok and is headed for Germany. Now we are just worrying about what happens at immigration when the plane lands. Monday morning comes as I was just leaving the house to go back to work and I get a call from Barbara, obviously upset because there are no medical papers with Chi Chi. There has to be the papers for her to be let into the country. This is impossible as the papers were to be put in the crate in a separate compartment. I call Doris and Peter, the people in DR who took Chi Chi to the airport. Luckily they are still in their room and not on the beach. They said they definitely put all the papers in the crate as instructed. I then call Tatjana in Germany, the lady who is picking up Chi Chi, and she says no, the papers are not there. We had already given her copies via fax, but immigration wanted the originals. I ask her to ask the airline if they have taken them. I go to work, exhausted and worried.
Finally, later in the day, I am at work in my office with my boss and I get a call to say Chi Chi is in home quarantine in
Germany safe and sound. Yes the tears flew again, this time with happiness and relief. I did not really want to burst into tear in front of my boss, but I had no control. I was so happy. Luckily on telling my boss the story she understood everything. Funny though, I feel delighted that Chi Chi is safe, but also very sad, as I really miss Chi Chi and I will never see her again! But I’m happy she will have a wonderful home and no one will ever hurt her again. Barbara is just like me when it comes to animals and I know Chi Chi will have a wonderful life with someone that really loves her. We are in almost daily e-mail communication with Barbara. Chi Chi will finish home quarantine and go to Barbara in Switzerland April 14th. We hope to witness the home coming via the miracles of web cam. What a vacation! I am stressed, exhausted, worn out and tired. It is great being back with our dogs. I missed them terribly, but Chi Chi kept my mind off them. I dare not look at my phone bill, but yes, it was worth every penny.
Not only did so many strangers, speaking different languages, pull together to save the life of one very special little dog, in doing so, they have all become very good friends that is sure to last a lifetime.
Barbara sent us a parcel from Switzerland with Chocolates for us, and treats for our dogs. She also transferred money into my bank account. That was extremely kind. What a wonderful person she is.
Chi Chi you are very lucky! I mean Frauline Chi Chi you are very lucky. (Story to continue….. journey to Switzerland.. Barbara to write…
Anthea Banks March 2004