My fun filled trip

After more than 7 months ashore I have finally made it back to my floating home but it was not an easy trip. I knew something was up in October when one of the uprights took me to the doctor to have me poked and prodded and then she took me again in December, and I wasn't even feeling sick. Even though I claim to hate these doctor visits I secretly like them because I usually get a handful or two of tasty treats. My mouth is watering just writing about them. But back to the story.

One rainy day in early January my plastic dog crate was loaded into the car and I was chauffeured to the airport. I actually thought I was going on another trip - but I was wrong. This excursion was merely to determine if my crate was adequate. I flew from Chile to Vancouver in this exact same crate so as far as I was concerned this was a waste of my time but no one lets me decide things for myself - I have to do what the uprights want. At the airport I walked into the crate to show the man that there was a lot of room but he said it was too small. Did I mention that this was only 30 hours before my flight to Toronto? My upright was getting rather tense and upset so to show my sympathy I got diarrhea and started throwing up. After 20 minutes or so the man returned with a stinky wooden crate that had been used by a dog that came to Vancouver from Australia. This was deemed to be larger but I don't think it was, I could not curl up and there was a huge water bucket that I kept bumping my head into.

On January 4 my upright roused me out of bed at 0530 and we went for a rainy walk. Then she loaded her bags into the car, put me in the back and off we drove. We got to the cargo depot at 0635, and I waited in the car while she went into arrange my shipment. She was gone a long time and when she came back for me she was crying. A less than pleasant person at the Cargo desk had told her that there was an embargo on flying cute little dogs like me during this time period, even though she had a booking number and this flight was arranged back in October. However I knew my upright is very determined and can be persuasive so after much talking and tears and waving of arms I was finally allowed on board, and she was too.

When I got out of my crate I was not back in Chile where I had expected to go,  but I was in Toronto. How exciting to run around in the snow. We stayed overnight with Linda's cousin and wife and I was supposed to socialize with my two large dog cousins. No way was I going to let them tell me what to do, even though it was their house and the big guy lent me his jacket. I growled my way onto one of their cushions, ate my portion of their treats and took the best spot on the carpet. I think they understood that I was the top dog. This day was all about me after all!

All too soon we loaded ourselves back into the car and drove off one more time, back to the airport. I thought that maybe I would get a better crate, one with more room inside, but I was wrong. The upright had arranged to leave the smelly thing overnight at the airport and all too soon I was back inside. As she walked out of the building I cried really loud so she would know how upset I was and maybe she would return to rescue me. But she didn't.

Next thing I know I am inside of the plane, then I am taken off the plane. What is going on??  Some woman I did not know came to collect me and brought me to a different house. Maybe I should not have cried so loudly, maybe my upright has given me away, maybe I will never see her again, maybe..... I was so worried but at least I got fed. (Meanwhile the plane had taken off and Linda was not told that Jessie was no longer aboard until 30 minutes into the flight. Jessie had been removed from the plane because the heated cargo area was not working and she would have turned into a Popsicle. Hooray for the cargo people noticing this malfunction but Boo to them for not telling the owner sooner.) I had to stay outside all of the next day without a jacket and there was snow on the ground. The day before I thought snow was exciting, but without the loaner jacket it was cold and nasty. How do dogs live in a climate like this?

When it got dark I went back to the airport and was put back into the terrible crate. I still hated being inside but this time I didn't cry, I kept very quiet. It worked because soon I was flying south and at the other end both uprights were there to greet me. We walked out of the building towards a car and left the terrible crate behind. It was probably the happiest day of my life.  Now I'm back in charge of things on Curare, demanding my walks, treats and kibble.  Amazingly enough, I almost always seem to get what I want.  I guess the uprights like me.  Maybe I'll stick around and entertain them awhile longer.

Comments

[sailnmuffin]

I can imagine what Linda went through on that flight. I can imagine how GG felt on the receiving end. I know how Jessie felt because she writes so well.

Everybody involved in this ordeal deserves some steak. Some fine, Argentinian steak.