VETERINARY CERTIFICATE FOR DOMESTIC DOGS,CATS AND FERRETS ENTERING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FOR NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENTS (Regulation(EC)No 998/2003)
Have you ever noticed that the French (love 'em) use more words to say the same thing than anyone else? She bought the form along with some other "really necessary travel items" from a website called the PetTravelStore.com. Later she found out she could have gotten it for free from the USDA. This form required our names, address, phone number, description (well, at least mine) and the signature of my vet certifying that she had implanted the European version of a microchip and that she had vaccinated me for rabies more than thirty days before our departure (even though I had had a rabies vaccination less than a year ago and I already had a microchip, just not the right kind). Then Mom had to send this form to the USDA for certification along with a $36 fee. At this point we were finished for a while. In two weeks we'll have to go back to the vet to get another health exam and a signed document to verify that I'm healthy; this one is for the airline and must be done not more than ten days before we fly.
We also needed a soft airline carrier which was a little tricky because of my size and the requirements of the airlines. We needed something that was bigger on the inside than on the outside. In other words, my size was pushing the allowable envelope a bit. I tried on a lot of carriers in all different shapes and sizes, with a variety of accessories and accoutrements, but we settled on a Sturdi carrier. It's soft-sided but has supports to help it keep its quanset-hut form, a zipper door and two zipper windows on top. I can go in, turn around and lie down, but there's no room to spare.
Those are the requirements. However, there are a LOT of fancy optional products that are pretty hard to resist for a mom who doesn't want her boy to lack anything. There are tablets for anxiety called Happy Traveler and a gel that contains 95% water, fortified with minerals called Waterbites which "allow you to hydrate your pet wherever you go without the mess." One item that seemed practical enough to buy was the DryFur Carrier Liner. Its name speaks for itself. Mom thought that would probably be worth the money and necessary
One item she couldn't resist for the snob appeal was the leather passport cover for all my documents.
Now we come to the luggage. I'm taking, in addition to my airplane carrier (because it's so cramped), a collapsible soft-sided crate complete with my faux-mink fur-covered ergonomically correct pad for arthritic dogs. In addition to that, we're taking my stroller, because I can't walk long distances and I also get very nervous in crowded areas with all those ankles and shoes around me just at eye level. My stroller gets me up off the ground and allows me to go anywhere with Mom which we both like. France is a very dog-friendly country, but most French dogs have the manners not to pee on the floor of the restaurant, which is one of my most favorite things to do. Riding in the stroller reminds me not to do that. Oh, I know. All you macho pit bull types are laughing your heads off right now, but I'll bet you don't get taken to Paris!
Anyway...where were we? Oh, yes, packing for the trip. I take several medications and supplements which will have to be packed in a large enough quantity for three months, Advantage, so I don't get French fleas, leash, harness, enough pee pads to get me started until we find a store that sells them, and, of course, my bunnies. I think I'll have one of them ride in the carrier with me (the green one) and Mom can pack the other two.
I have a special id tag that has my French address and phone number on it and a special luggage tag for the case that holds my stroller and bed.
Still ahead of us is transporting all this stuff to the check-in counter at the airport and praying that the agents don't declare me too big to ride in the cabin. Mom and I are just trying not to think about what we would do if that happens. I am just a teeny-weeny bit over the limit, but I'm going to look as cute as I can and maybe, just maybe, they won't notice.
My next post will be from Paris when I'll tell you how the trip went. (I always have liked cliff-hangers. You'll be in suspense for three weeks!)
;O) A bientot!
At The Airport
I had no idea of what was ahead of me; all I knew is that I was enjoying the sunshine and getting in some pretty good sniffing. We were hanging out there for about an hour. Now I know we were at the airport and Mom was giving me my final chance to be out of my airline carrier for a very long time.
