[nagdu] what do you do with your dog when you go away?

[William ODonnell]

It is my understanding that most of this paperwork takes 6 months to a year for proper review and processing.  In addition, the entering countries make the final decision on quarantining the dog for up to 2-3 weeks.  I went through a 6-month fiasco when trying to take my dog to Geneva in 2007 and found it best to leave him with family for the week I was not home.  As a side note, we have problems with flying and local domestic travel, with our dogs; so, I can see why some may not want to go through the issues traveling internationally.  I will always travel with my dog domestically and when possible internationally regardless of the fact that my one travel experience domestically was annoying.  
While going through the initial check-in process, airline personnel questioned me and there supervisors as to whether or not my dog need crating to go under the aircraft.  As I stated to educate, I was talked down to like a child and told the policy is that all dogs and pets go under the aircraft.  While going through airport security, airline personnel began grabbing my dog and yank his harness and body through the security scanners.  Then, they used fingers and such to touch all parts (all parts) of the dog’s body.  When the dog had a small accident afterward, I was told that “he needs to go back to the blind dog program since he is sick and defective.”Since our flight was delayed for some hours, I asked to be escorted from the gate to take my dog outside of New York’s LGA to relieve.  I was told that “we do not take people out with there dogs, it is there responsibility to do this before they come in.”  Thankfully, a total stranger
 helped me since terminal 2 was under construction and there was flooding during the rain storm.  As I boarded the aircraft, the flight attendants needed to “check if I was supposed to be there” holding up our departure for another hour.  Ironically, traveling through Detroit and Dallas making the connections was no problem; all parties involved listened and understood.  The moral is that when traveling through NYC is ready for drama if you have a guide dog.  
--- On Wed, 1/19/11, Mark J. Cadigan <kramc11 at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Mark J. Cadigan <kramc11 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [nagdu] what do you do with your dog when you go away?
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 2:23 PM


If you get the proper paperwork, why would you not be able to take your dog on these trips?

----- Original Message ----- From: "GARY STEEVES" <rainshadowmusic at shaw.ca>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 2:19 PM
Subject: [nagdu] what do you do with your dog when you go away?


> Hello Everyone:
> 
> As many of you may recall, I'm a fairly new dog guide handler. Over the next several months I must go away almost once a month. Bonn germany for 5 days in February, Turkey in end of march for 8 or 9 days, Montreal at the end of april for 4 days and then a holiday to hawaii in May for 10 days.
> 
> I'm curious what others do with their dogs when they can't take them with them?
> 
> I have several options for many of these trips. The first one is that bogart stays at home and will just have to be at home alone while Susan, my girlfriend is at work. Her thought is that although he will be stressed with me gone and being at home alone for 8.5 hours, it will be in his familiar surroundings with his toys, our guinea pigs and my smells (and Susan of course0).
> 
> Second option is my supervisor at work has offered to take him for any/all of these trips. She has two dogs at home and her husband stays home all day. He takes them out for a couple of walks a day and they have a back yard. Bogart really likes her which could be both good or bad.
> 
> 
> We have another friend who also have two dogs, a whipet and an older lab, with a back yard and  robert works from home most days.
> 
> The last option which I am looking into now is if the local guide dog school, who my dog is not from, would offer any kenneling services (for a fee of course) or access to any of their puppy raisers who would be intersted in looking after bogart for some of these trips for a fee as well. My thought is this option, if possible, would best keep bogart's training at a reasonable  level. :)
> 
> Do any of you have thoughts on what you think would be best. I've left a message for my trainers at my school as well to bounce these options off her too but the more thoughts I have I think the more I can look at pros and cons.
> 
> Thanks
> Gary
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