Journey to The Promised Land

In London, The Promised Land, beckoned.

My husband said- You had better go, for the sake of your family's sanity.

We set out early.  I was a bit nervous about flying.  To keep calm, I took Bruno on a long walk through some of the prettiest streets in the 6th.

Then we hiked the entire perimeter of the very elegant Jardin du Luxembourg.

(I'm loving this garden.  It has taught me to appreciate timeless beauty in symmetry and serenity.)

Then it was off to CDG via Metro 4 and the RER B.

CDG is a frightful airport.  It is a great example of design that has neither form, nor function.  The flight we were on was full.  Service from ground staff (Air France) was excellent.  But even though we got there 2-hours before the flight departed, we were stuck in endless lines.  

While waiting and waiting, I assembled Bruno's bag for flight travel...

After we were checked-in, I was told to pay for Bruno at a different counter.  So more time was lost in a different line...

Finally we were issued a boarding pass, and then we had to take an inter- terminal train to the departure gate (CDG is poorly designed).

Then we passed through security.  Meaning, I had to strip off my boots, coat, remove Bruno from his sling, remove his collar, put everything on the belt, carry him and walk through, hoping that nothing would beep.

Security smiled at Bruno.  (Hooray for the French and their love for dogs!)

Our flight was delayed.  When we finally boarded, it was delayed for another hour.  We had the most nightmarish seat on board.  But all this was made bearable because the French passengers crowding me were truly understanding of Bruno.  Service from the Air France staff was also excellent.  Singapore Airlines despite our fancy planes can honestly learn a thing or two about manners and graciousness from Air France.

Best of all, Bruno was allowed to ride on my lap, as long as he was in his bag.  He slept through the first 5 hours, awaking only to share my meal.  

Which meant that he had been behaving himself for the past 8 hours from the point of when our journey actually began.  So during the last 2 hours of the actual flight, Bruno started feeling restless.  He wanted to climb around, look out the window...

Sorry, Brunz.  You don't have the window seat!

So I took him to the bathroom, and for those of you who have asked what if he needs to potty in flight, this is what I do...

It's really akin to flying with a baby.  I pack, paraphernalia, even if he refuses to use it.

30 minutes before landing, an air hostess told me very politely to put Bruno inside his bag.  I threw in a few treats, Bruno tumbled in, where he stayed, until we cleared customs in the US.  He whined a little, but nothing too dramatically tragic, as long as he could still see and hear me.

Immigration and Customs were thankfully easy.  None of that Inquisition one usually faces at the US Border.

And imagine our joy when we saw signs pointing towards a Pet Relief Area right outside our terminal at JFK!

God Bless America!

After which, I returned to the terminal to change money, find the Air Train.  We then took the Air Train to Howard Beach, got onto the A line, jumped off at Chambers Street, walked around the block and boarded the PATH train for Hoboken.  

(* This journey will take about 2 hours.  Also factor in lugging of self/baggage up stairs.  Total cost of this journey is about $10USD- a no-brainer when you consider the cost of taking a taxi into Manhattan, traffic in the Boroughs and City, and possible drive-by shootings.

*  To stay as safe as possible on the A train as it traverses the less salubrious sections of Queens, I sit between the big African American man in Federal uniform, en route home from work, and the weary/wary African sister whom I know, can be counted on to keep trouble at bay.)

Hoboken?  Another tip!

For easy access into downtown, Hoboken is only one stop away on the PATH train.  By staying in Hoboken, instead of where I would usually stay if Jon was traveling with me, I have cut my hotel costs by half, doubled square footage, assured water-front-living, tree-lined streets for Bruno, and unobstructed views of the Promised Land.

The Paperwork Hill

Once upon a time, there was a Paperwork Mountain I learnt to scale.

As I looked at the mountain at times in utter despair, I saw, the genesis of this blog.

A year ago in March, I began Boot-Camping Bruno for relocation and international travel.

Teaching Bruno to walk into a bag...

For although I have been truly blessed to have had dogs all my life, I never ever had a dog that needed to be contained in a carrier, wearing winter clothing, nor flying across continents.

Long ago, there was a dog named, Mickey Mouse who went everywhere with me, including, college.

But Bruno is a different challenge.

  

Diligently, for four months last year, we worked towards the day of departure in July.

Bruno practising to stay quietly in his bag.

And because Singapore is not dog-friendly, I really had to think up situations where he could be exposed to public transportation, crowds, eating out in restaurants etc.  Sometimes, I used Angel the Beloved to assist with reinforcing ideas.  For instance, the concept of the travel bag as Bruno's haven.

Thank you, Angel!

Last week, we ventured out of the UK for the first time since relocation.  This week, I am thinking- perhaps it is time, to explore, another continent...

So I took out our bags.  Immediately, Bruno jumps right into his Sturdi Bag for plane travel, and watches me without wavering.

Which brings me to the Paperwork Hill, and a mild case of stage fright.

(Air France, please do not disappear when crossing the Atlantic.  My family needs me, still, even if we don't live together in the same city.  Merci)

The Paperwork Hill is truly just a hill in comparison to last year's Paperwork Mountain.  Heartfelt thanks to Mary-Alice of Dog Jaunt, and her readers who responded so readily with concrete help.  A question I posed regarding the USDA is immediately met with specific answers backed up by facts.  American vets also advertise their services with clear information on-line.  A vet that promised to get back to me within 24 hours, actually did, and so, Bruno and I secured an appointment.

Back at Dr P's this morning for him to certify that Bruno is fit to fly.  I wrote down all the things that the State of New York would need for Dr P to confirm on official letterhead.  Digging through Bruno's paperwork, I was very relieved and happy to find that last year, I crossed an extra T with our dearest Singaporean vet, asking her to put in writing, that Bruno was tested (negative) for heartworm.

Thanks, Dr Heng!

Dr P included this information to the health certificate he generated for us.  This just saved us USD$50 for Bruno to be tested for heartworm by the American vet, who agreed to administrating the tapeworm treatment (a tablet), only after doing the very same test!

Other things I learnt that I hope will also help someone else in need of similar information:

-  the EU Pet Passport is specifically for travel within the EU and certain surrounding countries.  (Please refer to the EU Commissions for a list of these countries.)

-  If your dog is a resident of the EU, he can travel to X countries (stated on a different list) temporarily using his EU passport, so that when it is time to return back to the EU, from the United States for instance, there is no need to worry about getting all the paperwork endorsed by the USDA.  He will need to be health certified for travel by a USDA-approved vet, the vet will need to fill out the 7001 form, and then fill out the relevant columns in his EU Pet Passport.

-  As with everything else in the US- look carefully at what each state requires/specifies, over and above what is required on a federal level, for entry and departure.

-  Lastly, there is no need for a blood test to be done to test for the effectiveness of the rabies vaccine, if traveling to France from the US.

-  And if you do need to deal with the USDA in New York state, the office is alas, in Albany.  But, there is also a more "humane" option- right across from JKF at 230-59 Rockaway Blvd (call 718-553-1720).