Quampapetet

Cindra, I've heard someone on this board mention that the "rabies titer" tests are a "simple" blood draw, "no big deal!" Guess what, when I have to go to the doctor and I know they're going to have to draw blood, I don't like it and it even scares me, at times......call me a big baby.

 

I don't like subjecting my APPROPRIATELY IMMUNIZED dog to any blood draws if it's really NOT necessary. And, it's NOT!

Dogs aren't humans. Most dogs barely flinch, if anything, at vaccinations and blood draws. It truly is not subjecting your dog to anything. Yes, your dog is immunized (too much so, since rabies vaccinations last far longer than three years, but laws are laws...), but countries also need to keep themselves rabies-free, so proof that your dog's immunization is still working is necessary for the health and safety of the rabies-free countries (and Hawaii). Depending on the timing of your cruise, you may be able to get a rabies titer drawn for when you do your other blood draws for heartworm test, CBC, other titers, etc. at the annual exam.

Now, if you want to point that needle at me, you WILL be hurt, LOL!! I have a severe phobia of needles (for real). It is ridiculous (as phobias are).

Must be new this year cuz I used that form last year.

It is. :)

I am glad Barbados will now admit dogs. But I'm fairly sure I am not going to take my dog ashore in Barbados when our ship docks there in December 2016. Even though our Celebrity cruise has an overnight stay in port for one & one-half days, it's not worth it. I can see doing it if you are arriving by air for a two week vacation.

 

I do understand their position with rabies, but requirements really are stiff. The model certificate has additional language not found on the 7001. So probably you have to have both types of forms signed and endorsed/stamped by your state's service center (the "Federal Authority.") No big deal so far.

 

But then they have a fee schedule - $25 + $60 that could climb to overtime fees up to $300 if they have a vet come to examine the animal if the ship arrives outside their working days and hours. That's not in your control.

 

Then they also want a blood titer drawn for cruise ship arrival dogs. I haven't done one of those yet, but even if the Kansas lab fee is waived for service dogs whose partners belong to IAADP, you'd still have costs for the vet drawing the blood and the overnight mailing to the lab.

I had to do two rabies titers for a cruise (one or two islands required one six months beforehand and one island required two tests) and it was worth it - one of those islands (St. Kitts) became my favorite! Between the tests and having to overnight mail the papers for an import permit to one of the countries, plus the appointments for the rabies vaccination and health certificate, it cost me about $500. Costly, but worth it so I could get off the ship and do stuff/see the different countries - I am not going to pay thousands for a trip just to be stuck on a ship the whole time.

The titer fee isn't waived, just discounted plus you get moved to the front of the line (get your results faster than a pet owner would), if you use the IAADP discount.

Thanks for posting the newer form, Quam. I see Bahamas now asks for the microchip number on the new form.

 

My dog has two microchips, an AVID chip from Dogs for the Deaf and her original one from Guide Dogs for the Blind before her career change.

 

Neither chip is the newer ISO standard, though. So far no problem, and of course the USDA certified vet verifies the chip when she examines the dog, and signs off on the 7001 form with the chip as indicated.

 

Still, I worry a little about problems if we go to Europe in the future without the ISO chip but it seems ridiculous to subject the poor animal to a third chip. I've seen some recommendations that people carry along a chip reader for the older style, but they are very expensive to buy or even to rent.

Why did Dogs for the Deaf give her a second chip? I have heard of people doing a second chip in order to have an ISO chip because the first chip wasn't ISO, but to have two non-ISO chips is a bit strange, not to mention confusing when scanning. I didn't even want to get my previous service dog a second chip in order to have an ISO chip because of confusion.

I think it depends on the country whether or not they will allow a dog with a non-ISO chip, and yes, if they do, they usually require you to have a chip reader that can read that chip with you. Readers cost several hundred dollars and are not worth renting for more than a week or so (might as well buy it).

Actually, Barbados has changed their laws to allow animals. They also state special consideration for service animals. They require 7001, microchip and a "model certificate."

What is a "model certificate"? Our service dogs must prance down the runway now?! :p

So glad Barbados is finally allowing dogs from places other than the UK now! I couldn't get off the ship when I cruised there, even after writing to them asking for an exception (they replied no exceptions). I guess I will just have to do the Southern Caribbean route again someday! :)

Why must they make it so hard for us...?

They have every right to protect their country (or islands, in the case of Hawaii) from terrible diseases like rabies. Remember, just one rabid animal has the ability to spread the potentially deadly disease to many other animals and humans, who in turn can spread it more and more and more. Livestock and humans would be at risk - and those countries may not have the painful series of shots that humans exposed to rabies need to get, plus they may not even realize it is rabies until it is too late. Rabies-free countries do it out of necessity, not to make it hard on anyone. The US (except Hawaii) has had rabies for a long time, so we're not used to places where it doesn't exist (and hopefully never will).

That HAL form for service dogs us great, especially the behavior requirements (seeing as I have heard bad things about fakers on ships)! I am really glad they are doing this! And, of course, they are allowed by law to ask what tasks the dog has been trained to do that directly relate to your disability (though I wish the form was specifically written like that, as some fakers try to say their dog is a service dog because it is trained to retrieve when that is not something they need help with, or that the dog helps with med side-effects).

As far as going to multiple ports, yes, you must fit the requirements for each port you wish to get off at - and your dog is considered as being imported from your previous port, so if Cayman Islands says no dogs from Mexico and Mexico is your port directly prior to Cayman (sea days don't count), your dog cannot get off because it is being imported from Mexico.

Honestly, I wouldn't trust what a vet says about other countries' regulations and such, as in my experience, they just don't know that stuff and don't come across it often because most of their clients are pets that don't/can't travel. I had one vet admit that I knew more than he did about the regulations and one time he even asked me about a certain country for another client who was trying to take their pet.

Not every country is going to respond to e-mails, unfortunately. (I don't know why they list an e-mail address if they're not going to respond!) If you don't hear back in a reasonable amount of time, you will need to try the embassy or (*gulp*) making an international call to the country itself ($$).

Not all countries need the international health certificate to be endorsed by the USDA office, so that's why you can go to some cruises and never need to do it. Remember to include a copy of proof that your dog is a service dog so you don't have to pay for the endorsement! (If you don't have proof, such as a certificate, you'll have to pay the same fee pet owners pay. I had no problems using my training certificate both times I needed endorsements.)

I have never had a problem with any of the countries accepting my dog's yearly titers in lieu of over-vaccinating (giving vaccines yearly, every three years, etc.). Of course, I have to do the rabies vaccine by law, and the leptospirosis vaccine doesn't actually last more than a year, so you do have to give that one if you need it for travel or based on where you live. My previous dog's puppy vaccines lasted her whole life, even after the chemotherapy.

If a country needs to examine the dog upon arrival, the regulations should state so, so you'd know ahead of time that it will happen. I only went to one country that required that (which included them scanning the dog for the microchip, so be sure you know exactly where the microchip is located, in case it migrated!) - I think it was St. Lucia or St. Kitts.

http://www.atlantis.com/content/pdf/marina/Bahamas_Application_to_Import_Domestic_Animals_in_TIOTB.pdf

 

Here is the Bahamas dog permit form. Please write "service dog" on the top and they will waive the 10$ charge.

Actually, that is the old form. The current form to send for the Bahamas import permit is:

https://forms.bahamas.gov.bs/documents/AGRI_Application%20to%20import%20Domestic%20Animals.pdf

Be sure to update your bookmarks! :)

Opps I just discovered my mistake in my question. I meant to ask if we had to see a vet while in the Bahamas? We are leaning towards the 7 day cruise so our only stop in the Bahamas will be at Half Moon Cay.

For a cruise, no you do not, since you will be there for less than 48 hours. For a land trip you would, though.

You still will need the import permit for the Bahamas, as well as the international health certificate, of course.

Quam, great news about your new pup!:):):)

 

What a great tip about the pumpkin packages!!!! I had no idea this was available - just looked it up and am putting together an order from Chewy today.

 

I've been carrying two heavy cans plus opener in her suitcase for cruises & fortunately didn't need it, but it would have been so cumbersome in space and weight for a long trip involving flights.

 

Plain canned pumpkin works like a miracle drug for Raylene when she has a tummy upset (in either direction:D).

Yeah, I only just found out about them in September, so I think they might be fairly new. Very handy, though! Since they do expire (but not for a bit), you can also use them just as food toppers even if your dog is feeling fine (so that you don't waste them if your dog doesn't get sick), or when you give your dog the monthly heartworm preventive. The fiber is always a good thing. :) Besides, it is almost Thanksgiving!

Sorry to hear about your dog, Quam. I guess I wasn't around then.

Thanks, Rangeley!

Wow, I didn't realize that it has been over two months since I have been on this board! Crazy. It took me quite some time to catch up on those 25 pages of posts!!

I can't recall all that I read, but here are a few replies to things I remember:

-- Yes, for both entering the Bahamas and entering back in the US, you need the international health certificate. It does not need to be endorsed by your regional USDA office. You also need the import permit from the Bahamas, of course.

-- Pumpkin puree is good for both diarrhea and constipation in dogs. The dog food company Weruva (my late service dog used to eat their canned food) makes pouches of pumpkin puree for animals that are perfect for travelling with (as well as using at home, of course). Chewy.com sells them and I recommend that site for buying dog food and treats - and I recommend the dog food brand "i and love and you" (both the dry kibble and the dehydrated raw). I got a bag of wonderful freeze-dried green-lipped mussel treats from Chewy, too, though I can't recall the brand name.

-- I highly recommend using a packing list app on your phone/tablet. I use one called "Packing List" that lets me keep master lists for myself and my dog, then make individual trip lists from those master lists. You can write in the quantity of each item, where it is located (i.e. kitchen or bedroom), which bag/suitcase you're packing it in, and even how much it weighs (if you wish to keep track of that - I just weigh my checked bags with a luggage scale once packed).

-- There's no issue with doing any kind of titers, as they're just blood tests using blood drawn no differently than is done at your dog's annual exam for CBC, heartworm test, etc. The only thing with rabies titers is that they can be expensive, though IAADP members do get a discount as well as priority front-of-the-line handling at KSU. I highly recommend being an IAADP member anyway.

-- Love all the dog/puppy photos! Sorry to hear that Aruba didn't make it as a guide dog, but glad she got to come home to her puppy raisers!

-- Remember not to allow your dogs to play with Beanie Babies and the like because if they rip open, the filling could be dangerous if injested. The same goes for toys made for human children, as the stuffing in them is treated with chemicals to make them non-flammable and said chemicals are dangerous if a dog injests them.

-- I took my own faux grass on two cruises and used extra-absorbent potty pads under it (with unfolded garbage bags under them as an extra lining). I packed it up in a small suitcase and checked it on the planes, so it can be done. Oh, and I cleaned it with a special disinfectant spray made for kennels and such before bringing it home. I recommend it.

And now the news you've been waiting for: I brought home my current dog from the trainer about six weeks ago and she has been doing great! She is VERY loving and LOVES to give kisses and cuddles (she even sits on the back sofa cushion to snuggle with me and put her cheek against mine)! She is well-behaved, of course, and does all her tasks well, including the medical alert to warn me 15-30 minutes before an episode of one of my disabilities. She has a lot of energy (anyone know how she can lend me some?!), but thankfully she loves to play fetch with her tennis balls, football, and Kong Frisbee (it is a soft rubber one made for dogs), so it is easy to exercise her. She loves to play keep-away with them, too, but always relinquishes them when I tell her to "drop it", of course.

Today would have been my previous service dog's birthday (she passed away in August, for you newbies), so I am sad about that. But, I am happy to have my wonderful current service dog in my life! And as a bonus, my lips have never been so exfoliated and dry skin-free from all her doggy kisses!

Quam, you just couldn't let this go! You had to bring us down to earth! You couldn't let us enjoy the moment.........You just gotta love Quam, you just gotta!

:p I didn't want anyone getting their hopes up or worrying about loose dogs in the airport around their service dogs (or kids). It was all over Facebook a while ago - and I admit I was disappointed to find it wasn't real!

BTW, some airports do have therapy dogs (on leashes with handlers) to help de-stress travellers. I don't know how well-trained they are/if they would try to distract a service dog, so just a heads up to all!

Speaking of airports, did you all hear about the new service dog relief (potty) area regulations? Basically, one area per terminal past security (unless the TSA deems it unsafe in an individual situation) and they must consult local service dog programs to help design it! WIN!!!

We're doing our second Alaska cruise, but it'll be our first time cruising with a guide dog. So far, all of the excursions we've called and tried to schedule have said they can't take us along for liability reasons. Has anyone had any luck doing any excursion in Alaska (other than something like a bus tour) with their SD?

Alaska is a state, so under the ADA - your access rights there are the same as anywhere else in the States. Show them the laws and educate them! (You also don't have to tell them about the service dog in advance, just like everywhere else you go, restaurants, stores, hotels, etc. Telling them just gives them a chance to make up an excuse not to take you, like they're full or liability reasons, which is bull [with very few exceptions, like the dog sledding excursions, though some people have taken their service dogs on those].)

Quam, I understand totally how you feel. That said, I'm so grateful that I got Horton before Morey or Brenny passed. He was a wonderful source of strength and love for me. Talk about a quiet house. I can't even imagine how I would have been able to cope with both of them gone and, if Horton weren't here it would have been scary quiet for me.

So glad you had Horton to help you through your losses! Both for comfort and for security (he'll react if he hears a Who! ;) ).

I have NEVER been alone since I moved from my parents home [with 5 siblings and a Grandfather] at the age of 19 into my husband's and my home. Then 9 month's later we had our first baby. By the time I was 25 years old I had 3 children, a home and a husband to care for. I was a very busy young woman and it seemed it never quite stopped.

 

So, the quietness of my home without children, animals and a wonderful husband would have been deafening for me!

I can't even imagine NEVER being alone like that, but everyone is different - my late grandmother was nineteen when she and my late grandfather (who was a few years older) married and they were together for seventy-two years until my grandfather passed (my grandmother took several more years to pass). I don't want to be alone now, but am speaking about when I was in my twenties.

Horton filled the void and puts a smile on my face everyday. He's a goofball from the get-go!

 

I hope that the time you spend looking through the pictures of your girl and making your album of her will give you a quiet sense of peace. You took wonderful care of her, she knew and felt that love. Of that I'm sure you're so grateful for.

 

I had Brenny cremated and she comforts me when I look at her beautiful box, her brass plate & picture [while she was on a cruise, of course] and the plaster imprint of her paws sitting on top of her box. I run my hand over the imprint every day, with a tear and thank her for her service, devotion and unending love for all of us!

 

I know you felt the same about your girl and I send my love to you during this time of remembering her ♥.

I have a photo from our first cruise - it is the boarding photo Royal Caribbean did - in an awesome boat-shaped frame and it sits on a shelf next to my bedroom door. I have had it for a long time, but like looking at it even more now!

KLM has come up with a great idea that other airlines should emulate.

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/NK-T_t166TY?feature=player_embedded

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that isn't a real thing. It was just a made up thing for a commercial they did. Great, cute commercial, though!

CCI has had some very bad losses this week with a 6 year old and another dog that I'm not sure of the age but it was also young.

 

Then there's the Yellow Lab, Galaxy III, in great health and who just celebrated her 15th birthday. She and her partner Cheryl Heppner graduated with Brenda and me in 2002. Although it does break our hearts to hear of the Service Dogs whose lives are cut way too short........Isn't it wonderful to hear about a 15 year old Lab, in good health and......whose still working!!!!

Sorry to hear about the losses of the younger dogs!

That is so great about the fifteen-year-old! I think if my girl had not gotten cancer, she would have worked until old like that, too. She retired earlier this year at twelve as it was, just didn't have enough stamina anymore.

It has been a tough week, hasn't it? We lost two dogs from the organization both unexpectedly. I guess the only positive thing is both did not suffer long with cancer, it just hit fast and furious.

 

So hard to lose a furbaby....

 

Jagger and I send hugs to all going through this...

Wow, so sad! Were they placed dogs or young ones still in training?

Thank you for your kind thoughts.

 

Tonight I learned that our friend's service dog has also passed. He was only 5 or 6. He apparently had a heart condition and took a fast decline this week. I'm not sure what is worse, our situation where we knew it was coming or having it come up so suddenly. This team came to my girl scout troop last fall to talk about what this amazing pup did. I am still amazed that the pup could help her with her socks and jacket.

 

It's been a sad summer for dogs. We have also had two friends lose their furbabies since early July.

How awful! That's too young and the surprise is definitely shocking, I would say worse than expecting it. (The experts say when we're preparing for it, we start the grieving process prior to it happening. Not that it makes the actual mourning easier - as one of my friends who has gone through an even bigger loss wrote me, even though I had been preparing for it for a while, it doesn't make it easier - but that the steps of grief begin during the person/dog's illness and all ... hope that makes sense!)

We also have sad news to share. Our sweet Ollie passed on July 31. He was diagnosed with liver failure in February. The vet told us 2-3 months. He survived nearly 6. As with Quam's house, it is quiet at ours. I am still expecting him to be at the door when I come in (he was my husband's Seeing Eye Dog). We are still locking the pantry door by habit. We have good days and bad days.

 

Like many of your dogs, he traveled internationally, 3 cruises, Disney World twice, Alaska twice, Mardi Gras several times. He saw many national landmarks including the Liberty Bell and Mt. Rushmore. He truly saw more in 8 years with us than most people see in a lifetime. He was a faithful companion to our entire family and we miss him terribly.

 

We have no immediate plans for a new dog. My husband works from home most of the time so there is not a need like there was when he had a 2.5 hour commute (each way!) We are on the go a lot since family is not close by and the kids keep us busy so a pet dog is not a great fit for us either. I'm working on him for cats. We will get two eventually. We are just not ready yet.

So sorry for your loss! Isn't it just horrible to have a quiet house?! :( Many nights I practically cry myself to sleep and I am not a cryer. It hasn't helped that I just moved a few days ago, so even before my girl was in the ground, had to be going through her toys, gear, and other items (what to keep for my other dog, what to throw out). I am going to be making a scrapbook of all the cards, e-mails, and Facebook comments/posts that I got as condolences from family and friends so I can always look back on them and photos of my girl (which I will include on the pages). I still need to figure out which style of headstone I want to get - something with her photo on it for sure!

That's funny you should mention that your husband's guide dog did more than many people do, as I thought the same thing about my girl and her oncologist's condolence e-mail said the same thing, too! We know our service dogs had such wonderful lives and that definitely helps our grieving to have no regrets!

I definitely understand not being ready yet - I am so glad my other dog isn't quite finished with her training yet, as I need this time to grieve! I am glad that I started the process of getting my other dog and her training last year, as no way could I be thinking of getting one now!

Thanks again to everyone for the kind words and condolences!

We were supposed to bury my girl this afternoon, but it was crazy pouring out, so we will bury her in the morning.

Roz, a long time ago, I got her pawprint made - it was a kit I bought somewhere that you mailed in your dog's pawprint in the provided clay and they mailed you back a faux bronzed paw they made from the imprint that is mounted on a wood plaque that also has a place for a photo. I don't know what the paw is made of, but it is pretty cool. Oh, and there's an engraved name plate below the paw. I have no idea if the kit is still sold, but I would recommend it!

Congratulations to the one who is at Team Training - what an exciting time! It will be great to hear all about your new service dog when you are allowed to tell us!

To the ones wondering what the country requirements are, could you please list the countries you're going to? The post was a little hard to understand.

Roz, only a USDA-approved/accredited vet can fill out an international health certificate. USDA endorsement is different - that is when you send/take your paperwork to the regional USDA office for them to make sure it fits all the requirements, then they stamp a seal on the health certificate before giving them back to you. Thankfully, only some countries require endorsement, as it can be a pain. (Also thankfully, the fee is waived for service dogs if you include proof of the dog's training.)

Thank you all for your kind words and condolences! Sorry for not replying individually, but I do appreciate everyone's posts!

It has been tough for sure. The house is way too quiet without the noise her tags made when she shook (even though they had the rubber noise stoppers on them), the sound of her paws walking across the floor, the sound of her breathing, etc. I even miss the barking habit she started after retirement, like she was an old lady who must have her way (usually in regards to food)! I have caught myself several times about to call out her name, like when I came out of the half-bathroom and was just about to do my normal thing of calling her name and expecting to see her lying on the sofa and hear her wag her tail after I say her name. I miss seeing her dog bowls on the floor. I miss giving her rubbies and cuddles and telling her how I love her - and getting kisses in return. I miss singing to her, especially our song, "You Are My Sunshine", which I always followed with a short song I made up for her saying I love her. Alas, my sunshine has been taken away.

I do not regret a thing about her life, as she lived a full and wonderful life and did more than many humans don't get to do in their (longer) lifetimes. I cherish the memories I have of her and I will never forget her nor ever stop loving her. She is my heart dog and always will be. She cannot be replaced - each dog is their own - and I told her so.

I have had tons of kind words from family and friends, some who have also cried, yet you know none of them truly understand the magnitude of this grief because it isn't the same as losing a pet. Thankfully, there was only one person who said they understand, and they are not a friend but just someone on Instagram. I finally brought myself to read the article about losing your service dog that I bookmarked a long time ago - I never wanted to read it until I had to go through it. It was helpful and now I want to get the book it mentions ("Working Like Dogs") that has a section on losing your service dog. This is the article: http://www.newmobility.com/2014/11/grieving-service-dog/

I am glad that I got my next pup (who is still at the trainer's) while my late girl was still around (and working) because I could never think to do it anytime soon right now!! I am glad that bringing her home is still a month or two off, as I need this time to grieve.

I am certain that I have many more tears to shed, especially during the burial (not sure yet when that will be, but the cemetery is supposed to call tomorrow), but also in the weeks to come. I hate the tears, but I guess they show how much I loved my amazing girl - well, not really, or I would never stop crying until the end of time! But amazing she truly was. ❤️

I am still investigating on requirements, so far there IS a different form the SD's vet has to complete and there is a $10.00 fee that has to be sent in to the Government of The Bahamas with this form that one person said will be refunded back, but I have not confirmed the refund.

 

As to pet sitting - I would not be safe going anywhere without my Medical Alert Service Dog, without way too much effort and risk, therefore I would have to stay on the ship with my SD. That would work great for someone who does not use their SD to warn them of levels in their body that could become emergent without warning, but for me - if she stays, I stay.

There is no different form for service dogs than for pets entering the Bahamas. Just write "Service Dog" at the top of the import permit application form (you fill this out, not your vet) so they know why you are not including the fee, which is waived for service dogs. Do a search of this thread for "Bahamas" to find the link to the form to send to obtain an import permit - I posted the newer form within the last year. Be advised that you need to give them up to three months to mail the permit back to you because they are on island time - if you need it faster, fax the application and have them fax the permit to you. The permit does include a second sheet that your vet signs in regards to your dog's microchip number - just have the vet fill it out when you get your health certificate done a day or two prior to your trip.

If you are going on a cruise to the Bahamas, you don't need to comply with the requirement to take your dog and paperwork to a vet in the Bahamas within two days of arrival, as you will only be there for several hours. Not that many land trip people follow through on this requirement ... I always do, though, and have formed a good relationship with our vet there over the years (I spend up to a month there every year), which has definitely been of advantage when my late service dog got sick (one year suddenly got an idiopathic facial paralysis on one side, earlier this year she was able to get her chemo there [likely a first for the country], etc.).

Do be aware that there are a number of stray dogs, called Potcakes, in the Bahamas. I have never had any issues with them, but of course purposely stay away from them just in case. (They do tend to be very cute, though!)

I tearfully want to inform you all that my girl passed away today. :( Heartbreaking isn't even the word for it. A couple of you here, like Roz, understand, unfortunately. I wish dogs lived for as long as we do!!! :(

Okay! He can clean the pool too!!!! ;)

Suuuurrrreeeeeeee. Do you even have a pool? ;) :D