Quampapetet

With over 500 posts on this thread, please forgive me if I am repeating a previous question.

 

We will be traveling with our new service dog for the first time in February. The cruise line has just approved his sailing. They have referred us to pettravels.com for information on port requirements. Our ports will be Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica and Jamaica. I have read that each requires a health certificate and some a microchip. Does each country require a separate health certificate or will they all accept the same one? Also, I already know that Jamaica is a no go, as the dog was not born in the UK, which is a requirement there. The cruise line stated in a letter that we cannot leave the dog in our cabin alone...yet we can ask the crew for assistance. Can the dog be kept in a kennel in the cabin? Do we hire a dog sitter? Or, does my husband have to stay on board for that port? Has anyone had experience with these issues? Thanks for your any help you can offer.

 

TV

Welcome and congrats on the new service dog!

You just need the one health certificate, not separate ones. The cruiseline will make photocopies of it (and any other paperwork needed) so that you can keep the original with you.

Yeah, Jamaica is a no-go since they strangely don't accept any dogs who have been vaccinated for rabies ever. I honestly wasn't sad to stay onboard the ship in that port, but some people do like it.

If my service dog can't get off at a port, I stay on the ship.

You can't leave the dog alone in the room because the room steward is in and out of the room throughout the day and the dog is a liability if something happens to the dog or if something happens to the steward or other employee. I think someone (Roz?) has been told by employees that they were willing to care for the dog in their off time (not while on the clock), but I don't know if every line allows such and I, personally, would never trust my service dog to a stranger.

Be sure you don't waste money on buying any forms from the PetTravels site, as those forms are either free from the countries (import forms and such) or your vet has them (international health certificate), but the site is pretty good for finding out the import requirements (though it is always good to double-check with each country via their sites or e-mail/phone).

Make sure you know if your dog has an international (ISO 15-digit) microchip or a US one. My current dog has a US one, since ISO chips weren't available in the US back when she was chipped, and thankfully we never had an issue with it with other countries, but I purposely got an ISO chip for my next service dog (who is currently in training).

Thank you all for your kind words! ❤️

I actually come here tonight with pretty GOOD news! We had the appointment with the oncologist today (the place [which has multiple oncologists] was crazy busy, so I could see why it was hard to get an appointment, but she was nice enough to squeeze us in) and the cancer is indeed back, but despite how quickly her lymph nodes enlarged, it isn't as bad as I thought (her blood work was still good). She gave us three options: (1) Aggressive chemo again, which would give her another six to eight months; (2) Lighter, maintenance chemo, which would give her another four months; and (3) Just prednisone, for palliative care, which would mean she'd have up to two months more. We chose to do the chemo again (option one), since the outlook is a good number of months and all, even though we were planning on not doing it again. Part of the decision is because of the timing with the holidays, wedding, trip, etc. I can't imagine losing her at Christmas or even a month later; I just can't say goodbye yet!!

The good thing is that her type of cancer, lymphoma, is not painful. She had her first treatment of this go-around today and starts the prednisone tomorrow (since they also gave her steroids with the chemo today), which will slowly get weaned down week by week. The first four treatments (including today) are every week, then it goes to every other week. I don't remember how long it goes for (SO much information today!).

Eh, she is still going to be spoiled ;) , but I am hoping she goes back to eating her regular dog food soon. I ordered her some yummy-looking treats from a doggy bakery - you guys should check them out, as they have so many things, including doggy birthday cakes, doggy muffins, doggy pizza slices, doggy Christmas cookies, and more! It is called Healthy Hound Bakery - http://www.healthyhoundbakery.com I'm sure she is going to love them!

Thanks, Quampapetet. They have been working with her, teaching her to find certain scents. Basically, training her the way you'd train a hunting dog to hunt a scent. That is the kind of training usually done in my rural community. They are trying to get her to stop and bow when she finds the scent. Xena will definitely need someone else to work with her when it is time to train for peanuts and tree nuts - the big things she is needed for. Right now, she loves to find her "daddy's" dirty socks.

 

I'll tell her to start looking for message boards and Yahoo! Groups along with FB. She graduates from college 2 weeks from tomorrow! I'm amazed that Xena is as well trained as she is, considering she is being raised by a couple of college kids (my DD and her BF), and that my DD wasn't able to work with her all summer while she was recovering and getting strong enough to walk again!

For scent training, check out the Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD) message board (search Google for it) - it is not only diabetic dog people on there, as it is all using the same techniques and concepts no matter what the medical alert is for. Also, have you heard of a "bringsel"? It is usually attached to an alert dog's collar (since it needs to be used outside of the home) or worn around the neck and the dog grabs it to make the alert - this way, there is no question whether or not the dog is alerting or just pawing for another reason or, in your case, play bowing or stretching. The site that message board is on sells their own type of bringsel, but you can also use a leash tab (with no loop) that is long enough for the dog to grab, but short enough to not get in the way/drag.

I've been checking my emails at work and saw that there was something from a woman named Kelly at Happy Tails in Sacramento, CA. She said that she knows of one dog named Sassy from their rescue org. in Sacramento. She said she was going to look further into it. She also mentioned that the Golden Retriever that she's knows as Sassy is not a Service Dog.

 

I don't expect that she can give me much info. on the dogs owners but maybe she can contact them and let them know that they're N0T to take the dog in public again until it's been formerly trained and inform them that hitting a dog for any reason is a huge mistake.

 

I'm going to stay in contact with Kelly at Happy Tails and see what happens.

Wow, that's terrible if the dog isn't a real service dog! I hope she is able to get to the bottom of things for the dog's sake.

I'm just joking, I love Disneyland and seeing all the characters joining us at breakfast was so much fun. I just don't have the energy to walk through the park and crowds like I used to!!! :(

 

Horton didn't think anything of the big stuffed animals walking all around and it was so cute when he and Pluto saw each other. Horton sniffed and wagged his tail like he was meeting an old friend. So cute!

Rent an ECV (scooter), then. You and Horton need to have some fun! :D

Aww, so cute about Horton and Pluto! Did you get any photos? I did the character greet with Pluto so the Disney photographer would be there to take the photos (I pre-purchased the CD of all images, so knew I would be getting them).

Quam, I hope your girl is feeling better!

Unfortunately, it looks like the cancer is back. :( We will know for sure in the morning when we see the oncologist, but her lymph nodes are enlarged again, among other issues, so we are pretty sure. She still isn't eating her dog food, but she will eat regular "people" food, so she's getting spoiled in her last days (then again, she definitely deserves to be spoiled, so I don't mind!). SO much is up in the air right now because of this, so I hope we get some sort of answers tomorrow, though of course nothing is certain, especially timing. I just hope I can handle tomorrow. (We won't do chemo again because with each successive time, it takes longer to reach remission and that remission gets shorter, too.)

I really wish this didn't have to happen now, during the holidays and a family wedding this month and an upcoming trip (which I won't go on if she is still here and can't go, of course).

All of you here who are service dog handlers, especially those of you who have lost one, know there are no words. :(

She said the org. is "Happy Tails" and the dogs name was Sassy or Cassie. Then a younger woman came walking over and said that it was none of my business and to just walk away!!!!! I told her that anytime a dog is being hit it's EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS!!!!

Please report this to the program! They will, hopefully, address the problem.

I'm guessing the next step means we need to find someone to complete her training once she finishes settling down (she is not quite a year yet.) Can anyone give me an idea how much to expect that to cost? Quampapetet maybe? I'm hoping we can find someone in the St. Louis area. Xena will need the final stages of SD training as well as scent training. Our main goal is peanuts, but if we can add tree nuts or some of her other serious triggers, it would be awesome.

Price varies from one trainer to the next as well as one part of the country to the next and how many tasks/what types of tasks need to be trained, but count on at least a couple thousand plus. I would say the range would be $2,500 to $4,000 (the lower end would be you training the dog with the trainer, keeping the dog living at home, while the upper end would be the dog living with the trainer during the training process - with allergy scent training, I am not sure if it would be safe for you to do the training at home...).

You don't have to wait until she is older to start the training, as earlier is actually better. I would definitely be looking for trainers now. Be sure you search for reviews/ask on service dog message boards or Yahoo! Groups for the trainer's reputation, as there are some bad ones and scam artist ones out there (just as there are scam programs, too).

Poor darling! All that turkey stuff and stuffing too! I'm off to the California Adventure Hotel on turkey day to be with family and friends. Then they're all going to Disneyland........I promise I'll tell you where the documents are hidden if you don't make me go to that Mickey place! :(

 

I hope your furbaby feels better. What symptoms did she display?

You and I can no longer be friends if you hate on Mickey!!!! :mad: :p

My service dog loves Disney! I got photos taken of her meeting Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, and Tink and the other fairies ... the Tink one was for me, as she's my favorite! :D

That's so funny! But so annoying and true. Brenda was the head butter.....she would come over to me and consistently butt her head on my leg, knee, arm or whatever to get my attention. Horton does the head shake, I finally got the tag holder thing and wrapped all his ID in it and now all that makes noise are his elephant ears as they're smacked against his head, it looks like he's going to shake his head off! :eek:

I can't live without tag silencers!! I use the rubber ones that go around the edges of the tag for her two ID tags (couldn't fit all the info. on just one) and a pocket type one for the rabies tag, since those come in unusual shapes that the rubber ones aren't made for. Once in a blue moon, a rubber one will dry up and cracked and fall off ... and the noise of just that one tag drives me insane!! I keep extra silencers at home, just in case.

That's funny - they are just like kids sometimes - if I'm not down stairs timely in the morning - the DH leaves for work around 0630 and I have another hour or so - and the dogs all go back to bed. Thing is only Aruba is housed up in her very large sleeping crate, the other two are in very nice Tuffy beds in the breakfast room. So I hear no noise whatsoever from them until Max feels I should be down getting their breakfast! He stands and shakes his collar with all his "medals" clanking until he can hear me moving around! I could set my clock, but in fact I don't even need an alarm clock with his belly clock! :rolleyes::D

 

How's your girl doing? :)

Too funny!! How do they handle time changes?

My girl is doing okay, her last two bloodwork results have been perfect, but she seems to not be feeling well the last few days. :( She hasn't wanted to eat much of her food (though she'll eat some turkey, ham, bacon, and/or eggs from this week's family celebrations) and is a bit mopey. Hopefully, it is just a bug or something - will have to call the vet on Monday if she's still not doing well.

 

Oh, that's just nasty!!! :eek:

 

I hope you get your service dog soon!

And the first time she saw one of the cats - she sat down so quickly, her bottom slapped on the wood floor! LOL!

Haha, that reminds me of when my girl throws a doggy tantrum, as she will sit her bottom down loudly on the floor, and if she doesn't get her way, she'll raise her bottom up a bit so that she can sit loudly again! :p She only does this at home when not working, of course, but it makes me laugh 'cause who knew dogs were as bad as kids and throw tantrums?!

But Aruba wasn't fooled - these days because she's a grown up girl now, she has learnt to sit before she greets people, especially strangers who want to say hello. So Aunty cuddles was expecting this good behaviour when she met this Blue Lady, but what she got was Aruba doing her bouncy greeting to those she knows well - and especially those who arrive at her house with treats in their pockets! LOL! Aunty cuddles had never met Aunty fab before, so was apologising for Aruba jumping up - and I think a bit shocked at this unexpected "naughty" behaviour.

Aww, naughty little pup sounds very cute! :D Sounds like her sniffer definitely works!!

OK, Quam, here goes!

 

Someone giving out official info for the U.S. government at APHIS thinks St. Croix is a "country" with unknown requirements (we lived there for years - it is in the US Virgin Islands.)

 

We all know it is difficult to get any official information on taking your service dog outside the US on a cruise. Cruise lines say this:"Visit the U. S. Department of Agriculture's website to obtain specific information on required documents for service dogs." USDA certified vets also say, "contact the state USDA Aphis office, they'll tell you what paperwork you need." Sadly, this is not true.

I love the country of St. Thomas! (Haven't been to St. Croix.) :D

Yeah, I really hate that the USDA site lacks so much info., yet they and the cruiselines continue to tell us to go look there. It can take a lot of time to dig up the correct import info. - Google, pet travel sites, e-mail to the countries, and phone calls to the countries or their embassies. And people wish they could cruise with their pets?!

Oh my, I can only imagine how much eight teenagers would order!!!

A couple days ago, I called my vet's office to make an appointment for my girl's international health certificate and I stated it as so, along with the date I needed to do it on. The lady goes about making the appointment and then asks, "Are you getting the certificate because of travel?" :confused: No, I'm just putting out the money for and taking the time to get an international health certificate for the fun of it! :rolleyes: Obviously, I just said yes and stated where I am going, but I was laughing inside! :p

Okay, now the rest of you need to post something funny that happened lately!

That prank sounds really mature

Oh, it is. Very much so. :D :p

Most pranks aren't mature, LOL, but it wasn't the first one I pulled on them that trip, so I took the chance to do another. We had a good laugh about it, especially since I happened to be in their room when it was delivered (not planned, as I think that was the day I accidentally got up an hour early for the excursion, as I mixed up the meeting time)!

My guess is they added a ton more on the card to where 2 trays were needed or something like that to deliver it....

 

I have never heard of that prank.

Yes, you add some things onto the card that they didn't order, like extra condiments (jellies and such) and stuff. It didn't take two trays, just was more than what the two people ordered.

I don't know about this Celebrity board, but I have seen it talked about on either or both of the Carnival and Royal Caribbean boards many times - that's how I heard about it in the first place and when I heard my friends hang their card out, it came to mind.

Personally after a fantastic evening meal who could possibly want more food till breakfast. There's already the temptation to over indulge at normal meal times any more food & I'd never get through the cabin door.

But if I order so much room service that I can't get out the door, I will just have to stay on board once the cruise ends! ;)

With my medical condition, I sometimes get crazy hungry at night no matter how much dinner I had or if I ate something just two hours prior. I try not to eat, but sometimes have no choice but to quiet my stomach down by having a snack. :(

I have been on a few cruises, but never ordered from room service. Did play the breakfast room service prank on my friends once, though, as they were in the cabin next door (I had the corner cabin, so our doors were very close to each other on perpendicular walls), so I heard them put out the card the night before. I was in their cabin with them when it all arrived - definitely was worth it!! ;) I learned that from these boards, though of course it is usually bratty kids doing it to strangers - I wouldn't ever do that!

Delivery, even better! ;) Thanks!

Specifically on the Summit, is the buffet or any other food available all throughout the night (i.e. midnight to 5:00 a.m.)? If so, what is available?

My wife took Davis to our local Veterans Day Parade today. There were alot of people and marching bands. She said he could care less about the bands. He was more interested in a dog across the street that was freaking out over the noise. That's one more check in the

"good box".

Awesome! How old is he now? Did the pet owner finally take their dog away from the noise?

Oh, I think I didn't mention the stray pack of dogs we came across in downtown Grand Turk! That was a little scary, but thankfully all was okay.

You never have to tell the curious public anything about your dog or yourself/your disability if you don't want to, especially if you don't have the time or energy or they are trying to interrupt your conversation with someone or interrupt something you are doing. (I once was very obviously in the middle of a conversation with a friend - I was the one talking at the time - and some lady came up to me asking about my service dog and she left in a huff when I didn't stop my conversation to answer her! Unbelievable!) It is definitely rude for someone to ask what your disability is, just like you would never ask for their health history, but some people actually think it is their business if you use a service dog in public!

I used to direct people to my service dog's Web site if they wanted more info., but I haven't passed out those business cards in years. Maybe I will do that again with my next dog - and link my business site to the service dog site to get more business, LOL!!!