Posidrive

We came back at the beginning of November but had to leave our beloved German Shepherd Josh at a vetinary clinic in Calgary while he finished his treatment. A very joyfull reunion for everyone on Monday afternoon when he was collected at Heathrow Airport.

But anyway, I thought I'd give people an idea of costs to bring him back from Calgary. We used a pet transport company, so it can be done cheaper but hopefully the itemised costs will help someone make a decision.

-Travel Kennel $0. We had our own from his journey to Calgary. Budget $300ish for a GSD sized dog

- Air Canada Airfeight $1500 plus airline fuel surcharges $53.

- Heathrow customs clearance charges $521. These include cargo terminal and DEFRA charges plus what they refer to as a comfort stop.

- Pet transport company fee $300. Quite resonable if you consider the stress it removes from you. This was the base charge excluding transport of Josh from the vet to the airport.

- Canada Food ann Inspection Agency endorsement of vacination history including fee for courering of document $75

- Approximately $100 of miscellanoeus extra fees.

Easterndawn

So glad that your family and Josh are reunited for Christmas, they really make a huge hole in the family when they are not there. Missing my girls and wishing they were here with me, but glad you have your guy back with you!!!

Jetlag

The Queen Mary 2 takes dogs and for the fare, you get a nice holiday as well

Posidrive

We looked at the boat trip back to the UK. It is a good deal but they have very limited availability for dogs and we would have had to wait until next September

Posidrive

Very, very sad week. Josh had to be put to sleep a few days ago. The vet had destroyed the original tumor but it had spread throughout his body and there was nothing more that could be done for him. His happyness at being back with us when we picked him up at the airport must have masked his pain for a few days but then he went downhill rather rapidly. We only found out the worst when we took him to see a specialist.

We are torn with a decision. Having gone from 3 beautiful German Shepherds down to zero over the last few years the house is unbearably empty without a dog and there may be the opportunity of getting one from a rescue center. But, and its a big but, it would feel like we were trying to replace the irreplaceable with it being so soon.

Oh well, just rabbling, but it helps me keep it together.

Easterndawn

I was so very sorry to read about your boy Josh, It is always a difficult decision to put your beloved canine friends to sleep and especially at this time of the year. But you must be heartened that you had him home for those to few days and that he was with the family who had loved him so very much at the end. It does get better and although he cannot ever be replaced, by giving a rescue dog a loving home you honour his memory. Give it time, the right dog will find you and you willl know when it happens. Remember him with joy!!!

Wendy66

So sorry to read about Josh, I was just about to post a glad he's home post and then read down. At least you had the time with Josh.

We've always had 4 or 5 dogs, it's a personal decision I know I couldn't be a day without at least one in the house and never have been. Whether it's a puppy or an older dog that needs a home, I'm sure you'll know when it's the right time for you all xx

Tr1boy

I'm very sorry to hear about your dof Josh. As the others have said, when the time is right, you'll know.

dunroving

I'm sorry to hear about Josh - that must be so difficult, having just got him back very recently.

The only advice I can give re: getting another dog is that James Herriott recommended getting another dog immediately - obviously everyone is different (I honestly don't know what I'd do in the same situation), but James Herriott certainly knew a thing or two about dogs.

manc1

Sorry to hear about Josh. I hope your able to find another dog soon.

Cheetah7

You must not feel guilty about getting another dog, you are not replacing Josh, he will always have his place in your life. We have unlimited 'places' in our lives for various pets needing a loving homes, its not replacing the previous one as each pet comes with its own personality and an ability to chew/dig/scratch their way into our hearts.

And when they have gone, their memories live on in everything they have touched/chewed/dug/scratched. I look at things my previous pets have done to various things and think 'Oh Rema did that' or 'Juniper did this'.

If you have the chance to give a rescue dog a loving home then you jump at that chance, because if you can love that new dog half as much as you loved your previous dogs, then it will be one very lucky dog to have a nice home rather than being in a kennel - there is no substitute for a sofa.

You must not feel guilty for getting another dog, if you have the time, money and space and most of all the heart to give a rescue dog a loving home, then that is all the ingredients for good pet ownership.

The 'new place' in your life awaits the 'new dog' and pretty soon that new dog will have his own characteristics that will make him unique - just like Josh.

Juswus

I'm so sorry.
I was reading this thread thinking "oh that's nice" and then was so sad that you had to let him go again.

I'm glad you got to see each other again and love on him, if only for a short time.

RIP Josh, you were very loved



so very true

obewan

So so so sorry to hear about Josh! You must be devastated
So glad you got to have him at home with you again even if only for a short while.



<sob> just made me all teary! Absolutely agree though, and so well put

Cheetah7

I never thought I would ever get another dog after my beloved whippet Rema died. I held her as she was put to sleep and it was done round my friends house (ex boss I worked for), I held her both as a veterinary nurse and her owner.

'I am never getting another dog' I said to Mr PP, quite firmly.

Well it all started when we first moved here, I would get really jealous of people walking their dogs on the beach but I wasnt going to have one because they are time consuming and sometimes distructive.

Well the day we moved into our new house, a small Australian kelpie puppy chewed and dug his way into our lives and day by day, bit by bit took it over.

When he was teething at 4 months, he was like a shark with 'double teeth' in his mouth, he ate my mortgage documents, stole my cds in the leather wallet and noshed on them, stole ALL our pillows for his own bed, dug several 4 ft holes in our garden, buried hundreds of dollars worth of toys, yanked the washing off the line and dragged it round the garden - he wasnt left alone, I was in the kitchen.

I hoover every day the mountain of black fur he sheds, I have come to accept the strange relationship he has with my cat Gordon who we exported from the UK, they eat together, sleep together, wash one anothers genitals, Rocky fiercely defends the ginger cat to the point of aggression.

We are 'herded up' if we 'stray' too far from him and he has eaten/lost to date - 3 Cockburn Council rego tags, in fact we are on first name terms with the girl that works there - oh that reminds me, best order the 4th one.

The little black dog and fat ginger cat have between them chewed/scratched/dug lots of things. Gordon still keeps his habit of chewing up my towels like he did in the UK, only now he and the kelpie disappear to the bathroom and I have caught them chewing on a towel between them. Gordon pulls it down and Rocky chews it with him.

Last week I was changing the sheets and I noticed the corner of the sheet chewed slightly. Rocky tried to deny it but there were cotton threads wrapped round his canine teeth.

So yet again my life has been taken over by animals - that is the way it is and the way it is meant to be.

And each animal that I love, that I cry for when I lose them - I have their memories to compare on the 'naughty scale' with any new pet I get.

I have quite a collection of memories now and you know what? I wouldnt change a thing because they are wonderful.

Besides, naughty acts always are the most memorable and the most re-told stories ever and the ones that will always make you smile.

lilybilly101

I had a wonderful Airedale called Guinness who sounds so simialr to yours. He ate my girlfriend's contraceptive pills and then was found eating a sharp knife (self harming in 30 mins of the pills), ate a hole in the lounge curtain (would rest his head in it), pebble dashed the bedrom with poo (got into the garbage and ate Jambalaya with terrible consequences), would only return when called if offered marble cheese, would hve singing dreams and howl at 3am.

We miss him so, so much. He was run over by a speeding mini-van when I was asking...begging him to stay he obviously came, clear into the path of the vehicle.

But yes, the naughtier the nicer, the more memorable, the more fun. That's why I can't live in Canada anymore. No one is naughty!!!