Saturday, November 5, 2022

Getting ready to go

 Tanya had most of the house stuff packed away, leaving out enough for the family who will be renting it. When I got here my concern was organizing Lucky's flight from Frankfurt to Calgary by cargo. I found a pet freight forwarder and I hope they have a crate big enough for him. I Googled the size I need and nothing came up in Canada or USA that was even close.

Lucky weighs 40 kg, measures 110 cm nose to tail head, 80 cm to the tops of his ears standing and 90 cm sitting. front leg to base of chest is 40 cm, and 30 cm across the shoulders. According to the fitting chart, he needs a crate 50 inches long and 40 inches high. I haven't heard back from the pet transfer company yet.

We have rented a small house with a good sized fenced in yard in Regina so Lucky will become a house dog like everyone else's dogs. He will love that. I will take him for walks and maybe to a dog park if he behaves himself. 

We took him to the vets to weigh him. His second only car ride and he behaved well. At home he barks at everything and everyone but in town he wanted to be friends with everyone in the clinic and every small dog. The small dogs felt otherwise.

Tanya goes on Monday to jump the bureaucratic hoops to register the family as our renters. We take so much for granted in Canada as most of these hoops are already looked after and we don't think about them. 

Once that is done there is not much holding us here except a few last minute details, I expect. There is always something.  Some days I wish we had never left and somedays I am glad we did. It will be a hard winter in Ukraine though fortunately the weather has been very mild to date.

We have a suitcase half packed and Tigritsa and Bonya both think it is perfect for sleeping on. First come claims it and the other sleeps on the floor beside it hoping to steal the spot. The family that will stay here will look after the cats as we cannot take them with us.

So they remember our cats' names

Lucky relative to a volleyball

Grayden is three months old

Looking forward to seeing Baby Yoda, I am



37 comments:

  1. Have a safe journey back to Regina, all of you, especially Lucky! I hope he gets a big crate.

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    1. Thank you, Debra. I hope so too. Maybe Monday I'll hear from them

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    2. Thanks, Debra. I'm sure we'll find one. C4C ship horses by cargo in crates so should have something

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  2. Safe travels to you both. Glad Lucky is going with you back to Canada. He sure is a handsome fellow.

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  3. Thanks for sharing and I wish you all the best relocating family & dog, etc. back to Canada!

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  4. We’ll be glad to have you back in Canada, pop. Safe travels.

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    1. Thanks, my son. Look after the little guy. Love to all of you

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  5. We flew our cat in and out of the Alaskan villages in bush planes and she often flew along side with sled dogs. We had the vet give us a pill to relax her and she would grove out - traveled just fine. As long as your connections run smoothly he should be just fine. Amazon has a sky carrier
    :https://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Kennel-Portable-Travel-Included/dp/B003E77OG4/ref=asc_df_B003E77OG4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167132165277&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15704115551176289443&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1018854&hvtargid=pla-149751355252&th=1

    and Cabela also has a extra large carrier : https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/petmate-pet-porter-dog-kennel?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Cabelas%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CHunting%7CHunting%7CNAud%7CTopPerf%7CNMT&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk5ibBhDqARIsACzmgLTT4QVluReS-3iwNMgbiBJCo5vS4l2NMRs1HBXyxUndpqTBpZH0EGoaAqniEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
    I don't know if you could get them in time, but a call to Cabela you might be able to get air freight.
    Take care. We will all be glad when you are back on this side of the world safe and sound.
    the Ol'Buzzard

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    1. Thanks for the links. I'll check them in the morning. Would love to see your cat flying with the Huskies. It is only a 9 hour flight from Frankfurt to Calgary so Lucky should manage ok.

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    2. Ol'Buzzard, They are both by Petsmart. The Amazon crate is largest at 48" long but too narrow and too low. It says 90 lbs+ but it must be a compact dog. Maybe I'll have to fly him in a stall they use for horses.

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  6. I can’t wait till you are all back safe in Regina.

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  7. Tundra Bunny here... I hope you, Tanya and Lucky have a safe trip back to Canada. Lucky will LOVE the re-furbished off-leash dog park by the Regina airport! I drove by there the other day and there were nothing but large dogs playing around. Baby Yoda is adorable and he'll be happy to see you all again too, I'm sure!

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    1. How come I didn't know you lived in Regina. You will have to come and meet Lucky when we get settled

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    2. Tundra here again... I'd really enjoy meeting Lucky (and you too, LOL) at the dog park sometime, hopefully before we have six feet of snow! My email is Tundrabunny207@gmail.com.

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    3. Looking forward to that. What kind of dog do you have?

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    4. Tundra here again... I've always loved dogs, especially Boxers, Labs and Poodles, but I do not currently have a dog so I must live vicariously through other people's pets, LOL!

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    5. No problem. Living vicariously is much simpler.

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  8. I really, really hope everything goes smoothly. For you all.

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    1. Thanks, EC. Nothing ever goes smooth but with a few horseshoes we'll make it.

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  9. I'm glad to hear things are coming together. Wow, Lucky is a big guy - it's a good thing he's decided to be laid-back in public. I hope your crate search is successful, and that you and Tanya and Lucky are soon safely back in Canada!

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    1. Thanks, Diane. Someday I will get back to reading blogs regularly.

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  10. I am sad you can't take those beautiful kitties with you to Canada. Thank you for keeping us updated friend. I will continue to keep you both and your precious Lucky in my prayers! I can't wait to hear that you are all safely back in Canada! Hopefully by this time in three days I will know if I go back to work as the Clay County Treasurer on January 1st! I have never worked so hard in my life! Campaigning isn't easy in a Republican county! Hugs

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    1. I'm cheering for you and all people Blue. Funny how our colours are reversed in Canada. Here the Cons are Blue, Liberals are Red and NDP Orange. We are 9 hours ahead of the mid-west so Wednesday morning I will start devouring updates.

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  11. Ooooo Lucky, Tigritsa, Vovo, Bonya, and to top it all off, Baby Yoda.... the whole family album! I hope you can find a crate large enough for Lucky, he's not going to take kindly to being squeezed in to one that it too small! Safe travels to you all, I have fingers crossed for you.

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    1. I'll ship him in a crate they use for horses if I have to. He is heavy but in no way compact.

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  12. Hope things go well.
    ED

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  13. You have a lovely two and four legged family. Grayden/Yoda is the cutest little critter.

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  14. that baby..those cheeks..sigh*..he's so damn cute..and you know I'm going to have a damn nervous breakdown before you 3 are back safe and sound in Canada..sigh*****

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  15. Haven’t been following your progress (though that’s not an appropriate word for your awful situation, I know) since I stopped blogging myself. But I sought out your news today and read through your recent travails. Just want to wish you and Tanya the best of luck as you embark on the voyage. And I do hope all her extended family are safe. May you all be able to return home very soon. Carol (formerly Doonan diddly-squat)

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    1. Progress such as it is is slow and intermittent. We will leave in the next day or two and the real adventure begins

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  16. I keep checking to see if you are back in Canada yet, no news yet, so sending you lots of good safe travel vibes.

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  17. Hoping your travel back to Canada has either already been successful…. or if you are still on that journey, that it is going well and is enjoyable and not feeling overwhelming and burdensome.

    PipeTobacco

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