We started the paperwork for my pet passport this week with a visit to the vet to drop off the forms, and a good thing too. We learned that the USDA certified vet does not issue the USDA stamp. Although the form needs to be filled out by a certified vet, it has to go to a USDA office for a stamp. Have you ever seen a USDA office? I certainly haven’t. And it’s more than finding one (there is a good website listing them by state), not all of them have this stamp. But I am not complaining because at least the office is open now. At the vet we learned of a dog with plans to go to Africa last month and the government shutdown almost cancelled that. We are lucky that our vet has a terrific person in charge of this who is up on the procedures. I would recommend going to a practice that has experience with this. I ‘ll be back at the vet to pick up the forms within the 10 day window required, and we have an appointment at the USDA office to bring the completed form in to be stamped. (I don’t have to be present for that but B and G will need to bring a record of my most recent rabies vaccination with them.)
At the vet we asked if there should be any concern about the tapeworm treatment that I will have to get the morning of the flight. My doc didn’t think so. (I will get that from another vet who also has to be USDA certified. That part of the form, however, does not require the USDA official stamp.) We also talked about eating and drinking that day and she suggested that, since the flight is at 10PM, I might have my dinner very early at about 3pm. That way, by the time we arrive at the airport, I will be ready for bed. She also thinks I will be fine without water for the flight but said I will probably want a big drink when we land and can leave my bag. Those neat little bowls that fold up are on my shopping list.
We are also working on getting me accustomed to being out and about. We started by a visit to a local wine shop where our friend works. (We thought that appropriate given that Paris is our first stop.) Here I am with her co-worker Waldo who is a really sweet guy.