Page 35 - Dog-Harmony Life Summer 2021 V3Q2

MY VERY OWN GRISWOLD

FAMILY VACATION

moved overseas with my small dog, affectionately How would I find my small, drugged dog?!
I known as Zulu, the Warrior. I followed the vet’s As I started towards the back of the plane, a flight
advice and gave him a small amount of Xanax before attendant suddenly stood up, holding Zulu in the air
our trip to make sure that the medicine didn’t have the under his front arms, triumphant that she found him and
unintended (rare) effect of agitating, rather than sedating flabbergasted that she had a loose dog on the plane. She
him. OK, check. The dog was drugged and unable to walk followed me back to the seat holding Zulu. I introduced
properly. I felt prepared for our trip. their airplane blanket to the dog carrier bag as an extra
At our last layover in the US, I called my dad to let him level of reinforcement to cover the gaping, softball-sized
know him know that this would the last call for a little hole a bit better.
while. While we were chatting, I noticed that the dog By this point, I was so stressed out that I actually started
carrier case that I had slung over my shoulder suddenly to feel nauseous. I couldn’t go to the WC without the
seemed lighter. I look behind me and Zulu is weaving in- dog, or I’d have another escape attempt. To the delight
and-out of tables in the airline lounge. of my seatmate, I pack up Zulu and we venture down
I ran to Zulu, picked him up and inspected his travel the darkened aisle towards the WC. I may have started
bag. He had chewed a softball-sized hole in the mesh sweating at this point. The queue for the WC was LONG.
lining of the carrier bag. What was I to do? I asked the Unable to wait until my turn in line, I bend over and hurl
airline if they had heavy duty tape (no) and checked with into my scarf, hoping to capture the expulsion. I partially
chintzy travel stores to see if they had a small pet carrier missed the scarf and barfed on Zulu’s carrier case.
with the local city’s iconic images covering it (they By this time, people have moved out of the way. I gave
didn’t). both of us–- and the carrier-– the best sink wash I could
I gave Zulu another half pill of Xanax, boarded the and disposed of the soiled scarf in the trash bin. We
plane and hoped for the best. I decided I wouldn’t sleep returned to the seat with as much dignity as we could
at all to make sure my travel buddy stayed put in his muster. We eventually made it to our final destination
carry case and as comfortable as possible under the seat without further incident and disposed of the destroyed
in front of me. (The flight attendants were adamant that carrier case the moment we arrived at the destination
it was against FAA regulations to let me hold the dog–- in airport. Lesson learned: the next, more robust travel
his carry case-– in my lap.) carrier case will be made of titanium.
During the flight, Zulu would periodically wake up
from a nap, spin around in his carrier like the Tasmanian
Devil (which would send his hair flying directly towards
my poor seatmate in the middle seat) and pass out again.
I must have dozed off for a brief moment-– even
A FULL MOON though I told myself I wouldn’t-– and I woke up to a
flight attendant shaking me. She said, “Your dog has
escaped! We just had a horse meat eating scandal in
Europe – do you want us to eat your dog?!” Alarm bells
were going off. My dog had made a bee line to business
class during dinner time!
I start frantically looking for Zulu and, with each
passing second, become more anxious. He had left
business class. The lights were off in the Boeing 737
and many of the non-business passengers were
already asleep!

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