We haven't said much about our "third child" in this blog, but Bailey has been a loyal and enthusiastic playmate in our move to Washington. Our Chihuahua-Pomeranian cross has proven to be very adaptible to life in an apartment complex, and long walks in 105 degree heat with 80% humidity. He never complains, even though he's the only one of us wearing a fur coat. Every morning, he helps me get the newspaper from the box across the street, and we travel different paths each day through Arlington. Many people want to stop and pet him along the way, as well-mannered as he is. He has come to have 2 legged as well as 4 legged friends. Here's a shot of Bailey and his friend Claire taking a nap. Generally, they spend one day a week together romping around the apartment and the area. Claire belongs to another Foreign Service Officer who is also in training here. As we prepare to move to the Indian Ocean in three weeks, many of our preparations have been about getting Bailey to his new home. It's not been easy. Shelly has had to learn a ton about multiple national bureaucracies, some international airlines, and their respective approaches to traveling and resident pets. There are shots, examinations, appointments, certificates, and precise timing required to get Bailey to the new home. As planned, he will ride in the cabin from DC to Paris; then the second airline requires that he be in a crate in excess baggage for the 14 hour flight to Mauritius. Despite the extraordinary preparation, even once we get to Mauritius, Bailey will be in a 30 day quarantine at a vet facility outside the capital. No way to get around this national health requirement. We got Bailey as a rescue dog from the ABQ Animal Control facility, so he's experienced the lockup, but this time, his "parents" will feel the pain of his incarceration! To be continued . . .  |
| Dorothy and Toto, Shelly and Bailey I don't think we're in Kansas anymore! |
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