No Pets on board!

I didn't know that flying a pet to another city would be a cause of so much stress and mess. I don't know if this is the case just in India, or in other countries as well.
I want to take Loki to Bangalore, in the beginning I thought it would be simple enough, till I started reading up and talking to people.
Firstly the only airlines that allow pets are Jet airways and Air India. So that definitely narrowed down the options.

I have never been a big fan of Air India, I think they are the worst ever domestic carrier. The staff is rude and mean looking and the food is stale. So anyway, this wasn't about me, it was about Loki. I called up this organisation called Furry Flyers (they apparently help transporting pets internationally), and this is what they told me. I don't know how accurate and authentic this information is, but they seemed to be the only organisation of this kind with a decent reputation.
So to fly a pet in the luggage compartment of a carrier, I was told to make sure its a Boeing and not an Airbus. So apparently, if I book a ticket on Air India, they will inform me just a few hours before the flight takes off, if it's a Boeing or an Airbus! So if it happens to be an Airbus, I can't obviously take the flight and I'm left stranded. So Air India was definitely out.

Coming to Jet. I thought I would to their customer care, to know how to go about the bookings. Not only is getting through to their customer care through the IVR system a pain, but the guys in the call center are seriously ignorant. The guy I spoke to, told me that he couldn't help me, and I need to speak to someone in reservations with regards to flying pets. As usual he couldn't transfer the call, so I had to hang up and call customer care again and go through the entire IVR process to reach the reservation. So I enquire what needs to be done, extra charges blah blah about flying the dog, and he said he couldn't help me and I needed to speak to someone in cargo department, and of course he was unable to transfer the call, so I'm back again trying to reach jetcargo.

When I got through, this guy tells me, madam, please.... you have called Cargo, you need to speak to someone in reservations. They also told me that carrying a pet as baggage would entail an extra charge which worked out to some 15,000rs, according to Loki's weight. He also said they will provide the crate. Jet's website clearly states that they charge a flat fee of 5000rs, for carrying a pet. He said this information was wrong. This was when I lost it. I told him I needed to speak to someone in charge. So he gave me the number of the duty manager.

The Duty manager rubbished all the previous information. He told me that the airline does not provide the crate,  and that I should call up customer care for booking with pets. So I had come full circle. Customer care- reservations- jet cargo- duty manager- everyone not really giving me any useful information.

So, I was still ok with the situation, about everything so far. I'll buy the crate, I'll pay the extra 15000 if need be.

Now comes the next task, of buying the crate. According to airline rules, only certain kind of crate is allowed. These are called IATA approved crates. They are not your regular steel cages, but are made of fiber glass. I measured Loki, and he was around 35inches lengthwise. So I need a crate which is around 38- 40 inches at least.
I start calling various pet shops and even Furry Flyers. I was shocked to hear that a 'giant size' crate that would accommodate Loki, will cost me anywhere around 30,000 rs. While the large size crates (around 32 inches in length) cost about 13000, the giant size are not available in India, hence imported and expensive. After making several more calls and going through websites, I couldn't even find a place from where I could rent or hire a crate for a few days, quite surprising for a big city like Mumbai.

So far, 30,000+ 15,000= 45,000rs for a 1.5 hr flight to Bangalore.

Flight options completely ruled out by now, I started looking at options by road. Called up Avis, Meru, Easycabs, and a bunch of other taxi operators. Again the same answer 'Sorry, no pets allowed'.
I did manage to find an agency that transports pets within cities in India. They quoted a big fat figure of 35,000Rs.

Finally I have decided to take my own car. It's a Swift, it's going to be a bit uncomfortable for us, since neither me or the driver have driven long distances before. We are planning to halt at Belgaum for the night, at least in that way the three of us will have a much needed break. It's a fourteen hour journey. To my relief, when I googled, I found a couple of resorts that allowed pets, and they looked quite nice. Fingers crossed we are looking forward to a good road trip, and reaching Bangalore safe and happy!

Puppy's first surgery

It was a rainy Saturday morning, when we took Loki puppy to the vet. He was all excited and jumpy, - he probably thought we are going out on a picnic. Honestly it doesn't take much to get Loki excited. Just call out his name with a high pitched 'ki...' at the end, and he will stare at you for five seconds, before dashing across the house to grab a toy. Say the name 'figo' ... his big retriever brother, and he rushes to get his leash, in the hope of meeting his old friend, oh well.... he can't be that smart can he, maybe he thinks 'figo' is just another word for 'lets go out'

I wish there was some way we could have told him...'no, don't get excited, it's a doctor you're going to meet, for a relatively painful surgery. No ... dont get all happy and make us feel more guilty about this. What would you think of us, after coming back. Would you think of us as cruel parents, or would you not even know the difference, jump onto our bed at night, lick our faces in the morning, as if nothings happened.

So, we arrive early, around 10 am, and as soon as the doctor got in, she gave him a sedative. Although she said he would get groggy in fifteen minutes, it took almost forty five minutes for the effect to kick in. Puppy couldn't contain his excitement. New place, new people around, and a whole lot of attention, Loki was in no mood to sleep.

 at the clinic

The surgery lasted about an hour, and believe it or not, the doctor said Loki woke up a couple of times in the middle, so they had to pump in an extra dose of anesthesia.

The saddest was seeing him post surgery. He was quite unconscious, eyes half closed and his tongue sticking out, it was a scary sight, he looked dead. As we wrapped him in a blanket and carried him to the car, we could hear him wincing. and he cried for the very first time. It was a desperate painful cry for help, and all we could do was rub his forehead and tell him 'everything's gonna be ok... just hang in there'

He never spoke to us the entire day. I guess he was too tired, and not fully conscious. He couldn't even hold his head up to sit, and was resting his neck on a chair, and at other times, he looked like a little bobble head doll.

post surgery

The next morning, when we were woken up by crazy nonstop slobbering.  How relieved to get our puppy back in his form. They said he would calm down post surgery, become more dormant, mature... blah blah... well, nothing of that sort, though I was hoping he would sober down a teeny bit.

On my recent visit to the vet, she tells me 'but maybe this is just his personality, just meant to be hyper'. I couldn't help but smile, loved that she said that. Of course it's his personality, what else should we expect, after all we named him 'Loki'. It would just be wrong if he wasn't the annoying mischievous brat we fell in love with, Infact as I'm writing this, he has quietly stolen my socks and gone hiding under the table, watching me slyly from the corner of the eye.

Some precautions we needed to take after the neutering surgery- no walks for at least a couple of days. The stitches were fresh, and the roads wet and dirty. needed to ensure that he didn't lick the wound. We had got the 'cone of shame', just in case, but he was a good boy and didn't bother the wound at all. He was extremely well behaved even when he got the stitches removed. Give this dog a chew stick and he wont feel the nastiest needle in his bum.

Woke up this morning to see the brat happily propped on top of the table in the balcony. I freaked out a little, but this fellow is totally fearless.

Loki let's go for a walk!

Loki gets excited every time he hears the word 'Walk'. He goes running to fetch his leash!

Strangling fur ball

 

Loki's coat has become extremely soft ever since we have been giving him a spoon of cod liver oil everyday. Initially we thought he would reject the taste, but we should have known better. This guy can gobble up ANYTHING. He kept licking the oil off the bowl till the last drop!

Loki and his new bed,which he never uses btw. He pretends to sleep on it every night, but at about 2 am he quietly jumps into our bed and snuggles up.

Upto mischief

I have hated pigeons all my life. In our previous house they used to crap all over our window sills and keep cooing and whining the entire day. Loki can't stand them either. He doesn't seem to mind the sparrows, he lets them chill outside, but the moment he sees pigeons he chases them away.

Dog Park

We knew of this 'Dog park' close to our place, and I don't know why it took us so long to take Loki there. Maybe we were scared that he would misbehave and attack the other dogs and their fuming owners. He hasn't really socialized with other dogs before and Loki is just a lot more hyper than any dog I've come across. He thinks he is still a puppy and jumps at anyone nearly knocking them over.

We went to the park last weekend, and for the first time in the past year we let Loki loose in public. He was so delighted to roam free, I'm sure he must have been over the moon! He could run, play, explore wherever he wanted without a chain holding him back all the time. There were half a dozen other dogs, quite a few labs, beagles and irish setters and Loki for the first time in the company of so many dogs was all over the place. Just couldn't contain his excitement. And there was no way to control him either. He tried to bully some, and successful at that, but some tiny dogs did manage to scare him as well. It was really funny to see him back off in front of a beagle half his size!

Thankfully there were no casualties. Even the owners didn't seem to mind him constantly tugging for attention. So we will probably take him again this weekend. Maybe later this evening.

Loki spends hours by the window watching stars

Loki and elephant

I bought this sweet elephant bed cover in Dilli haat, and Loki for some reason fell in love with it. Spent a good part of the jumping about on the bed, till I yell 'lets go for WALK Loki' to which he responds by running across home to fetch his leash!
Smart puppy.

 

 

Reminiscing

Delhi- Jaisalmer- Jodhpur. I can't believe we're going on a proper vacation together after more than a year. We spent the last New Years 2012 in Ireland, just seems so long back. It feels like 'not much' yet so much has happened over the last twelve months Recounting the events, I feel good and thankful about so many things that have worked out so right for us.

It began with an awesome New Years dinner in the Artisan Cafe in Cork.  Walking through the streets of Dublin, the St Stephens Green, kissing the Blarney stone, the Trinity college... Ram got his gift of eloquence, and the desire to be in a place that inspires and encourages creative writers. Ram has applied to this college to pursue a masters degree.

We shifted homes in January. Suddenly it was moving out from one room to three rooms and three balconies! After insane of trips various furniture bazaars, malls and nurseries... I think we have managed to set up a beautiful home. (Ram says I have totally gone overboard with the furniture, but I am never for 'minimal')

We got home the cutest puppy, and aptly named him Loki. He brings us so much joy every day, every single second. From a puppy that would fit in a palm to a massive rowdy it's been a blessing to watch him grow, our own baby. He is sitting all curled up right now under the chair trying to pull strings off a doormat.
August. A surprise ten day trip to Pattaya was a treat. Although it was on work, we spent most of the days bumming in beaches, drinking and shopping. A long ride on a luxury yacht, an experience I'll not forget in a hurry.

Ram's foray into writing. The graphic novel 'The Aghori' was an astounding success. It was even nominated in the ComicCon awards for best series. It has opened doors for a bunch of new projects and I'm happy and excited about that.

Diwali and a mini vacation to Goa. Beach bumming again. I'm reminded of the Italian phrase I first heard in the movie 'Eat,Pray, Love' . "Dolce Far Niente", or the 'sweetness of doing nothing'. 
From sweetness of nothing, to the sweetness of baking. I think getting that oven was long overdue. I have just realized how much I love baking, and how easy it is. We have started to enjoy cooking together a lot more and exploring so many new recipes.

A vegetable garden in our balcony! I never thought that would work. Tomatoes and limes. Cilantro. I have planted some chillies as well. My attempt at home composting was also a big success. The first batch of manure did wonders to the vegetable and flower plants.

And this blog. Pinning down memories, trivial and tiny as they may be. It feels good to write, I get excited about clicking pictures, putting them all together like a little scrapbook.

Toys for Loki

While naming our puppy Loki, we never thought he would live up to his name every second. He is by far the naughtiest dog in the neighborhood. Our floors are scattered with deflated balls, half- chewed plastic bones and shoes and mangled teddy bears. Once he runs out of toys, he goes for the furniture, our clothes, wires and books.

Some pictures of Loki with his toys- the squeaky chicken, donut, the stuffed green  fish (that lasted a whole week!)

 

Hot winter afternoons

 

 

 

Tomatoes, limes and bougainvilleas enjoying the sun, and Loki playing hide n seek, running to hide in his favorite place- under the bed.

Warm

Warm light and new curtains for home

Pumpkin- nut loaf

I got up early today. With Ram still in bed and nothing interesting on tv, I was looking at a really long lazy Saturday ahead of me. I had bought a wedge of pumpkin from the supermarket for making a soup, but then the bread seemed like a perfect baking project for the day.
Making this loaf involves two very basic steps- Making the pumpkin puree mixture and folding it into the flour mixture. (maida+atta+salt+sugar+cinnamon)

You can add dry fruits, nuts, muesli just about anything crunchy to the batter before tossing it into the oven for about 45 minutes at 170 deg c.

Notes: I added a bit of vanilla essence, you can add maple syrup to the pumpkin puree.
For an extra kick you can add more spices like nutmeg/ cloves to the flour mix.