Finally it was our turn to check in. Behind the desk
sat an older man. He wanted to know the dog´s name.
“Fulla” I answered (what means
“gardenia flower” in Arabic). “What a
beautiful name, but you should call her
“Lucky”, because she is lucky that she can
leave with you. Mrs Khalil spoke to
me.” Afterwards I remembered, that Mona had
told me that she first called someone from the office
of AMC airlines, then later she had talked with
someone at the airport, which seemed to be Mister
Sayed. Thank God he was at the airport himself at
that time. I thanked him a hundred times that
we were able to take Fulla free of charge.
“You don´t need to thank me.” smiled Mr
Sayed “It is not a favour.” Thanks to
Mahmoud of course that things went so well. We
said goodbye to him after tipping him well. Yes,
we succeeded! Frank waved to Mohammed, who waited
outside, that everything was ok and I elatedly called
Mona that she could go to bed. Little did we know what
was going to happen.....
Half an hour later a bus transported us to the plane. I saw Fulla in her cage. She just lay down, what a good dog! Immediately after entering the plane I asked one of the stewards if he would inform the pilot that there was a dog in the hold and therefore heating and oxygen were required. “Well, we are still looking if there is space.” He told me to my horror. “What is your seat number? Please, sit down. If necessary, I will come to you.” Gee, would there be so much luggage? With an anxious feeling I looked for my seat.
A few minutes later the same steward walked towards us. “Please, come with me.” Oh no, this was going wrong. With a beating heart I went with him to the front. There stood an Egyptian man who spoke Dutch fluently and who was apparently responsible for the luggage. “We have a problem” he told me immediately, ”that cage is much too big, it won’t fit through the door.” SHIT, I had not reckoned on this. “Can´t it go in on its side?” I asked. No, that was not possible either, I could have a look myself. I walked with him outside and when we stood at the side of the plane, I immediately saw that it was really impossible, the entrance was much too small. What now? “Don´t you have another cage?” I asked, against my better judgment. Of course he had nothing else, from where would he conjure a crate? I told him that the measurements of the cage were passed on to Mr Sayed, who had said it was not a problem.... Would Fulla´s journey end at the airport of Cairo?
What to do, should I call Mona she had to pick up Fulla? “Can´t she come aboard?” I asked, a bit panicky. “No, unfortunately that is not possible”. “But she is very quiet, she has had a tranquiliser and we are seated by the emergency exit.” I beseeched. “No” the Egyptian repeated “I cannot do that, because other people may complain about it. “ I looked at him desperately. “But what should we do then?” “Ìs she healthy?” he asked. “Off course she is healthy, I have all the papers, I will show you.” I ran to my seat to get the health certificates. The man from AMC airlines looked at everything carefully and finally said “Put her in the back, in the toilet. However, if there is any damage, you are responsible.” WOW, I could have kissed him!
I ran down the stairs of the plane again, took Fulla by her collar out of the cage and trotted with her inside. She was as quiet as a lamb in my arms and did not utter a sound. I put Fulla into the toilet and closed the door. The cabin crew locked the door and sweating I flopped down in my seat, next to the toilet. What a situation! I hoped Fulla would not bark, gnaw the toilet or jump into the toilet. I had hardly sat down when I smelled dog poo and I discovered a heap in the aisle. I cleaned up as much as possible with some napkins, while a stewardess sprayed away the smell. I heard some scratching at the door, but for the rest Fulla kept quiet. Finally the airplane taxied away and took off. Hurrah, we were on our way!
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Half an hour later a bus transported us to the plane. I saw Fulla in her cage. She just lay down, what a good dog! Immediately after entering the plane I asked one of the stewards if he would inform the pilot that there was a dog in the hold and therefore heating and oxygen were required. “Well, we are still looking if there is space.” He told me to my horror. “What is your seat number? Please, sit down. If necessary, I will come to you.” Gee, would there be so much luggage? With an anxious feeling I looked for my seat.
A few minutes later the same steward walked towards us. “Please, come with me.” Oh no, this was going wrong. With a beating heart I went with him to the front. There stood an Egyptian man who spoke Dutch fluently and who was apparently responsible for the luggage. “We have a problem” he told me immediately, ”that cage is much too big, it won’t fit through the door.” SHIT, I had not reckoned on this. “Can´t it go in on its side?” I asked. No, that was not possible either, I could have a look myself. I walked with him outside and when we stood at the side of the plane, I immediately saw that it was really impossible, the entrance was much too small. What now? “Don´t you have another cage?” I asked, against my better judgment. Of course he had nothing else, from where would he conjure a crate? I told him that the measurements of the cage were passed on to Mr Sayed, who had said it was not a problem.... Would Fulla´s journey end at the airport of Cairo?
What to do, should I call Mona she had to pick up Fulla? “Can´t she come aboard?” I asked, a bit panicky. “No, unfortunately that is not possible”. “But she is very quiet, she has had a tranquiliser and we are seated by the emergency exit.” I beseeched. “No” the Egyptian repeated “I cannot do that, because other people may complain about it. “ I looked at him desperately. “But what should we do then?” “Ìs she healthy?” he asked. “Off course she is healthy, I have all the papers, I will show you.” I ran to my seat to get the health certificates. The man from AMC airlines looked at everything carefully and finally said “Put her in the back, in the toilet. However, if there is any damage, you are responsible.” WOW, I could have kissed him!
I ran down the stairs of the plane again, took Fulla by her collar out of the cage and trotted with her inside. She was as quiet as a lamb in my arms and did not utter a sound. I put Fulla into the toilet and closed the door. The cabin crew locked the door and sweating I flopped down in my seat, next to the toilet. What a situation! I hoped Fulla would not bark, gnaw the toilet or jump into the toilet. I had hardly sat down when I smelled dog poo and I discovered a heap in the aisle. I cleaned up as much as possible with some napkins, while a stewardess sprayed away the smell. I heard some scratching at the door, but for the rest Fulla kept quiet. Finally the airplane taxied away and took off. Hurrah, we were on our way!
Read more >>