Not So Fun Adventure.... :(

We certainly had an incredibly stressful weekend.
Daddy's new job has been keeping him really busy and because we haven't found a new place yet that we can really see ourselves in, I spend the days working from home at Daddy's parents and after a while everyone starts needing their own space. Very understandable :)

So, we decided I should take the chance to go visit my family in the states who I haven't seen in forever! (I do visit, or they visit me, but usually only for a weekend or a week at a time) I do miss them terribly! :(

We decided I would bring Ace with me because he wouldn't be able to get the attention and exercise he usually gets due to the long work hours.

Well it was all really last minute and so we decided on Air Canada. When we called, we told them about Ace and the girl on the phone assured us that Ace would be able to fly as *Carry on* with me on the plane. They explained they were flexible and allow dogs under 25 pounds.

So...we purchased my ticket, his ticket, went out, purchased the carry on crate, Ace hated it, but soon got used to it with the help with treats!

Our flight was at 8 am so our day started early and daddy brought us and all our luggage to the airport at 6 am!!! :s

The lines were RIDICULOUS and Daddy stayed as long as possible until he finally had to leave to go to work and we still had a bit of a wait ahead of us.

After an hour in line, we finally reach the counter to have one of the attendants say *I don't think that dog should be on the plane, he is too big!*

My heart sank...I pleaded, begged, and argued with this woman for 10 minutes until she finally said I could purchase a crate at the airport and he could fly cargo! 

So I run with Ace on my arm across the airport to get this crate...I get there to have the woman look at me with a baffled face and tell me that there is an embargo on transporting animals via cargo because it was over 85 degrees! OMG!!

I almost cried. I found another supervisor...tried to argue with him, but no luck in the end.

I ended up missing my flight, sitting in the checkin area for 3 hours trying to find a flight for Ace to get on.

Air canada directed me to one place, that place directed me to another, and then another.

Finally Air Canada Cargo* told me they would send him the following morning, but I needed a hard sided crate.

I quickly called Daddy's mom at home to come get me so we could race home, get a crate, and have everything ready, and THEN get back to the airport for my 4 pm rescheduled flight.

We got the crate, which by the way is $$$$$. I never knew! Sheesh, who knew a plastic crate would be so expensive.

When we got home, I called the Air Canada Cargo to book him and the man on the phone (who was different than the first guy I talked to) told me that they too had an embargo and wouldn't send him!!!

I almost died! What was I going to do with Ace?!?!? Daddy's parents aren't big dog people and were already doing us a favour by letting us stay at their house with him.

After everything that day we couldn't find a freakin way to get him on the plane....

I finally had to leave for the airport with no prospects on getting Ace to North Carolina with me.

My heart was broken, but I figured I would just keep trying to find a way to get him to me!

While I was waiting at the airport (sweating)... Daddy's mom called me to tell me they had found Continental Airlines Pet Cargo Shipping!! (You'd think other airlines would be aware of this and recommend it to people).

So they booked his flight and on Tuesday morning at 6:30 am, Daddy dropped him off at the airport in his crate with his little bed and a toy.

Toronto to Newark...then Newark to Charlotte!

He didn't arrive until 4:25pm!!! 

I was SO worried I didn't sleep all night on Monday. I felt so terrible about Ace riding beneath the plane.

We practically sped to the airport on Tuesday and we met Ace there!

He was SUCH a trooper!

He rode on the plane with 2 bunnies, 2 puppies, a baby pig, and a few other pets! At least he wasn't alone. I felt so much better to have my little Chan Man in my arms again!

I took him outside and he hightailed it to the grass and took probably the longest pee of his life...

Even though the crate had an absorbent material on the bottom, he must have held it! 

I don't know how he did it!

I feel so much better now that he is with me! Not only that but he gets to visit with my sister (who hasn't seen him since he was a little peanut at the breeders when she was here to visit).

When we picked him up, we surprised him with some new treats and a fresh bottle of water!

The treats, which I recommend to everyone, are made by Vitalife (the company Daddy works for)!!! They sell them at Walmart, Costco, and many other large stores.

We got him the chicken strips for fresh breath!! He was SO happy!

It will be great for Ace out here in North Carolina visiting my grandmother & sister. There is a huge yard with a forest, chickens, a rooster, and bunnies everywhere!!

After this, we are then going to New York to see my dad & sister(again) yay!

We of course will then need to get a flight for Ace, but this time, it won't be such a huge trek because it won't be *International* and I am going to try to get him on the SAME flight as me! But there isn't any worry yet, since we plan to stay and visit for a few weeks :)

We miss Daddy Terribly & hopes he will get a chance to read the blog to see pictures of Ace on his "International Adventures!"

Miss you and Love you Daddy & We'll see you soon :)

*Ace sleeping in the Car on my sister's lap on the way home from the airport*