Ocean Breeze: 20 Days Until Cast-Off: Charlie is Ready to GO!

Taking a pet on an adventure such as this takes as much planning as it does for his 'humans'. So many things have to be considered. Enough of his favorite food and treats need to be stored so it's available when there are no pet stores around. Plenty of his monthly flea and heart worm treatment needs to be purchased for more than the number of months planned for the journey. His annual physical and shots need to be taken care of before the trip begins. An emergency kit needs to be put together with medications and printed dosages just for dogs. And, of course, there is the issue of going to the bathroom on the boat when there is no land available.

Charlie had his physical this morning along with all his annual boosters. I had his rabies vaccination given a year early as well as his booster for canine influenza. Since we hope to go to the Bahamas for a few weeks, I wanted to make sure there was no question when it came to rabies vaccination. I started vaccinating him for canine influenza last year before our trip to Florida. There is a growing problem of that infection that began in the racing greyhounds and has spread into the general canine population. Anyway, that required a booster which was shot up his nose. Poor guy...he is a bit down in the mouth now. He really thought he was at the vet just to meet and greet other dogs and cats!

I got a Veterinary Health Certificate and a copy of all his records to carry with us. The Bahamian government requires a permit issued from their government offices at the cost of $10 cash or money order (no checks or charge....hmmm, interesting, eh?). It has to be issued no more than 10 months before we plan to visit. I'll have to send for that when we get to Key West.

They also require that a 'Veterinary Health Certificate be presented to a Bahamian licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of arrival', or so the information from their website says. The caveat there is the Health Certificate is only good for 10 days from the time it is written by our veterinarian! I could probably get another one from the vet in Marathon Key just before we make the transit, however there is no guarantee as to when we will cross. Weather is a huge factor and we could be waylaid for more than 10 days waiting for welcoming seas.

The biggest problem right now is getting Charlie 'trainned' to the back deck of our boat. We finally had success last weekend after he swam while we were anchored. The guy drinks half the lake when he's swimming so urgency caused him to 'go' on the back deck. He was sooooo embarrassed...and then confused because he was praised and treated as if something good had happened.

We actually got him to 'go' one more time in the same place later that afternoon. However, since then he has refused. And his refusal lasts, and lasts, and lasts! He has gone as long as 23 hours when I finally gave in and took him to the grassy run to 'go'.

Many pet owners have had excellent results with Pet Potty grass. Some have been lucky with flower pots and other assorted ornaments that have been 'endoctrinated' by other dogs. I bought a 4' by 4' piece of Pet Potty grass but haven't been able to try it out on the boat yet. I did put it in the back yard for a trial. Charlie walked across it, turned around and looked at it...and that was that. I hope it works better on the back deck.

Yesterday I walked around Big Lots and found a mushroom and shovel lawn ornament on sale. I decided to pick it up and see if I could get some help for Charlie from the neighborhood dogs. It sits in front of our house by the sidewalk waiting for donations.