Molly at the K's house before we left
Now here I must stop our story and back up just a little bit in order to tell you about Molly, our service dog.
Sweet Miss Molly the Cocker Spaniel was added to our family a couple months before we left. She fit in so well with our family that when it came time to find our other beloved doggies new homes, we just couldn't part with Molly. Molly was so good with our little girls. One of my sisters has some sensory issues from being a premature baby, and we trained and certified Molly as her service dog. Molly is really my dog, but she loves all of us!
Molly sleeping in the car on my lap. We had to go about 40 mintues away (on the day we were leaving!) to get some paperwork from the State saying she could leave the country.
Molly on Grant's lap at the SeaTac airport
We worried what it would be like to take a dog on the plane, first of all, then through Mexico and then through Belize? Would they accept she was a service dog? How could we figure out all the paper work? So many times, it looked like she couldn't come, but then somehow it worked out perfectly to bring her before we left. Yes, we will admit it was a hassle to have her along. But even in Mexico when we got off the plane and Molly's paperwork had to be checked out by a lady who couldn't speak English, the Lord worked it all out. He even had an English speaking person interrperet for us in the room right when we had a little confusion over something. So even though it wasn't easy to have Molly along, I am so grateful she came!
Being a service animal, she was allowed on the airplane with us free of charge. She was perfect on the plane and never caused any serious problem... biting someone or pottying all over the floor. :) She was a quite a comfort to me... a little bit of home!
We all are so happy to have Molly here with us. And you won't believe what happened to her on our trip through Mexico!
When we got off the plane in Cancun, we took a 15 passenger van taxi to Playa Del Carmen, about 1 1/2 hours away. They allowed Molly in the van; what a blessing! We stayed in Playa for a few days, and then took the ADO bus to Chetumal where our friends were going to pick us up. When we bought the bus tickets the day before our departure, we asked if our dog could come on the bus. "Oh, yes, yes, she can come!" That was a relief because we had heard of other people not being allowed to take their dog on the bus.
The next day, bright and early, another taxi took us to the ADO bus station. They loaded all of our way-too-many bags onto the bus, and then it was time for us to board. Somehow Molly was left with Ashley, and I got on before her. I heard a commotion going on outside. "No un perro on autobus! Put un perro down with luggage, please!" My heart skipped a beat. Put her in the luggage compartment?! Not only would she die of heat exhaustion, but she would get slammed by all the luggage! I heard my dad telling them she was for medical reasons, and she wouldn't potty in the bus. They talked over it for some time, and when they saw that Dad wouldn't put her under there, and seemed to have a reason, they let her on... But not without a BIG laugh! You see, Mexico and Belize look at dogs much differently than we do. They think of them as the annoying, half-starved mangy creatures that are always scuttling around the streets. Quite different from the States! On the bus, everyone was laughing about the "Americano un perro on autobus! HAHAHAH!" Someone even called someone on his cell phone and told them! It was quite hysterical, well to them. We were just grateful we still had her!
When we got to Belize, after our kind friends picked us up, the Belizeans were upset about her too. "You are supposed to have a permit," they told me. Thankfully, after giving them a fee for looking her over, and a fee for not filing the paperwork, she was allowed into Belize without being quarantined.
Now, if you would ask my opinion about bringing a dog into Belize or Mexico, I don't think I would advise you to do so! It was just such a hassle. Of course, I am very happy she is here. :)
Miss Molly and I at the Belize River... Yep, she made it!
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