Jochen coming out of a shaft. Photo by Gaspard Zbingen
Finally, today I was able to visit Jochen in quarantine. I had the car packed early with all the things I needed to take to make sure that I would leave on time to be the first person there to rush through the gate. I can hear Judith say, 'yes, helicopter mum.' Sigh...... she is right.
But you see guys, I was told that Tuesdays and Thursdays are the most popular visiting times and it is not hard to figure out why. I wanted to make sure that we had access to a grassed pen so that Jochen would be able to finally run free again. I could not bear the thought of being too late and hoping that someone would go home early i the hope of getting access. In this context I am completely one-eyed and totally selfish on behalf of my dog.
HAPPY REUNION
In fact, I charged through the gate with all my gear including the hammock bed and mat heading towards Jochen's pen so fast that I completely forgot about signing in.
Jochen again leaped and yipped and barked as he had done on Friday. It is then when I realised that I had forgotten my camera, so no photos of today's fun.
We raced off to the grassed area and he could run free. Yay!!! Even though the staff were very busy with bathing dogs, they did give me time to bath Jochen (I had already booked the time). It was high time as in Switzerland, and I think in Europe generally, hydro-baths as we have them here are unknown. So he went for three months without a bath and given that he was crawling through some pretty dusty places plus already having that kennel smell on his coat, it was high time he had a bath.
But you see guys, I was told that Tuesdays and Thursdays are the most popular visiting times and it is not hard to figure out why. I wanted to make sure that we had access to a grassed pen so that Jochen would be able to finally run free again. I could not bear the thought of being too late and hoping that someone would go home early i the hope of getting access. In this context I am completely one-eyed and totally selfish on behalf of my dog.
HAPPY REUNION
In fact, I charged through the gate with all my gear including the hammock bed and mat heading towards Jochen's pen so fast that I completely forgot about signing in.
Jochen again leaped and yipped and barked as he had done on Friday. It is then when I realised that I had forgotten my camera, so no photos of today's fun.
We raced off to the grassed area and he could run free. Yay!!! Even though the staff were very busy with bathing dogs, they did give me time to bath Jochen (I had already booked the time). It was high time as in Switzerland, and I think in Europe generally, hydro-baths as we have them here are unknown. So he went for three months without a bath and given that he was crawling through some pretty dusty places plus already having that kennel smell on his coat, it was high time he had a bath.
Jochen searching in Serbeco. Photo by Gaspard Zbingen
By the time he was bathed and blow-dried, he looked super. We went back to 'our' grassy run where we played some more. Two guys who had just the other day flown in from England were in the pen next door playing with their Staffy. Each time they threw 'Monster's' ball, Jochen raced up and down the pen barking. I noticed that he sounds hoarse. On checking, the staff assured me that he did not bark more than any other dog, yet he still sounds hoarse, not that anything can be done about that.
Those two guys and I were the last ones left, everyone else having already taken their dogs back to their pens. We pushed it to the last second before returning our dogs. Apropos quarantine, last Friday I heard a young boy ask his parents if their dog was in gaol!!
Three different Aqis staff told me how nice Jochen is and how laid back and confident. I was told that some Shepherds that come through are nervy and agitated and can be quite difficult to handle but Jochen was great. This is excellent news as it means that staff will always look forward to interacting with him.
Peter flies in next Tuesday morning and we will go straight to the quarantine station from the airport to visit Jochen for an hour. Visiting hours are 1 hour in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.
SPOTSWOOD QUARANTINE STATION
I must say, this place is clean and nice. Quite a few grassed pens are provided where dogs can run free. The facilities are very good and the staff is very friendly. I don't want Jochen to be here but as we have no choice in the matter, this quarantine station is fine. I am however ticking off the days.
BEDDING
Not only does Jochen have that very good bedding in his bedroom, he now also has the hammock bed with a thick mat in the outside run. So he has a choice whether he wants to lie on the concrete (and get calluses on his elbows) or on his hammock bed. i can't do any more than that.
He barked when I left him but I did not turn around. How is that for strength and calm emotions? What do you say to that, Judith? Are you proud of me?
Those two guys and I were the last ones left, everyone else having already taken their dogs back to their pens. We pushed it to the last second before returning our dogs. Apropos quarantine, last Friday I heard a young boy ask his parents if their dog was in gaol!!
Three different Aqis staff told me how nice Jochen is and how laid back and confident. I was told that some Shepherds that come through are nervy and agitated and can be quite difficult to handle but Jochen was great. This is excellent news as it means that staff will always look forward to interacting with him.
Peter flies in next Tuesday morning and we will go straight to the quarantine station from the airport to visit Jochen for an hour. Visiting hours are 1 hour in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.
SPOTSWOOD QUARANTINE STATION
I must say, this place is clean and nice. Quite a few grassed pens are provided where dogs can run free. The facilities are very good and the staff is very friendly. I don't want Jochen to be here but as we have no choice in the matter, this quarantine station is fine. I am however ticking off the days.
BEDDING
Not only does Jochen have that very good bedding in his bedroom, he now also has the hammock bed with a thick mat in the outside run. So he has a choice whether he wants to lie on the concrete (and get calluses on his elbows) or on his hammock bed. i can't do any more than that.
He barked when I left him but I did not turn around. How is that for strength and calm emotions? What do you say to that, Judith? Are you proud of me?