Hello,
It is a long time since I last posted but as I have been on a lovely visit to Corfu recently and found the pet passport situation much changed I thought I would let you know how things now stand.
If you read over previous posts you will see that my cat Charlie and I spent the winter last year playing the waiting game, quarantining in Corfu until Charlie’s pet passport conditions were fulfilled. That is, he had to stay outside the UK until six months had elapsed after being tested positive for anti-rabies antibodies (at least four weeks after his anti-rabies vaccination). But the good news for ex-pats in Greece who want to bring their pets to the UK (and since the worsening of Greece’s euro debt crisis this number has greatly increased) is that this period of six months has now been contracted to…21 days!! For full details please follow this DEFRA link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/#a
On the face of it, it seems strange that one minute it’s six months and then it’s less than three weeks to show that it’s safe to bring an animal into the UK; that they don’t have rabies. But everything is done for a reason, and though the wheels of change have turned slowly I accept that it was crucial that rabies was kept out of the UK. And, hey, if it had been a three week wait for Charlie to qualify I would have missed a wonderful winter on Corfu, so…
By the way, Charlie is loving living in Wales. In Athens and Corfu he was an apartment cat, only going out onto balconies to watch the world and other cats go by. (For many years he did have a companion, Princess, but she died…) Anyway, here he has the run of a house and garden and other gardens and even fields. And it’s great to see him running, jumping climbing, and making friends. But before all that could happen I had to get him vaccinated for feline enteritis and cat flu and other things. If you bring your pet back do take it to a vet for immunization before letting them outdoors to mix with strange cats.
When I took Charlie for his jabs I was in for a bit of a surprise. The vet said she would examine him to make sure he was healthy. She was listening to his chest through a stethoscope when she suddenly said, “Maine Coon”.
“What?!” I asked. Was Charlie ill?
“Maine Coon,” she repeated.
“What’s that?” I thought she was telling me he had a disease!
“It’s his breed, he’s a Maine Coon.”
I’d never heard of them. I asked her to spell it for me.
She told me that they originate in Maine, USA and there is some link between them and racoons.
I came home and looked Maine Coon up on Wikipedia. And…there was a picture of Charlie looking back at me. It was very weird.
I discovered that Maine Coons are the biggest of domestic cats. And that’s why I needed a small dog kennel for Charlie when I brought him over on the plane! (Your pet has to be able to stand, sit up, and turn around normally in their pet carrier. You take various measurements of them and input those into the relevant section of your chosen airline’s website and using a formula it tells you the size of the cage your pet needs.)
Anyway, I learnt that in Maine the winters are very cold and that the tufts of fur between Charlie’s toes are for walking on snow. And that his tail is long and fluffy so he can put it in front of his face if he is walking in a snowstorm, and the fur lining his ears is to keep them warm. I read about his origins and his loyal and good nature and lots of other things. It was quite a revelation.
Charlie was twelve years old before I discovered he is a Maine Coon!
I told a close friend. “That explains it!” she said. “I’ve been telling people for years about Charlie and how huge and fluffy he is and about his incredible tail and so on. And they’ve asked me what breed he was and I said that you’d said he was just a tabby. But now I know he’s a Maine Coon that explains everything!”
Yes, I guess it did.
Of course, Charlie is not a pedigree cat – he was born on a street in a mixed litter. And he is now an old boy with a little white hair. However, I am happy to finally know why he is the size he is. But I have to tell you despite all his fur, when we had snow for a whole week in January in Gilfach Goch he was not happy to walk in it at all! And his favourite place in the house at the moment is in front of the woodburning stove.
If you have repatriated a pet I’d love to hear how it went... I am also happy to answer any questions you may have about the subject. I do have friends who are bringing their pets back from Corfu this winter so if you need any specific information please contact me.
Wishing you the best of luck if that is in your plan.
Love and light!
Teresa
If you are familiar with *San Stefanos (Avliotes), Corfu please check back soon as there is a plan in the pipeline to create a special link between us.
2nd May 23
I want to share some good news with you today:
My debut novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel, recently launched which is set in Corfu and I think you will love it! Find all the details here.
* For those of you familiar with San Stefanos, Avliotes (see above) - the novel is based on this resort but fictionalized. In other words, though I feature the fabulous beach and Z shape of the resort, I have added in lots of other aspects from my imagination - including the Paradise Hotel! And all the characters are imaginary.
Actually, please see below the details of that book and my other two books.
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I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.
Check out Pray Then Listen In UK / In US / In Singapore
Available as a Kindle version or paperback!
Set on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu in this novel I show the ever-present backstory of life, as I interpret the supernatural elements of our dilemmas and choices.
I know, that no matter what your beliefs or experiences, you will surely recognize the tussles of my characters, as tussles in your own life.... Enjoy!
Click on the following links to check out my novel, Angel at the Paradise Hotel In UK / In US / In Singapore
Available as a Kindle version or paperback!
I wrote 9 Days to Heaven, How to make everlasting meaning of your life as my personal evangelization effort.
Check out 9 Days to Heaven In UK / In US / In Singapore
Available as a Kindle version or paperback!
Blessings,
Teresa x
PS. About the links to Singapore, please see my blog post Singapore and Christianity
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I have been asking God for guidance and listening to His replies for many years. I share my methods in Pray Then Listen, A heart-to-heart with God.
