Quarantine

I did not sleep the first night I got into Singapore. I was having a conversation with my Mom up till almost 4am. After that, I updated the blog. And before I knew it, it was time to head off to the airport cargo complex where AVA (refer to previous posting) is located. Shasta was supposed to be at the AVA place at 8am when I got there. 

This cargo complex is a high security area. Goods that are imported into Singapore arrive here and have to be cleared through customs. So, one has to present identification and sign in and get a pass before entering into the facilities. This is not a small place. There are many buildings in the cargo complex and the size of the total area could possibly be bigger than the airport itself. The AVA building is just one of the many buildings in the cargo complex (also now known as the airfreight center... or something to that effect).

8am sharp. I arrive at the AVA building. To my disappointment, Shasta is not there. SATS has not delivered him yet. I urge the person speaking with me to call SATS. He spends about 5-10 mins on the phone and finally tells me that they are bringing Shasta across right now. When I ask how long. He says he doesn't know. I sense I am not getting any more info out of him, so, I sit quietly and wait. I have to keep reminding myself that we are in Singapore right now, where customer service is not anything I have grown accustomed to.

About 20 mins later, a vehicle pulls up with a crate in the back. I see no dog!!! Another person at the AVA building tells the vehicle to pull up to the side of the building and tells me to follow him. He leads me to a room that has the door I just entered through and also another bigger door which actually leads to the outside of the building. When he opens the door, I see, through the sides of the crate (which is not very clear) a black object moving inside. At least he is alive.

The person that has just escorted me to the room turns around to me and asks me if I have a leash. I say I do and take it out. He then points to the side of the building and tells me that I can take Shasta back to that area so he can run around for a while. 

Shasta looks confused. He wags his tail when he sees me,  but he still looks confused.

I put the leash on and take him to the area I have been assigned. He runs up to the grass and pees for like 5 mins. I'm beginning to wonder if he actually peed in the crate. Can a dog hold their pee for more than 24hrs? He then takes a dump. And then he pees again. And he takes yet another dump. And he pees yet again. I'm now convinced he probably didn't pee at all in the last 24hrs (even though Jessica tells me it is not possible).

I had asked the guy earlier for water and he appears with a dog bowl and fills it with water. Shasta drinks up the entire bowl of water. I go to refill the bowl and he drinks the second bowl up too!!! Ok, this is now completely confusing me. He has not drank and peed or pooped for 24 hrs? If dogs could only talk... right?

When we are done with all the above, I bring him back into the room to feed him some cheese (his favorite human food. On second thoughts, his favorite human food is ANY human food...). The guy from earlier comes in to the room and tells me that when I am done with him, I should put him back into the crate and then go back to the front counter to complete some "inspection" paperwork. He goes on to say to take my time. He also says not too feed Shasta too much as he is going to be transported to the quarantine center.  I feed Shasta a few pieces of cheese and then bring him outside to walk again. He poops and pees again!!! He drinks some more water. I think he is confused as to why it is so hot and humid. 

He sees a butterfly and looks absolutely confused, he doesn't attempt chasing it and just watches it. It is very different from when he sees a moth and begins trying to snap at it in SF. Interesting.

When he is done, we have spent about 20 mins together. I put him back into the crate which he enters VERY reluctantly and then starts to whine. I gather my things and head out to the front counter to complete my paperwork. This place is supposed to do an inspection of Shasta and then certify him so that he can enter the country as an "import". I don't quite know what the inspection consists of, but no one has even come within 5 ft of Shasta but apparently he is inspected and ready to enter the country. I get an import certificate which I'm supposed to declare to customs on the way out. There has also been a value placed on him so that I can declare that value to the customs and they may have to collect GST (similar to sales tax in certain parts of the US, also know as Goods and Services Tariff (I think?) here in Singapore. His value is $200 (that's what Jessica told me to declare, but I think after all this trouble, I can do a Mastercard ad... get my drift?) and the GST in Singapore is 7%).

With the import certificate, I head off to the customs checkpoint which is on the way on the drive back out of this facility. I do not have to pay any GST on him. I'm not sure of the rules of when you have to pay GST and when you don't have to. Maybe he is a pet and not technically an import for sale item?? Who knows, but no money spent is a good thing, so, I'm not complaining. I am done and now headed home.

Shasta is going to be transported to the quarantine place at noon and I can go visit him later in the afternoon.

TO BE CONTINUED...