We took her to the vet for her last appointment, filled out all of the paperwork and were assured that the vet had done this before, and all the boxes were checked and completed correctly.
Later that week, my mom and I went to the USDA to get Kitzel's official stamps to enter Germany. Already, it had been a horrible day. We should have known. Mom had (another) disappointing appointment at Hopkins. We then drove down to Annapolis for our USDA appointment. We arrived way early (12 p.m. instead of 3 p.m.). I gave them a quick call to see if there was any way that we could move our appointment forward a bit. "Nope, sorry. We are completely booked." Really!? All you are doing is stamping a freaking paper (which costs $40!). So, mom and I treated ourselves to a delicious lunch and some shopping. The only success of the day was at Kohl's. While walking past a clearance rack, I saw this coat that screamed "Dad." It was on sale from $140 to $14! Score! Dad does love it.
We arrive at the USDA and are greeted by a man at the desk. We give him the papers. He is aloof. We ask him whether they are in order. Does he need anything else? He seems confused. He give the papers to the vet. She looks them over and then comes out and says there is a problem. Kitzel was microchipped AFTER her rabies vaccine. So, how can we be sure that the rabies vaccine was given to the correct cat? Really!? There is only one tiny Siamese cat in my parents house. My mom starts crying (and cussing a bit). The vet says that if Kitzel can get another rabies shot, Germany almost always will waive the 21 day waiting period. My mom calls the vet immediately and schedules the shot for Saturday morning. We schedule another USDA appointment for Monday morning 9 a.m. We fly Tuesday.
Saturday comes. It snowed heavily and is now icing horribly. I load Kitzel into the car and drive SLOWLY down Turkey Point Road. The vet feels horrible and barely charges us for the rabies vaccine.
Monday morning at 3 a.m. I get up to call Germany to assure that the Munich Airport Customs will waive the 21 day waiting period. I'm told to scan her documents and email them. I fight with my parents scanner. Apparently, overnight the USB port died. I end up scanning them to a SD card then loading them to the computer. I call multiple times to make sure that they receive my documents. We need a decision by 7 a.m. to be at the USDA in Annapolis on time. At 6 a.m., I receive the first decision. NO! Sorry, according to EU regulations, blah, blah, blah. I call the office again to speak to a supervisor. I tell her that I'm pregnant, that we made this flight specially and have spent tons of money, that our normal airline will not carry her, and on and on. "Oh, I'm not the supervisor." She'll be back in about 45 mins. Can you call back then? It will be cutting it close, but I call back again. I get the supervisor, who (of course) is even worse than the other ladies. She tells me that if I was entering another port of entry into Germany (or the EU) they would probably do the waiver, but Munich sticks the to rules. I resist the urge to swear. I'm told that if we bring Kitzel, she will be quarantined (and it will cost approx. 500 Euros). We ask about a rabies blood test, that is acceptable but will take a few days. She will still be quarantined (at least 250 Euros). According to them, she is ineligible to enter the EU until 11 Feb.
I call the airlines. I try to change my flight. Flight is not changeable unless I have a doctors note saying I'm ineligible to fly. Considering that my sinuses (and soon to be my ears) are filling with snot, I think this might work. But then, she tells me the change fees: 300 Euros per ticket!!! My dad offers to pay it, but I feel back for poor Claron who hasn't seen his wife and daughter in two weeks. I really don't think he could deal without us for a month.
I have been told by my friends over and over that Customs barely checks animal paperwork. As long as it has the stamps, they generally waive you by. I'm aware that with my luck, Kitzel will probably be quarantined. I know I probably should have never even called the vet office in Munich (as now they are looking for us) and just let it be. I just have really, really bad luck.
So, I called the USDA and cancelled our appointment. When Eliza got up, I told her that Kitzel won't be coming to Germany yet. She was devastated.
Tuesday afternoon with a head full of snot but no cat carrier, Eliza and I board a flight back to Germany. On Wednesday, Eliza and I go shopping at the market. She asks to buy cat food for Kitzel. I almost start crying.
We are looking for a cat in Germany in the mean time. Unfortunately (due to the LD situation), we are pretty picky. We are hoping that someone will be able to bring Kitzel over. My mother is coming in May for the baby. Claron's parents are coming some time during the summer. She is eligible to fly as soon as 11 Feb. The USDA still has to stamp her papers though. One of the biggest problems, though, is that US Airways (who runs a direct from PHL to MUC and is often the cheapest) does not accept animals on transatlantic flights. So we wait (again)...
