After the Hell-and-back I've gone through with preparing and over preparing for Balboa's trip with me to the Philippines, I arrived at Pearson Airport, terminal 1, and lined up at EVA Airlines.
EVA: Excuse me miss, can I see your papers for your dog, please.
ME: Sure, here you go.
[EVA lady walks away, checks the papers and then returns.]
EVA: Looks good but where is your import permit for Taipei?
ME: I wasn't told I needed one.
...and, just like that, quite the dramatic scene at the airport was launched.
We had exhausted all possibilities, all potential situations, and all questions with the Philippines' consulate, EVA Airlines, CIFA, and Balboa's vet with what was needed for him to go from Toronto, Canada to Manila, Philippines.
Apparently an additional permit was needed for him to pass through Taipei because of it being a stopover point for us. We will be changing planes there.
Somewhere in the chaos, confusion and complications of it all, no one among what felt like an overdose of people I talked to knew this.
Finding out at the airport that an additional permit was needed was brutal.
My heart sank and I felt sick to my stomach.
ME: Well how long would it take to get an import permit from Taipei?
EVA: Usually it takes about a week but I'll call them.
ME: Okay, then let's do that... Please call them!
[The EVA Representative leaves, calls Taipei, then returns with news.]
EVA: They said they can put a rush on it, possibly get it tonight but the person who has to officially approve it and sign it can't do that until they leave their meeting, at 11:30pm our time.]
On the positive note, the one week wait could be waved and the import permit COULD get the okay tonight.
On the negative note, it might not get the okay and thus Balboa won't be able to travel.
The EVA Airlines manager on duty approached us and gave me the following options:
1. Take a chance that Balboa's permit goes through.. If it does, we all go to the Philippines. If it doesn't, we then decide who stays and comes later on in the week, minus Balboa. He'd stay in Canada.
2. Call it before we go through security check, arrange for Balboa to stay in Canada and us go without him.
I had an hour to decide. I had till 11pm to decide by which at that point the airport carrier for Balboa would come and either take him away or leave him there, depending on what I decided. I had to decide by 11pm because of the time needed to get Balboa from the airport gate to the airplane cargo section on the plane.
I decided to take a chance, gamble it all, and I volunteered to come later on in the week if the permit didn't go through.
I watched as they took away Balboa and then I proceeded to go towards security.
It was 11:10pm when suddenly I got a text message saying I had received an email.
My import permit request to Taipei had been received!!! I had gambled big but won bigger!!!
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