20 February 2012

{20feb2012: big news}

I was trying to decide when the best time would be to break the big news I had mentioned briefly in an earlier post. And then I realized I don't think there is a "best" time, so why not share it now. Also a lot of the things we'll be doing in the next few months will be because of the big news.
Right before we went on our last trip to Hawaii, Jason and I found out (we work at the same firm) that our company is making a few strategic changes and one of them would be that our office would be closing. But we were both offered positions in our Singapore office. It was a lot of news to take, I'm still in a bit of shock over it and it's been over a month that we've found out. It's a lot to process, and my biggest concern is Darwin. We're still doing a lot of research trying to figure out the best way to get her there and what we need to do leading up to this big move. I was concerned about the quarantine period in Singapore, but thankfully we can do a few things in advance to hopefully reduce her time from 30 days to 10 days.
I've contacted a few bloggers who've made international moves, like Wild Dingo and of course Honey and Hsin-Yi, and Julie was able to put me in contact with Homer who's made the move to Singapore. I also came across Singapooch while doing some Google searching. They've all been great at answering my initial questions (I'm sure I'll have more once we get further along) and have made me feel more at ease about moving Dar.
I started to contact a pet mover locally and we made our first trip a couple weeks ago to the vet to get her vaccinations and bloodwork started.


After hanging out in the waiting area for a little while we got her in the back, weighed her (13.95lbs! tub!) and got into a room. We were there for an international travel consultation and our great vet tech, Caitlin, had already done a bunch of research on what they needed to do to make this as easy for us as possible.



After a short consultation they got a European microchip implanted (the microchip she had didn't qualify for Singapore), took some blood to do a titer test, and they also did an abscess test of a lump I had found on her (lump came back as just a benign cyst and not cancerous). We decided she could stand to lose at least 10lbs (on the vet's scale of 1 to 5 with 3 being ideal weight, Darwin was at about a 3.5, so she's not obese, but it wouldn't hurt to lose a little).
After the vet we drove down south an hour to Buckley, WA to the pet transporter to get her measured accurately for her kennel (they'll have to custom make it). Jason and I had measured her at home, but after talking to another pet mover we thought it'd be safer to have the expert do it to make sure her crate was exactly the right size. Good thing I took her down there too, because he measured her to be at 3 inches taller than we had done at home (we hadn't measured her with her head fully extended to its highest point). 
Slowly we are getting things figured out, and it shouldn't be a surprise to you if we have a lot of moving update posts in the future. We've also realized that since we are moving so far away that we'd like to do a lot of things (our annual tulip and beer road trip for one) before we go. So be prepared to see a lot of things... or not a lot of things as we may be preparing for the move. Either way... big changes ahead!

24 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the move! I hope you get to meet Homer. I hear he's a globe trotter rock star! Always good to know a "chien" who's been a lot of places. Can't wait to read about your adventure!

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  2. Wow! That's a big move! But it sounds like a whole new book of adventures for Dar!

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  3. WOW!

    That is some news!

    I'm glad woo got to enjoy the snow this year - something tells me woo won't be seeing much of it in Singapore ;-)

    Khongrats!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: OH NO! The evil word thingie ;-(

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  4. Darwin! Hope all is well? I apologised for not checking your blog. My humans just came back from their vacation and they have lots of things to do! How's your preparation for your move to Singapore? Let us know, okies?

    Love,
    Homer

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  5. Oh wow thats quite the move but also exciting

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com

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  6. Oh Darwin, this is BIG news!!!
    So you are going to steal Homer's heart from me!!! Well, be sure that Homer and Missus will be great pals for you in Singapore!
    Missus and Bill are great and Homer is real fun, you will adore spending time with them.
    I am jelous you know???
    Truly, I think the three of you are really brave. My humans thought about moving many times, but they do not have the courage to do so... Guess if they ask you to it is a bit easier to take the big step that you decide to do it yourself...
    Anyway I am sure you will all do great!!!
    I will look forward to know all the details of your move! Hope I could be of help somehow!!!
    Ciao Lucille

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  7. Wow! What exciting news! I hope that all the moving goes smoothly and you're enjoying life in Singapore before you know it!

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  8. Holy Molies what news!! Congratulations, this is a big move alright. Best of luck in all these plans. This might sound silly, but does Pet Airways fly there?
    Benny & Lily

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  9. wha?!?!?!! wow that is huge news! congrats on the move! that is an exciting transition....will you blog about life in singapore???? hope darwin does well with the move!

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  10. That is so exciting, and I'm also curious to see your documentation of how to make this type of move with Darwin. Excited to read more!

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  11. Hi Everybuddy, wowza that is big news but exciting too. We wish you all the best with your move and we know that Darwin will be totally fine with your love and attention.
    No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

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  12. How exciting!!! Mom and Dad made overseas moves with some of our predecessors (Belgium to US, US to Korea, Korea to US). It's scary and hectic, but you'll all do fine!!!
    Do you know our buddy Maxx the Siberian? He and his family live in Singapore! http://sibemaxx.blogspot.com/ Maybe they'll have some good pointers for you!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  13. That's really exciting! I've been a long time reader and I really enjoy your blog. I found your blog through Honey the Great Dane but I stayed because I'm from Seattle and I think you're pictures are great, and your dog is very handsome! I'm moving to Okinawa, Japan in a few days with my 18 month old Giant Schnauzer. I've been hearing that he is going to get bigger and taller in the next few years and I will most likely have to buy him a custom kennel since he's very close to out-growing the biggest one made commercially. If you don't mind sharing, around how much does a custom kennel cost? And don't worry too much about taking your dog overseas. You can enjoy a new country together! :-)

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  14. well, we had a sneak preview of your big news but it was still nice to read about your "official announcement" – very exciting times! :-) It sounds like you are very well organised and preparing early – which always helps. I'm sure it will be hectic but it will all turn out fine.

    I'm so excited that you guys will be closer to us on this side of the world – and can't wait for the next time that we do a Singapore Stopover and can meet up! :-)

    Hsin-Yi

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  15. Hello there!!
    Thanks for dropping by our blog! Darwin's a beaut!!
    Dave and Zim told us about you too and we just cant wait to hear more from you! :-))
    We hope that all will go well and you'll enjoy sunny Singapore!!

    Cheers,
    Maxx and family

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  16. Gosh I'll say BIG NEWS! How exciting, and nerve wracking and crazy all at once! Yikes! And Mom thought she had a long list of 'to-do's' Hah! Not! :) Wishing you as smooth of a transition as possible and looking forward to all your haps! :D

    Waggin at ya,
    Roo

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  17. That's a BIG news indeed ! So exciting !
    Oh dear, Singapore ! Seems soooo far away to me ! My human Laura went there once, and she said she loved it !

    Love,
    Lincoln

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  18. Wowie...you big news is very very exciting! How fabulous. We have all our paws crossed that all your plans go smoothly. We look forward to hearing all about your move and Darwin's experiences. Good luck for the future.
    Big Nose Pokes
    The Thugletsx

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  19. Such big news!!! We are so excited for you guys!! Can't wait to see how much fun you have over there! :)
    Lovies, Luna

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  20. That IS big news....hope everything goes smoothly in getting Darwin there....congrats!

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  21. We wish you the very best, and will look forward to reading your adventures in Singapore. Beautiful gardens to walk and wonderful scenery.

    All the best to you three,

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  22. Whoa! that's really huge news. I wish you all the best.

    Does this mean once you move you will have to learn all your tricks in Malay or Mandarin?

    Emma

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  23. Hi B. wow we almost missed the big news. i'm really glad the Darwin's going too. It would be a deal breaker for us.

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