Daisy's Story

Once upon a time there was a dog named Daisy. No one knows for sure where she came from but she chose to live at Club Orient. From early September when she arrived, she carefully chose a chalet, studio or mini- suite to guard and protect. When the guest living in the unit left the island and left her behind, she'd cautiously move on and find another front porch to guard. Once she chose a porch, it was hers, and she wasn't going to move...so the people living there would just have to feed her eventually...even if they thought they didn't want a dog. She bravely protected her people from passersby...like the security guards when they made their rounds and any Papagayo customers who might approach on the way home after dark. She was on duty at night mostly and more than paid for her keep by making sure her people were safe. Although she carefully chose who to love, guests kept leaving her behind when they left.

But finally, a Charming couple, Glenda and Bob arrive. Daisy worked her spell on them and showered them with puppy kisses whenever she got the chance. Glenda and Bob were not in the market for another dog but the day before they were due to leave Club Orient, the idea came to them that they MUST take this dog home with them. However, they were traveling on the evil USAir where dogs are not allowed. They called me, both of them literally crying, and asked if I could arrange to ship her to them in Harrisburg, PA, as soon as possible. Not an easy thing to do since I am sitting in Chicago...but where there's a will, there's a way. I contacted all my friends who would be arriving in St. Martin soon (Paula, Dorothy and Karin), I contacted Susan who lives in PA who might be willing to escort Princess Daisy after Thanksgiving. Glenda and Bob tearfully call me at 7:30 am this morning (travel day) to say they can't bear to leave the dog behind with no one to care and feed her until Paula arrives on the 28. They are leaving for the airport in 45 minutes. What to do? Ok, ok...how about boarding her with Marianne, my vet, until the 28th? YES! That would work! A quick thank you and they were off to the airport via the vet clinic. At noon I get a call from Glenda saying that her Island hopping airline who was to deliver her to San Juan to catch her USAir flight home, has discontinued their current flight schedule and her flight has been cancelled. Much time is spent trying to rebook and many people hear the story about Daisy. USAir either felt sorry for them or a higher power (her Fairy Godmother?) was taking matters in her own hands. USAir suddenly tells Glenda and Bob that there is room on the American Airline flight at 3 pm and USAir will put them on that flight so they can go back to the vet and collect Daisy and take her home with them.

A frantic race now to stop at ACE Hardware to buy a kennel, then back to the vet where Marianne was waiting with a health certificate and rabies vaccine papers ready to go, then back to the airport just in time to put Daisy in her kennel and whoosh her out to be loaded. It seems American Airline decided at the last moment that Daisy's accommodations were too restrictive and small for a princess. So Glenda and Bob rebooked their flight for tomorrow, rented a $100 a day rental van so they can return the smaller kennel to ACE and find a bigger one...one that will be acceptable to American Airlines. Although I had suggested they buy a large kennel from the beginning, they were unable to fit it into their rental car when it was full of luggage, dog and two people! Oh well, I guess a Princess expects to travel in total comfort...although the first kennel seemed to have ample room and fit her just fine. Princess Daisy has left her island kingdom to fly to a better life...where she'll get food every day, a Jack Russell brother to play with and a fenced in yard (that will fill up this winter with cold white sand they call snow) and they'll live happily ever after. Daisy was adopted in October, 2006.

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