Holy Mary Mother of dog fees. I just got off the phone with Continental and these mutts are going to cost us a fortune. It seems like the cheapest way to fly them there is to book a flight from Honolulu to Managua as a single journey to avoid double dog fees on two separate flights. We were looking at flying first to either LA or Phoenix, getting a ride to Houston, then doing the second leg from there to Managua. We thought it would be easier on the dogs but it means paying the transport fees twice. Just from Houston to Managua costs $389 a dog, plus a 55cent per kilo gas tax on each mutt which comes out to about $20 per dog. (I know. Gas fee??? wtf ... ) It's another $200 per dog on Hawaiian if we do the first leg and take a couple of days on the west coast. THEN, if we fly the dogs all the way from Hawaii to Managua as a single journey, it's an extra $75 for Continental's Houston International Airport Doggy Rest Stop which is nice, because they clean up the dogs, give them water, and take them for a walk before they do the last leg to Managua. Has anyone done the math yet? Minimum $500 per dog. One way. Not including Hawaii's "import tax" of $189 on the return trip which the state taxes you as part of their "direct release quarantine fee." Too much information? Sorry. But geesh. The lady on the phone said, "What? You're flying dogs from Hawaii to Central America? And back?" She thought I was insane. Grand total : $1200 per dog to go back and forth. More than the price of a human.

Maybe we are insane.

Today we talked about driving again. Anyone want to donate a decent 4WD vehicle that can make it from the west coast to Nicaragua and back?

On a lighter note, we had a lovely day at the beach with the dogs. Lea's shock collar has changed her completely. Gone are the days of that crazy look in her eye. She is attentive and she listens. It's as simple as that. She comes every time she is called now. It only took a couple of zaps for her to figure it out. Now we just have to vibrate the collar if she starts to go astray. Congratulations Lea. We are so proud of you!

(For the record, Lea has never felt the full wrath of the collar. It's strength ranges from 0-127. Lea's highest zap was 69. Ian and I have both felt 127. He insisted, much to my dismay.)