Journey of a Lifetime for Tiger.
Tiger was 35 days old when he came home with me. From that moment, our bond became unbreakable. He has been my anchor through life’s storms, providing calm during the chaos. Two years later, this whirlwind of a dog, Maxx, arrived in our lives. Maxx carried his own set of traumas, but over time, he learned to trust us. The two became inseparable, even though they sometimes squabbled.
Leaving India 4 years ago was heart-wrenching—I had to leave behind these two pieces of my heart. I returned every year just to spend time with them, something my friends and family came to understand.
We lost Maxx this year to kidney failure. He was only eight, and the loss shook us. I decided Tiger, now ten, shouldn’t be left alone. That’s when the journey to bring him to Italy began.
May 2024
Our first step was researching how to travel internationally with a pet. The process seemed daunting. Boxer dogs, like Tiger, have snub noses, making air travel risky as many airlines don’t accommodate them. Finding the right airline was our first challenge. Countless calls resulted in repeated “no” responses.
We started the paperwork anyway. Before leaving for Italy, we microchipped Tiger and completed his Titer test for rabies, which came back perfectly. Yet, no airline seemed willing to take him.
One agent in Trivandrum claimed he could handle everything. Desperate, we paid him in advance, only to be cheated. Then my mom found Furry Flyers. Vinayak Prabhu was a saviour, he helped us streamline the process. Despite the distance, he answered every query promptly. He even recommended ITA Airways, the only airline willing to fly Tiger.
August 2024
With the help of my friend Chiara, who spoke on behalf of me to the kindest ITA’s ticketing agent, she took the time, with no rush to answer all our queries and explain the procedures to us. I booked flights for Tiger and me. ITA offered direct flights from New Delhi to Rome—our only viable option.
My friend Chiara helped me speak to the kindest ticket agent in ITA, to get everything confirmed that Tiger could in fact fly, she explained the type of cage to every document we would need. In the next days I booked the flight for me and Tiger.
October 2024
ITA airlines flew direct flights from New Delhi to Rome, this was our one only viable option.
Living in Trivandrum meant we first needed to cover a 3,000 km train journey to New Delhi.
What I thought would be a tedious journey was the most smooth and enjoyable train journey I had with IRCTC, we booked the Rajdhani coupe, so we had a private cabin to ourselves.
The train staff kindly informed us of stops long enough for Tiger’s pee-poop breaks and we stretched our legs and tiny paws.
Tiger’s giant cage for the plane, accompanied us, taking up considerable space but becoming part of our adventure.
First leg of the journey was done or so we thought.
Once in Delhi, we faced two more days of preparation, including obtaining his “Fit to Fly” certificate. I booked a hotel near the airport through Booking.com, only to find it filthy and unsuitable. Without wasting time, we moved to Gurgaon, a gruelling 2.5-hour drive through Delhi’s notorious traffic.
In Gurgaon, Sandeep and Vizhal from Petspot helped us settle into a decent hotel. With their assistance, we completed the paperwork smoothly.
But seeing him off at extra luggage area at the airport was gut-wrenching for me and I am sure he was scared too. We packed his favourite blanket, my T-shirt, and his toy, hoping they would comfort him during the 8-hour flight. Despite reassurances from the ground staff and flight crew, anxiety consumed me until I saw him safe in Rome.
I cannot cannot explain the joy we both had in seeing each other after the longest flight our life (& I have flown 15 hr flight, it was nothing compared to this)
Clearing customs in Rome went smoothly, but we still had a 2.5-hour train ride to Bologna. Tiger’s giant cage posed yet another challenge, barely fitting into the train’s doorway. The train supervisor showed mercy and allowed us to continue without fines. Meanwhile, Tiger’s health was visibly affected by the sudden 20°C temperature drop. Shivering, he endured the final leg of our journey.
Finally, we reached home. The hardest part lay ahead: new environment, new people, new house (no big garden), apartment, city life.
November 2024
The first week brought illness—fever and cough—requiring antibiotics. All through this he adjusted to his new surroundings. He started coming to work with me, new routine set in. We got him to wear a sweater and jacket to help him cope with the cold temperatures. He seemed to enjoy all of it.
December 2024
Though he improved, bronchitis struck the last week Stronger medications were needed, and recovery remains ongoing.
It is going to be 2 months; we are still learning to adjust to everything new.
Tiger’s resilience amazes me. We assumed the journey would be the tough part. At ten years old, he’s adapting to a completely new life. He’s learning to trust new people, embrace a new routine, and navigate this 180° shift from his familiar world. I hope his health stabilizes so he can enjoy a good quality of life in his new home.
Gratitude
This journey would have been impossible without a village of support. Everyone I knew from friends to family came together for Tiger and me.
My Mom – The cornerstone of this effort, I couldn’t have done any of this without her, there was a time I thought I couldn’t fly back with Tiger due to work; we even considered her flying from Bahrain to Trivandrum and then making all this journey with him. She was meticulously working on planning the trip, checklists, excel sheets, and calendars marked, pushing people to get answers. She is the main reason for Tiger in Italy!
Dr Lawernce – Tiger and Maxx’s vet of ten years, always available day or night. I cannot thank him enough for supporting me through the loss of Maxx, preparing me for what was to happen, and making it comfortable for him to pass over the rainbow bridge without too much pain. Even from afar, he continues to guide me through Tiger’s health challenges.
Dr Jacob Alexander, Tvm Zoo Director – He was referred to me by Dr Lawrence, he was vital in sorting all the documents we needed to have for the travel. But he went the extra mile in helping me prepare for the first 3- 4 months in Italy, he wrote down a list of precautionary medicines to carry with him, as he will need time to readjust to everything new around him, from supplements to emergency pills for vomiting to skincare and eye health. I am lucky to have found such good people who cared about him too. His suggestion to document this journey inspired me to share our story.
Lily Chechi: She has been caring for Tiger since the day he came home. In truth, she always preferred Tiger to Maxx, even if she won’t admit it. She was heartbroken when I decided to move Tiger to Italy but also faced the reality that it was becoming difficult for her to take care of him as she was also aging. Her love and care have been a cornerstone of Tiger’s life.
Raju: He sort of became Tiger’s best friend. Over the past few months, Tiger grew deeply attached to him, enjoying rides in the Nano to the vet or simply for a day out. Raju accompanied me and Tiger all the way to Delhi and stayed with us until Tiger boarded the plane. He made the journey so much smoother for both of us.
Furry Flyers & PetSpot - A heartfelt thank you to Vinayak Prabhu from Furry Flyers and Sandeep and Vizhal from Petspot. Their efficiency and genuine care made an otherwise overwhelming process seamless. From documentation to ensuring Tiger’s comfort, you were instrumental in making this journey successful.
My friends – Clement, Jobin, Cyril, Arjun, Nidhi, Chiara, everyone had a role to play in his safe travel. Someone helped me to connect with a friend who had flown with a pet dog, to understand what to prepare for, someone helped me reassure me that everything would be okay, and someone helped me get confirmation for train seats at the last moment. All of them kept in contact through the journey checking on his wellbeing. You don’t say thank you to friends you buy them a beer when you meet again.
My family – Everyone who has been worried about him, his safety and health, sending him duas and prayers and hugs and kisses, thank you for your support always.
Vincenzo – Last but not least: A special message must be written to the love of my life, he who has never had any pet or ever lived with a dog, (must underline this fact) for readjusting his whole life around me and Tiger, from picking us up at Rome airport to getting us home with that giant cage that wouldn't fit into any place. It has been hard for him, and at times he probably might have thought that we must move out. But honestly no words for everything you do for me, I know you do it only because you love me!
A New Chapter
This journey has been as much about Tiger as it has been about the kindness and collaboration of many wonderful people. While the road ahead may bring challenges, it’s also filled with hope and love. Here’s to Tiger, the bravest dog I know, and the incredible team that made his journey of a lifetime possible.
