Ollie on the Train!

After months of scouring through various possibilities and weighing options which included prospective pet boarders in Warangal, friends who might be able to care for ollie in our absence, we finally, with much anxiousness, decided to take Ollie - our 9 months old kukur (dog in Bengali) with us from Warangal to Mumbai and back on a train for a family wedding. 

The Uncertainty

Much of the anxiousness came from our concern for his health. We were advised by several dog lovers and professionals to avoid taking him on a long journey as this can cause him tremendous stress and anxiety. However, we had no options in our current city to leave him in safe hands. The condition of pet boarding houses in Warangal is pathetic. We visited several of them in the last 4 months where dogs are confined to a cage to relieve themselves as well as eat. Often people with no animal training are left to their care who often beat the cage with a long stick when the animal howls, barks or makes any loud noise. We were informed that they are taken out once a day for a walk however from the looks of it, I was not very convinced. This is because these boarding places are located in a residential area with little space to move around or take any noise. 

In case of trusted friends, they were worried about travelling during the pandemic and others had prior commitments or were unsure if they could care for ollie for over a week.  

Having left with no other option (known and possible), we decided to make the journey with mixed feelings. We would often sit late into the night rethinking our decision, especially since it affected another life who could not have his say in it. In the meantime, I plunged myself into research looking for articles, information and blogposts of others who might have done so before us. I was not disappointed. I found several helpful videos on YouTube in Hindi of people sharing ways pets can be transported via Indian trains. I connected with a friend on Facebook who had successfully managed to transport his cat from Mumbai to Bangalore. While all these experiences helped in understanding the process, they were still experiences of transporting small pets (under 10 kgs). Given that Ollie is about 30 kgs, I was unsure of the space and discomfort it may cause to him as well as the co-passengers on a relatively long journey. Also if we had to take him down on a station in between the journey, would this be permissible? All my worries were resolved when I read about the couple who transported three indie dogs along with their 9 month old baby between Delhi and Goa on the Indian Train. This also gave me the much needed boost of confidence after which there was no looking back. We were ready for a 909 kms journey from Kazipet station (Warangal) to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai) in 15 hours (one way) with 3 ten minutes stops in between (this is crucial as you will know later).

Planning for the Journey

We booked our tickets in First class A.C on Vishakhpatnam Express, as animals can only be transported in this compartment with the owner. Alternatively, there is a dog box in the luggage compartment. However, this is not a good option especially since you cannot take the dog out in between the journey which will cause a lot more stress to the pet. 

2 weeks before the journey we prepared an Ollie bag with all his toys, dog food, treats, travel bed, animal wet pads, food bowl and water mug, blanket, several empty plastic bags to safely transfer his stools or other bodily fluids in the bin.  

A day before the journey I went to the local Kazipet station to check for documents, space organisation - so that we know where to wait with our luggage on arrival without causing much inconvenience to others, and speak to the parcel or other officers for any rules on transporting pets in the train via railway platforms. However, on my arrival to my utter disbelief, the parcel officer who by chance I found at the reservation counter, plainly told me, "You cannot take your dog via train, in COVID, rules have changed". He then left. I was taken aback. I spoke to the other railway officer at the counter who was sympathetic. He told me to speak to him again, perhaps more nicely (not that I was not before). He was just being difficult. As much as I was infuriated by all this, I also knew that I had to maintain my composure to get things done. The same officer also informed me that there was a station inspection on-going and that the parcel officer maybe unavailable or busy at the moment, only if I wait, I could still meet him. I bought a platform ticket and tried to speak to some others at the station. All of whom directed me to the parcel officer.  

In the parcel office, I tried to reason with the him. He inquired about my booking and if I had booked a coupe which we had. However, since we were two of us travelling with the dog we had to select a two seater coupe instead of the regular four seater. Only then could the dog travel with us. Since we had not done so, he was adamant that we could not travel with the dog. By now, the group of inspectors made their way in our office. The parcel officer from his unswerving self had become unfurled. The inspector inquired about my case and immediately asked him to carry forward the procedure. I was informed that there were no change of rule and that I could carry Ollie with me only if I had a coupe for two. The inspector asked one of his colleagues to follow my case and make sure we get the desired seats before the chart is prepared for the next train. He even game me his number if case of any trouble. It is only after I left the station that I realised how lucky I was. This also restored some faith in the system. There are some who want to create unnecessary trouble and then there are others who with their sense of duty undo such efforts and make it work. 

Day of the Journey

Ollie's ticket had to be bought from the parcel office on the same day. So we planned to leave the house atleast 90 mins (its only 10 mins to the station from my house) before the train. However, the taxi that Rakesh was to take the luggage in came late, the auto that Ollie (does not like cars) and I were to take also delayed us. When we finally reached the station, a number of dogs at the station met us with much furore. Ollie too wanted to join the action and kept leaping at them. In all of this commotion, we lost about 30 mins. I left Ollie, Rakesh and the luggage to the parcel office. Only my arrival, I was asked to submit photocopies of my Aadhra card, ticket and vaccination certificate of ollie, all of which I had in original but not photocopies. I had visited the station to check for all these details a day before but the said officer did not divulge any of this information then. Luckily again, the inspector had sent one of his colleagues Mr. Balagopalan to the parcel office, he took images on his phone of the necessary documents and got us Ollie's ticket in the nick of time. Not just that, he came with me to get Rakesh and Ollie to the platform and into the assigned coupe. He was extremely helpful and also the reason that our distance from the station to the train was hassle free and smooth. We are immensely grateful for his assistance. I thanked the inspector once we settled in only to divert attention to the next task starting at us with imposing eyes.

where have you got me?

Ollie got onto the train easily in all the hurry however, putting him at ease within was a challenge. Once we managed to push our two big suitcases under the berth and keep our handbags away, we filled the coupe with Ollie's favourite toys, food and bed. Nevertheless, he would often jump on our seats and sit next to us. 

Ollie's space in the coupe

I am not going down!

We gave him his favourite treats, caressed him, offered him boiled eggs (his favourite), and played with him through the journey. 

playing ball in the train

He was definitely overwhelmed, hyperventilating often and would bark especially at vendors and passersby. Nonetheless he never made any fuss when the T.T came in. We still do not know why! I may be imagining this but perhaps he may have some minuscule amount of intelligence..:-)  Whatever it is, it did save us the trouble we could have had. One of us (mostly Rakesh) stayed up at all times to avoid Ollie making much noise as one of the rules stated that if a co-passenger complains about the dog, we could be forced out of the train. All of this kept us on our toes. 

Rakesh looking after Ollie

We had the timetable for the train, so 2 to 3 minutes before the big junctions and long halts we would take him near the door. I took him on the platform, walked him around so that he could stretch his legs, and also relive himself. Not once during the journey he soiled the coupe or the train. The movement of the train made him nervous and uncomfortable. He made a little fuss to get back on the train but got used to it by the next station. He made friends with some people on the train and would jump with joy to meet them every time they crossed ways (this was very often given the closed space).

Reaching Mumbai   

By the time we reached Mumbai, all of us were tired. Thankfully the Mumbai station was the terminus so that we could get down in our own time. We were again met with howling set of dogs at the station but Ollie was too tired to react. Seeing this, they soon lost interest and left. We had to wait at the station for awhile before we could meet Pratik (my brother) who was coming to pick us up. Ollie was calm (perhaps very tired) throughout all of this and walked out of the station with much gusto. On meeting Pratik, he became instantly playful. They were meeting after 7 months and maybe Ollie remembered him from his childhood. 

With the rain still pouring, we packed ourselves and the luggage into the car. Shaking violently, Ollie soon got all the water off himself and on to us. However, this was a smaller concern to the one we were informed after settling in. The car was about to run out of gas. With Ollie in the car, rains refusing to die down and the fuel light on the dashboard getting brighter by the passing second, we knew we were up for yet another adventure! One that our tired bodies embraced happily having successfully survived one.