tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610405167146745617.post2074554824479169861..comments2023-05-27T11:46:55.686+03:00Comments on Reflections from Maadi: Evacuation DayDeborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10249491905813918066noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610405167146745617.post-17060075874300245342011-03-11T22:35:36.238+02:002011-03-11T22:35:36.238+02:00Those of us with pets did have to leave them behin...Those of us with pets did have to leave them behind. I left mine with my husband, and our office organized a "pet hotel" type of situation in one person's apartment, so that even though the guys who were left behind couldn't get home every day, there was always someone at that apartment to care for the pets--the maid had access even when all the employees were at work. People from other offices had similar arrangements with their friends. At least one vet stayed behind and checked on all the animals as needed, providing shots and required paperwork. People shared food and cat litter until supplies were able to be purchased.<br /><br />Within a few days of the evacuation, there was talk of evacuating the pets via a military or charter flight (with pet owners reimbursing the government). Fairly quickly it was realized that, for most people, it made more sense to (1) leave the pets where they are, with the employee who was left behind (ie, our cats are still there with my husband); (2) bring them out later with others who were leaving and who could escort the pets via commercial flights; or (3) have the pets shipped commercially. It was difficult for many to leave their pets, including me! But we had been told months before that if we did ever have to evacuate, we may or may not be able to bring them with us, so it really was our responsibility to have another plan in place. For many, that involved depending on maids to keep them until the family could return or the pets could be shipped. That's something you'll need to think through, too. It isn't always possible to take them, although it's heart-breaking to leave them behind.Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10249491905813918066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610405167146745617.post-32544011035118621742011-03-11T05:23:28.261+02:002011-03-11T05:23:28.261+02:00This is perhaps a silly question but for all those...This is perhaps a silly question but for all those people with pets did they just leave them behind? I am moving to Cairo soon and we will take our dog (he is part of the family). We just could not leave him behind. I know this sounds silly when people were at risk but...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610405167146745617.post-39188629237192596752011-02-18T04:54:42.477+02:002011-02-18T04:54:42.477+02:00hugs
That sounds incredibly stressful :-(hugs<br /><br />That sounds incredibly stressful :-(Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06877510817457439788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610405167146745617.post-76689780100146159842011-02-15T16:07:18.441+02:002011-02-15T16:07:18.441+02:00Thanks, Mark. I think if I'd been convinced of...Thanks, Mark. I think if I'd been convinced of the need to evacuate, it may have been easier. I just wasn't--and still am not--convinced that it was the right move. I do understand that the Department has to be cautious, though, with our history in the region. Anti-western sentiment, when it does reach boiling point, tends to coalesce around the American embassy and its personnel. I'm just not good at substituting someone else's judgment for my own.Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10249491905813918066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610405167146745617.post-13076484591623426512011-02-15T07:07:33.770+02:002011-02-15T07:07:33.770+02:00Wow, Deborah, it sounds like your evacuation exper...Wow, Deborah, it sounds like your evacuation experiences are only slightly less traumatic than putting up with the sporadic gunfire in the neighbourhood for three nights. <br /><br />Well done for holding your ground with that flight attendant!Mark Jaffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06472415349302170106noreply@blogger.com