We met Rolando last August after Fin had an altercation with a wild dog who rushed her in Port Louis Marina. Don’t worry though. Fin loves a good fight and this was no exception. Hard to feel sorry for her when she's chasing the dog who’s waving the canine white flag. This time Fin caught her desserts. Turns out the canine skin is thick but perfectly pierce-able. She came back smiling (of course) and bleeding at the same time. The next day we took her up to Grenada’s rescue centre, the GSPCA. The GSPCA must double as the gates of heaven. Elderly American women staff the reception just for fun. Otherwise homeless cats lounge by the credit card machine. We met a British vet, Emma who in small-world style has a mum from Aberystwyth. She set to patching Fin up. From being a bad-ass, Fin turned into a sad-ass. Enter vet nurse Rolando. Everything changed. He stapled her without blinking, calmed her without trying. You know these people who have a calling in their lives? No words. 

We met Rolando again a month later during our hurricane-run from Matthew to Trinidad. Jack had gone in for a health certificate for her and left the vet’s without Fin. Rolando revealed he had a animal sitting service and to cut a long story short, we saw Fin two weeks later. We came back to Rolando’s photos and videos from the beach showing Fin’s usual tricks, Fin attending with Rolando to the poorly animals in the rescue centre while walking the building without restraint or reserve.. Between Rolando’s smile and Fin’s, it was clear. This was Fin’s second home. 

This time we called Rolando again. Can you look after her? Sort out her paperwork and worming to fulfil the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme? Take her to the airport? Put her crate together? Sort her out a water bowl even though you can’t buy one? Deliver her for her flight under Neckles’ and Hannibal’s watchful gaze? Rolando’s reply: ‘Sure. No problem.' And guess what? In between he took her jungle hiking with the other dogs. Cruised around with Fin riding shotgun. Went to the beach every morning and afternoon. 

Fin was due to travel last night. On BA. Her worming had been timed for arrival into the UK and she was ready to go. Except this time BA wasn’t. Lifelong lover of BA (don’t deny it..) and retired staff member, Alicia called up. 'Nothing’s going.’ We called Rolando. ‘I’m just at the beach, waiting for Hannibal to call.’ Would she go we wondered? Or would she be left like the thousands of others stuck and sitting on the tarmac? Five pm. We got another call. ‘She’s gone. Hannibal called and I had to bring her over fast,’ Rolando said. We shook our heads. ’You mean the plane is going?’ A photo came through on Messenger to show the BA stripes on the tarmac. Two words. ‘I’m crying.'

Thousands of miles away, ten hours later, the phone rang again. ‘This is Gatwick Animal Reception Centre. Fin, the Portuguese Water Dog has just arrived.’ The phone was put down and a couple of determined Polish ladies steamed down the M25. What did they find? A black dog sitting in a crate full of beach sand. Two towels, an impressively devised water bottle and something hanging on the side of the crate. What was it? The Grenadian flag. 

Love from Quest and her crew xx