I've started the paperwork to bring Milo back into Australia through our quarantine service, AQIS. It's a long and arduous process and the first stage is to get him an import permit. First question of course is when do I expect to import him? Sounds simple enough but of course it's not. He needs to have lived in an 'approved country' for six months prior to him entering Australia....which of course he hasn't. He will, however, have lived in several 'approved countries' that Australia defines as Category 2 countries and only requires 30 days quarantine once he enters. The countries through the Pacific are French Polynesia, Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. He can go to other countries if we want to but the quarantine will bump up to 60 days...not good for Milo and not good for the purse. Quarantine in Australia will set you back roughly $40 per day per animal. So the question of when the six month clock started was a point of vigorous discussion between me and my mate Don at AQIS. It couldn't start from Panama because it's definitely not an approved country and the fact was only allowed on the dock in Panama is irrelevant to Australia. So perhaps from the date he left Panama, given Galapagos is a 'reserve' and doesn't allow any domestic animals ashore. Nope - Australia doesn't consider Galapagos approved either. Don wanted to start the clock from the time they arrived in the Marquesas, ignoring the fact that he had spent 21 days at sea with no sight of land to get there. That would have them entering Australian waters in December...not a good look considering it's cyclone season back in Oz. However, he will consider the departure date from the Galapagos the starting point when we provide the exit papers for Galapagos, copies of the log book for the passage at sea and proof of entry into the Marquesas. If all's well his six months would have started on 8 May and he can re-enter Australia on 8 November. Look at that face...Milo the wonder dog - he's gotta be worth it. Keep those log books comin' boys.