A professional handball player who fled Europe as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is pleading with Argentina’s customs officers to release his dog, Coco.
When Putin’s army entered Hungary, Franco Gavidia was living near the Ukrainian border.
For his own safety, he chose to return to his native country of Córdoba, Argentina, with his dog Coco, which he had acquired in Hungary.
He told Argentine news outlet TN that he and Coco spent 48 hours flying and changing airports before finally landing on Tuesday at Ezeiza International Airport in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires.
However, upon reaching the customs checkpoint, agents with the National Food Safety and Quality Service refused to allow Gavidia to proceed because Coco was missing a rabies shot.
Gavidia acknowledge that the one-year-old pooch was missing a letter ‘from a Hungarian veterinarian indicating the dog is healthy’ that should have been signed within the last eight to nine days.
TN initially reported that National Food Safety and Quality Service provided two options: deport or euthanize Coco.
He was heartbroken.
‘Coco is part of my family, he cannot be deported,’ he said.
Gavidia was looking forward to introducing Coco to his wife Cami and daughter Francisca, who had remained in Argentina while he worked and lived in Hungary.
‘I haven’t seen my daughter in eight months. Her birthday is today,’ he said. ‘I brought Coco because it’s her dog, too, and they won’t allow him to pass.’
Gavidia said no other country would accept Coco because he does not have his rabies vaccine shot and even if he agreed to send him back to Hungary, he would not have anyone there to provide him a home.
He said he is willing to cover expense for all of the veterinarian services that would be required to clear Coco through customs and would pay a fine and assume responsibility of securing a place to quarantine with the dog.
Gavidia has made it clear that he will not leave the airport grounds without Coco.