FJELLFASTE: (Fv) Married couple Maria Christine and Frida Linnea Myhren-Dahl (both 24) and the Staffordshire bull terrier Einstein (2) celebrated Christmas at Geilo, but the return offered challenges. Photo: Private
Einstein (2) had to go home for physiotherapy, but when the train from Geilo was cancelled, Vy only found room for his owners. The dog had to wait until January 2, the train company claimed.
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A white Christmas in Geilo quickly turned into a dark nightmare when Maria Christine (24) and Frida Linnea Myhren-Dahl (24) were to return to Bergen on 28 December. Storms and landslides led to chaos on the Bergen Railway.
After several delays, they were told that the afternoon train westbound had to turn around at Geilo. But only when the couple contacted Vy did the cold shock come:
– Customer service said that Einstein’s first travel opportunity was not until 2 January because the animal carriage was fully booked on all train departures, says Maria on the phone to VG.
– We could get a seat ourselves, but not Einstein, even though there were free seats on the next train and most of the people in the animal carriage do not have animals.
BA mentioned the matter first.
Vy confirms the incident to VG. See their answer further down in the case.
TOGVANT: Here is Einstein (2) on his way to Christmas holidays in Geilo with Frida (tv) and Maria Myhren-Dahl. The trip to the mountains went smoothly. Photo: Private
– Full disclaimer
Wife Frida’s proposal to change the seat reservations so that the couple could sit with Einstein in the animal carriage, while a couple of passengers without animals could be moved to an animal-free carriage, was met with derision, the couple experienced.
– The customer service worker started laughing and said: “That’s not possible!”. He got excited and almost started screaming back at us on the phone when we tried to come up with solutions, says Maria.
– He was very rude, apologized for nothing and was not helpful. There was a full disclaimer. We also asked to speak to someone else, but he only replied that they were going to say the same thing as him.
According to the owners, Einstein is used to travelling, calm and comfortable on the train. He is also less than 40 centimeters tall at the back and therefore travels for free on the train with no additional charge.
THE FAMILY’S CUSTOM BOY: Einstein safely in the arms of “mother” Maria Christine Myhren-Dahl (24) in Geilo. Human grandmother Gunhild Myhren Strathmann (67) is seen on the right. Photo: Private
In the conversations with Customer Service on both Thursday and Friday, the couple tried to explain that Einstein is a small, medium-sized dog that can sit on your lap for the entire train journey. But they were rejected.
– The customer manager said that the only option on the same day was tickets on the night train for NOK 5,000. We cannot afford that and the answer was that Einstein had to leave on 2 January.
Paw (u) friendly bus
In desperation, they began to search for alternative solutions.
– On Vy Bus it was written that “Poter travels for free”. We found out that we could take the Vy bus from Gol to Lærdal. My mother could drive us to Gol and then Frida’s parents could pick us up in Lærdal and drive us to Bergen.
The joy was short-lived. The free foot rule does not apply on Vy’s express buses. They are animal free.
– We tried to call Vy bus and explain the situation and ask if it was possible to make an exception since Einstein is sitting on your lap and is completely calm. But Vy Buss said it was not possible.
JULESTAS: Einstein is involved in everything that is fun. Including Christmas celebration. Photo: Private
For every solution that failed, desperation increased.
Einstein may look tough, but is a bit of a delicate fellow, according to Matmor. He got the name because one of the testicles did not descend into the scrotum of the testicles did not descend into the scrotum. It can be one-sided or two-sided. Dogs with the condition are often recommended to be neutered because cryptorchidism can increase the chance of testicular cancer.
– He had a stone. So it became Einstein, laughs Maria.
This summer he had an operation for shoulder dysplasia and had barely returned to normal activity before it struck again.
– He has a lot of personality, is very loving and unfortunately very clumsy. He managed to pee because it was so slippery outside when he had to pee in the garden. He came running at full speed and tore the cruciate ligament in his left hind foot at the beginning of December, says Maria.
Pending surgery, the dog is dependent on intensive physiotherapy.
– He was actually going to see his physiotherapist yesterday, but didn’t make it home for the appointment. So we really think that Vy should have paid for it too.
TABLECLOTH AND TABLE: Einstein is a happy fellow, but has a cruciate ligament operation pending in the New Year. Photo: Private
Vy: – Must not be square
Press guard Kaja Rynning Moen in Vy apologizes for the incident when VG gets in touch.
– It shouldn’t be like that. We are very sorry for this. We have to go through our internal procedures on how we respond to customers, she says to VG.
According to the Vy press service, it is permitted to have a dog in carriages other than the animal carriage. Only the café trolley and the family trolley have a pet ban.
– Animals are not prohibited in the other carriages. Customer service should have replied that it is the conductor who is in charge of the train, informs Moen.
– If they had bought tickets for themselves without registering the dog and arrived at the station, the conductors would have been helpful in finding a place. Then this should have gone well.
SORRY: Press guard Kaja Rynning Moen in Vy. Photo: Vy
– Does it appear from Vy’s website that it is possible to take dogs with you in carriages other than the animal carriage?
– I am not sure about that. Wait a bit, I’ll check… “It is the staff on the train who decide whether there is room for more pets on board,” reads Moen.
– If you who work at Vy are unsure of the rules – do you understand that the customers do not find out about them?
– I see that this is unclear.
– How are you going to make up for this?
– They must contact the customer center and we will sort this out here. And we take a round internally here on how to talk to customers. We will not be square and refund what the couple has had as an outlay, promises Vy press officer Moen.
ALWAYS READY TO TRAVEL: Einstein (2) after returning home to Bergen. Photo: Private
Passed out in bed
In the end, the drama ended with Maria’s mother driving her daughter, daughter-in-law and dog to Hemsedal where Frida’s parents picked them up and drove the rest of the way to Bergen.
– We had so much luggage that we had to put down a seat. Frida sat in the middle at the back, I sat on the right and then we had a bed above us where Einstein was lying across and snoring! laughs Maria.
– How is Einstein doing now?
– He became cold and stressed at the train station in Geilo. Now he is sleeping in our bed, on his back, she laughs.
WELL AT HOME: Dog bed? Nothing. Einstein sleeps on his back in the owners’ bed. – Preferably in the middle, laughs Maria Christine Myhren-Dahl. Photo: PrivatPublished:
Published: 30.12.23 at 14:40
2023-12-30 13:40:27
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