Do you see that fluffy ball of cuteness pictured above? Meet our dog Zara, who we love very much. Zara moved with us to Monterey, Calif., from Alexandria, Va., about a year ago and the process was a smooth one. Since my husband Clayton decided to drive his car cross country, he was able to take our little dog along. In preparation for the adventure, we took her to a puppy-training class and the veterinarian to make sure she was in top shape. Then, Clayton and Zara were off on their road-trip adventure. Easy!
As we started preparing for our overseas move, however, we wondered whether we should take Zara with us this time. It was a hard choice to make. If we're lucky, we would love to expand our family overseas. And Clayton will be gone a lot -- unable to help take care of Zara while I take care of a newborn and toddler. Combined with the long plane ride Zara would have to endure (20-plus hours!) and a 30-day quarantine, we decided moving her overseas might not be the right choice for her or for us.
That said, we love Zara and want to keep her in our family, reuniting with her as soon as we are back in the states. Thankfully, my dad, stepmom and sister will take care of her while we're gone. She won't have beaches to roam in northern Georgia like she does here in California, but she will have a big backyard and lots of beautiful parks to explore. More importantly, she will be loved and get lots of attention. Thanks dad, Deb & Sam!
Have you ever moved with your dog? What did you have to do to prepare him or her for the journey? Or, did you decide not to take your dog with you as you move? What factors played a role in that decision? Where are they now?
Best,
Kristina
* Do you want to know what it’s like living at a particular duty station? Need tips on how to prepare for a move? Or advice on how to handle a deployment? Tune in each Monday for tips and stories aimed at helping your next move or deployment go more smoothly. If you have questions, tips or stories you would like to share, send a brief email to mytravelingtroop@gmail.com for consideration.
2 comments:
Awww, that must have been a hard decision to make. I'm sure she'll miss you as much as you'll miss her!
Thank goodness she'll be with family!
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