The Last Puzzle Piece
Leaving the U.S. for a life abroad with four humans, one canine, and nine pieces of luggage containing everything we own
Visas in hand, we had one last big item to check off: our nine-year-old goldendoodle’s paperwork.
When we first began discussing a move to Spain, we considered leaving Leo with my brother at his farm in Kentucky. But Leo is as much a part of the family as our kids, and he basically acts as my third child, so we quickly scratched that off the list and decided he was going.
With Elaine from PRI as a resource in my back pocket, I located a veterinarian in Raleigh who can do the required USDA certifications for pets traveling to the European Union and, specifically, Spain. I settled on Hidden Valley Animal Hospital, and their office has someone on staff dedicated to completing these certificates. Not every vet’s office is certified to do this paperwork, and depending on what area of the U.S. you’re in, it can be challenging to find one. Luckily for us, Raleigh had several options.
Moving a pet overseas requires completing, submitting, and returning paperwork within a very tight timeframe. It’s a 10-day turnaround, and yes, weekends count.
Leo’s appointment was set, and we got through all the hoops without any stumbles. We just had to wait for the USDA to return the certificate in time for us to leave for Valencia.
And that’s where our problems began.
We were leaving for Valencia on a Monday, and so was Leo. He was scheduled to be picked up at 5:30 a.m. for a ride to the airport in Washington, D.C., while we would be leaving directly from Raleigh. (There was an embargo on transporting pets from Raleigh then.) We needed that certificate in our hands no later than Sunday evening.
The vet’s office called me on Friday to let me know I should have the certificate in my hands on Monday, which was too late. A series of phone calls between Elaine, me, and the vet’s office began, and the vet’s office worked to get the certificate rushed. Unfortunately, on Saturday morning, it showed it was still being delivered on Monday.
In a panic and knowing one of us would have to remain behind with Leo if we didn’t get our hands on the certificate, we drove to the local FedEx office, where the package was being held until delivery.
At first, it looked like it was going to be futile. The person behind the counter tried to find the package in the back, despite the growing line of customers, but she couldn’t locate it. She offered to check with her manager, and we gratefully accepted.
The manager came out to meet us, and Will and I explained what we needed and why it was so important. He was empathetic to our situation and offered to look again. Five minutes later, with a smile and an envelope in his hand, he handed over the paperwork that would allow us all to leave Raleigh on Monday. We thanked him profusely, let Elaine and the vet’s office know, and then went home to continue packing our belongings.
Promptly at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, August 26th, the pet transporter arrived to pick Leo up. Once he was loaded up and on his way, I cried. My anxiety was high, and I’d heard all the horror stories about pets traveling in cargo, but we had no choice. It was the only way we had to get him to Spain. But I also felt tremendous relief because it was one less responsibility on my shoulders for at least a few days.
Everything else went off without a hitch. Our flight took off on time, we enjoyed flying business class for the first time, and we made our tight connection in Paris with time to spare. Leo landed in Amsterdam before we made it to Paris. He spent a couple of days there resting and adjusting, then flew to Madrid, where he boarded for a few days until we could get into our apartment in Valencia. Will, myself, and the kids stayed in a hotel and relaxed, adjusting to our new reality.
We’d done it. We’d made this move after 18 months of planning, researching, and dreaming.
Sometimes, when I look at the views from our balcony, I still can’t believe we’re here. I’ve had so many “pinch me” moments. After arriving, Will and I kept looking at one another, asking, “Is this real?” We even caught the kids going to the balcony to look at the mountains and city surrounding us. When people ask if we have any regrets, my answer is simple. As expensive and complicated as it was, I don’t have a single regret if I have to leave tomorrow. Not one.
This is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and we will all remember it for the rest of our lives. It’s been the adventure of a lifetime, and I hope we’re just getting started.