Taking Pets To Live Abroad

I moved to France and left my Labradoodle, Bentley, behind.

“How could you do that?” I’ve been asked by friends and others, especially by animal lovers who believe in taking pets to live abroad.

“How could I do that?” I kept saying to myself. “Bentley is the best friend I’ve ever had!”

I mean, it’s easy to take a dog to France. In fact, France loves dogs. All you need to do to take a dog into the country is have a current vaccination record. Or so I’ve been told.

“That’s a piece of cake. “Bentley, you’re moving to France!”

Not so fast.

“How is Bentley getting to France?”

The only route I could imagine for transporting my 70-pound Labradoodle from South Carolina to France was by commercial airplane—along with me. It would be in the baggage compartment, under the airplane, down where it’s very noisy and terrifying.

The noise and darkness may not be a big deal for some animals, “Give him a tranquilizer,” some people said.

That might work, but let me tell you something about Bentley. Bentley was scared to death of loud noises. He’d leap into the bed with me during the night if there was a thunderstorm. He’d stand on my head.

He’d leave the room if someone sneezed.

He’d have seizures if he was too upset.

In other words, transporting Bentley underneath an airplane would have been a death sentence.

So, what was the alternative? Stay home because of a dog? Throw away the dream of living in France because I didn’t want to leave my dog? All these thoughts ran through my head.

After I went to France,  I missed Bentley every day. I couldn’t look at another dog and not feel guilty about leaving Bentley behind.

Bentley and I had long conversations about this dilemma.

Bentley moved in with my son and his family when I left for France. He shared the family with their goldendoodle, Maddy. He helped guard my three-year-old grandson and one-year-old granddaughter. I visited him for months whenever I returned to the States. When we were back together, it was like nothing had changed. We’d take walks. He’d sit on my lap when we were watching TV. He’d jump on my bed when there was a thunderstorm.

However, Bentley always knew I would disappear when I pulled out my bags. 

We’d kiss, hug, and whisper “goodbye” when I left the house for a flight back to France. Each time I got on that noisy airplane, I thought of Bentley as we lifted off the tarmac.

Bentley crossed the Rainbow Bridge five years ago as I was flying to visit the family in the States. I heard the news just before boarding the plane. I was traveling in the daylight, so as the aircraft soared through the sky, I thought of Bentley and his beautiful white coat of hair. Fluffy white clouds gathered outside my window, then parted as we climbed higher. Patches of white gathered in the distance, then scattered away. I imagined Bentley frolicking through the clouds, merrily on his way. He was off to a new adventure, carefree, knowing we would meet again someday. 

Bentley and I were together that day. We are still together, always, in our hearts.

I’d love to hear if you live or travel abroad and have a story about your pet. Feel free to add a comment to the post.

For the facts on taking pets to live abroad