Help Keep Pets with Military Fam Moving Overseas!
Hi Everyone!
My sister, Kate, and her family, The Dillmans, are currently stationed in Texas, USA where my brother-in-law, Josh, is active duty Air Force. Josh is a Staff Sargent in the Security Forces and he needs to report to London, England by the end of summer 2021. As if selling a house and moving three children to another continent wasn't a big enough undertaking in that amount of time, they are faced with various obstacles in moving their pets, who aren't pets at all, they are really just part of the family. Please consider donating to help keep their family together!
Kate & Josh are high school sweethearts who were married in Massachusetts in 2006. They were then stationed in North Dakota and over the next five years they welcomed Liam, Gavin, & Amelia (Milly). While they may have been done having children, their family was far from complete...
Over the years they have rescued and fostered multiple animals. Birthday cards from them always have a comical number of names because they are "signed" by every occupant at the zoo!
However, in truth, it wasn't just the animals being rescued...
When Milly was born she required multiple surgeries and ongoing care in her early years resulting in a cross country move for the family to Arizona. Thomas Jefferson aka Tom (the debonair feline pictured above) joined them while Milly was showing us how much of a warrior she is. Milly is doing great now and so is Tom! Tom is the mayor of their house, the neighborhood, basically wherever he goes! He makes sure you know it by allowing you to pet him - and ensuring that you do! Tom is also the court jester when someone needs a laugh, especially Liam! Tom has been by the family's side through so much already. They need him for this next big move just as much as they owe it to him to keep him as part of the family.
Then came Odin (the sweet, handsome, yellow boy pictured above) and along with him came an invisible tether between he and Gavin that cannot be severed. Gavin has the kindest heart and is truly brilliant. That brilliant brain of his processes things at a different speed and on a whole other level. Thankfully, Odin is on that level. Odin's presence is often the only thing that can calm Gavin down. Odin knows when Gavin needs him and physically connects with him whenever he can. Odin wouldn't know what to do with himself without Gavin's constant love and affection! Gavin's treatment and medications will continue after the move but what he will truly need to be able to face such a big change will be his most faithful companion and his best friend, Odin.
The last furry friend in the pictures above is Margaret "Hot Lips" Hoolihan aka Maggie (the beautiful shepherd pictured above). Maggie joined the family and immediately became Kate/Mom's side-kick, fearless protector, confidant, snuggle buddy, and clown. Mom is going to need her side-kick while trying to manage this move just as much as Maggie is going to need her mom too.
Unfortunately, there are numerous hoops to jump through to move your pets overseas. On top of the complicated system the cost is thousands of dollars and there is no financial help afforded by the military for this expense.
The Dillman family has happily and willingly made sacrifices to serve their country and their community. I am asking that you please do everything in your power to ensure they don't have to sacrifice all of their precious family pets too. Every donation helps! Nothing is too small!
Please consider donating and sharing. Share anywhere and everywhere.
Below are some more pictures of the family you'd be keeping together. Pets may not be our whole lives, but they makes our lives whole.
Thank you for your consideration!
