Reuniting our family

My husband, Sergio, and I just PCS’d to Germany and we were supposed to bring our 2 dogs with us. One being my husband’s therapy English Bulldog (June Bug aka Chubbs) and our German Shepherd (Dolph)

On the day of our original scheduled flight (which was Oct 2 at 2am,) we arrived at the BWI airport from Virginia and it seemed to go well. However, AMC airline had to look at the kennels, at which time they deemed the kennel for Dolph was too small because the tips of his ears were touching the top. We had informed the woman doing the check-in and her manager (who then relayed the information to his supervisor) that we had bought the biggest kennel available to us. The only solutions we were offered was to buy a pet kennel height extender ($500 Non-refundable) or to buy a bigger kennel ($400) for him. Due to this inconvenience, we were denied boarding to the flight. Luckily a volunteer at the USO was able to assist us in finding a hotel for us to stay in until we had a resolution.

Over the span of an entire week, my husband had been losing sleep and working hard to find any alternative itineraries to book all four of us, but also coming to the realization that we may have to leave June behind due to many airline policies refusing to board snub-nose pets. AMC had also informed us that they were booked all the way through October. While being stranded in Baltimore, we ordered overnight delivery for the kennel height extender (which ended up not being the proper size for Dolph’s kennel) and also the only 700 kennel we could find for Dolph as we didn’t want to run into anymore issues with getting him onto a flight with us.

Between those purchases and trying to find an airline that could take the dogs (or at least 1 of them) before we could make a return flight to the States to get them has been an utter nightmare. We have been stressed and extremely desperate to find anything. We tried United as well as Delta for possibilities. United has it posted on their website that they can transport animals, but upon talking to both their customer service representatives and cargo employees, we were told that this was not the case and that they can only fly pets to 2 locations due to Covid restrictions and being the only airline that takes a certain route.

Then we tried our luck with Delta. And received more run around and conflicting answers with them. Every person we talked to either said “yes we can take your dog” or “no we cannot”. While we were waiting for a final answer from Delta, my husband had rented a car and made the heartbreaking decision to drive his baby, his therapy dog, his June Bug back to Virginia to stay with a friend until we could figure out a way to get her over here with us.

Once he came back from his six hour drive, we were doing our best to make sure that Dolph could come with us, at this point we had already left one dog behind and we were not prepared to leave another. My husband had adopted Dolph from his friend when her husband passed away, who was also one of his fellow sailors that he had served with on the USS Gonzalez. They had a special bond, and if he had to leave Dolph behind, he felt as if he was failing on his word to both Dolph and his late brother in arms.

Sergio adopted June Bug as a puppy. He told me about how he was in a dark place in life and was not looking into getting a pet until he had met June. She was so excited, she piddled on his foot and it didn’t matter if he wanted a dog at the moment… she chose him as her dad. When Sergio was officially diagnosed with depression and PTSD, his therapist wrote a letter making June his Emotional Support Animal. June is his daughter and no-one can tell him otherwise. Anyone who has seen how these two interact, know how much love there is between them and it is nothing short of magical.

Before I had married Sergio, I had left my dog behind when I moved from Florida to Virginia. Anyone that has had to leave a pet behind due to extreme circumstances know that it is no easy feat, and I was upset that I had to leave my baby behind but was looking forward to being a stepmom to Dolph. Dolph was the one who took to me the quickest between the 2. He very quickly became my new son and we created a special bond instantly. He’s been so protective of me and almost my own therapy dog which had been solidified when we found out I was pregnant back in May of this year (I’m 7 months now). While Sergio was away at trainings, Dolph was always by my side almost like he was making sure that I was not alone and that no harm would come to me or my baby. I was not prepared to leave behind another dog that I had created a super special bond with.

Sergio took Dolph with both kennels to the airport the night before our scheduled flight to verify with Delta, in person, that (1) his size would not be an issue and (2) that the kennel size would not be an issue. The morning of our flight on Oct 6, we received final word that we, in fact, COULD NOT take Dolph on the flight. This was not the answer we wanted nor were prepared for. At 8:30 in the morning we were back to scrambling, trying to find either another flight where we could bring him OR have someone to watch him until we could make arrangements for a new flight for him as well. Unfortunately due to time constraints, we had to leave Dolph in the hotel room, in his kennel and HOPE that someone would be able to come pick him up as we were not able to reschedule another flight at last minute due to military regulations. Fortunately, as soon as we pulled up to the airport, a Freemason friend of Sergio’s called and said that he would be able to drive up last minute from Virginia to Baltimore to pick up Dolph and watch him until later that day when another Freemason friend would be able to take over the care Dolph until we could get him a flight booked as well.

Now that we are here in Germany and trying to get settled, my main focus is trying to get our family reunited before our first child is born in December. I tried reaching out to the Air Force and they have said that they cannot provide further assistance as we have fulfilled the PCS orders. At first, the only other answer I was able to get about getting both dogs here, was booking through a third party shipper that would cost $6,000 per dog. I continued my research and found another company that has provided me with a lesser quote for both of our dogs. We are still looking for other solutions…whether that is grants or an airline that will not give us as much hassle about getting them here.

Those that know Sergio, know that he is a loyal man to his family and friends. He will do (and has done) everything in his ability to help others. I’ve seen this man walk out of anywhere leaving a burst of laughter behind him from people he’s never met. He loves to laugh and to make people laugh. His heart of gold is the real reason I chose him as my husband. He not only stands up for himself and others, but he will speak out and stand up for what is right… even if he upsets people in the process. He carries so much love within himself and he is not ashamed to share it with anyone that is in his presence. He brings so much light with his dorky humor and his loving character. However, I also know how prideful he is. He doesn’t like people to worry about him, which is why I’m writing this without him knowing. I can see he carries so much guilt over all of this. He always talks about how he wants our son to see him as victorious, and never a victim in life… and it worries me to see him so upset, so close to accepting defeat and looking/feeling vulnerable.

I am just a pregnant wife that is trying to make her husband happy and whole again while surprising him in the process. I appreciate your time for reading our story and also apologize for taking up so much of it. I will attach the invoice from the company that is willing to help reunite our growing family, as well as my favorite photo of our fur babies from a recent road trip we had made. If the donations exceed the invoice, I will be donating the remainder to Dogs On Deployment in hopes that my family can save another family from facing the same heartache that we have had to face.