Hi friends, family, and kind strangers —

My name is CJ Smyth-Small, and I’m an immigrant finishing my Doctor of Musical Arts at The Ohio State University. This December, I’m returning home to Ireland after several difficult years away — a homecoming that marks both the end of my studies and the beginning of a new chapter of healing.

I can’t imagine making that journey without my two rescue cats— Kylo & Krue— who have been my constant companions through grief, graduate school, and everything in between.

They came to me as temporary foster cats who have since been abandoned by their previous owner. When they came into my life, it felt like the universe had sent them to me at the exact moment I needed them most — after the sudden loss of my mother. In many ways, they rescued me as much as I rescued them.

Now it’s my turn to make sure they get safely home too!

International pet transport is expensive and highly regulated. I’ve chosen Starwood Animal Transport, one of the few trusted companies that can fly pets safely from Detroit to Dublin under non-commercial import rules. Their Economy package (which includes all airline coordination, customs clearance, and flight care) plus travel kennels totals $5,345 USD.

I’ll be handling all veterinary requirements myself (with help from my wonderful neighbor, who’s a licensed vet), but I still need to raise enough to cover the travel and import costs before the winter holidays.

Breakdown:

• $4,795 – Starwood Economy Package (Detroit → Dublin)

• $550 – Airline-approved travel kennels

• ~$150 – USDA endorsement & shipping fees

• GoFundMe processing fees

Goal: $5,500 USD

Every donation—no matter the amount—helps bring us one step closer to home. If you can’t give, simply sharing this page makes a real difference.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me reunite my little family and carry us safely into the next chapter!

— CJ, and the boys