Hi everyone,

My sister’s name is Jessica, and my family and I have been put into a position we never thought possible. I would appreciate just a few minutes of your time to read her story. We are reaching out for help in getting my sister and her beloved dog back home to the U.S.

My sister is a U.S. military veteran currently stranded in the Dominican Republic with her dog, Sailor — her best friend, and her emotional support. After serving 5 years in the U.S. Navy, my sister decided to spend time in the Dominican Republic over the past year to connect with a group of U.S. veterans, and became immersed in a new place after a newfound appreciation for the beauty of the island, their food and the culture.

Sailor has been a part of our family since 2016. He was adopted as a tiny puppy from a local shelter, and has been my sister’s companion for the greater part of 9 years. He has been a constant source of familiarity and comfort in between her military deployments abroad. We need help making sure we can reunite my sister and her dog.

My sister decided to travel with her companion, Sailor, and in 2024 brought all of the required documents to travel with him. With all vaccines current and valid, we never thought we would have any trouble returning to the U.S. with Sailor in 2025. However, while she has been out of the country, the CDC changed the pet re-entry rules. Overnight, the process to bring Sailor back home became extremely strict, complicated, and very expensive. Sailor is microchipped, vaccinated, and originally from the United States — but because of the new laws, she is now facing additional requirements like specialized tests, certifications, and paperwork that can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

My sister simply wasn’t prepared for this. My family does not have the savings to cover the new costs, and because of these rules, my sister cannot leave the DR without Sailor. He’s my sister’s comfort and companion and she will not abandon him. But right now, we cannot afford what the CDC requires for him to come back into the country.

As a veteran, asking for help is one of the hardest things for my sister to do. For the past 5 years, she has been accustomed to pushing through and solving tough problems on her own. But this time, she genuinely can’t do it alone. The timeline is tight, the costs keep adding up, and we are terrified of not being able to bring Sailor home with my sister.

What the funds will cover:

• Required rabies titer test

• USDA/APHIS certifications

• Vet appointments and export paperwork

• Airline fees for in-cabin travel

• Any additional CDC-required steps to re-enter the U.S.

Every dollar helps. Truly. Even sharing this page helps. Sailor means everything to my sister and our family — he’s the most loyal, loving dog, and he deserves to come back home safely.

Thank you for reading, supporting, sharing, or helping in any way.

— Jessica & Sailor ❤️