I had grown up with dogs but never got one for our own family. We had cats until we realized James was terribly allergic and then we had a few fish. My brothers could never understand why we didn’t have dogs. It was anti-family, anti-American and just plain weird. I think one once called me “soul-less” for not having a pet.

I had a lot of excuses. James would need an expensive hypo-allergenic dog, Matthew and I worked long hours and it didn’t seem fair, we lived on a busy road…. The real reason I didn’t have a puppy is that I was afraid of the pain of losing he/she to old age or accident, I simply didn’t want to put my heart into something I was certain I would have to mourn.

The year before my dad got shot we adopted a Springer Spaniel puppy we named “Meg”. She was an adorable brown and white dog with little sense. I can remember hearing her cry the first night we brought her home and bringing a blanket downstairs to sleep on the linoleum in the kitchen next to her kennel. My parents tried to teach me responsibility so I was supposed to feed and walk her, but that dwindled as the novelty wore off. She was a sweet dog though and I loved her.

My dad was encouraged to have a sabbatical after the shooting, so we moved to Scotland and Meg went to stay with my Aunt Mavis, Mavis was my mom’s god-mother and she lived alone on a farm in Vermont. She adored dogs and quickly bonded with Meg. Unfortunately for me, when we returned from abroad my parents said it would be cruel to have Meg leave the farm and we could “always visit her there”. Horror. I was so sad to have another loss that year.

I think that informed my wariness about opening my heart to another animal. That, and watching my brothers and their families grieve their dogs one after the other. What changed? Covid. The realization that my son was leaving for college and no one really wanted to snuggle me anymore. That first Covid spring I began searching for a Havanese puppy. My cousin had what she thought was at least a part Havanese dog named Crosby and he was loving, gentle, cuddly and perpetually looked like a puppy. I wanted that.

Ultimately, I found it for less than a million dollars with a breeder in South Dakota. I reserved a black and white girl, and I was blessed to receive Sophie Rose a couple of months later. She has been a gift to our family, a companion when I’m alone, and a welcome distraction from life’s difficulties.

Now, how do I get her to France? It is actually easier than some believe. France does not have a quarantine for dogs arriving from the U.S. that are up to date with vaccinations. Sophie needed to be microchipped after being vaccinated against rabies. She needs to be checked and certified by a USDA certified vet within 10 days of her travel. That has all been arranged.

Matthew will fly over with Sophie. Sophie, thankfully is small and can travel in an airline approved pet carrier in the cabin with him. I think she will be okay as she loves her dad and she will be tired during the overnight flight. I am so grateful Matthew is willing to do this as I have to bring Lily to school and couldn’t conceive of a way to have Sophie join me through that process. France loves dogs and I’m hopeful Sophie will love France.