Highlights:
- India's Hyderabad couple relocates to Australia but refuses to abandon their dog
- Sky develops separation anxiety after being left behind in India
- Australia’s strict pet import rules force a six-month quarantine abroad
- The journey costs nearly ₹15 lakh and months of emotional strain
- Reunion proves love can overcome borders, money, and distance
This is not a simple story about pet lovers missing their dog after moving overseas. It is the story of Divya and John, a couple from Hyderabad, and Sky, a golden retriever who was never “just a pet,” but family.
Both software professionals, Divya and John, lived modestly in India. They saved carefully for a home, kept weekends simple, and endured long 12-hour workdays. At the center of their lives was Sky, their emotional anchor, their constant source of comfort, and the joyful presence that greeted them at the door after exhausting days.
When a career-defining opportunity took them to Australia, excitement quickly gave way to heartbreak. Leaving Sky behind was never part of the plan, but the move forced an impossible choice.
The couple relocated to Melbourne to begin their new life, but their hearts remained in Hyderabad. Sky, meanwhile, began to change.
“Sky started suffering from anxiety issues after we left. He would have these bouts, with these fits. The doctor explained to us that these are symptoms of separation anxiety,” says Divya.
Reuniting was not just an emotional challenge, it was a logistical and financial nightmare. Australia has some of the world’s strictest biosecurity laws. Dogs from India cannot fly directly into the country. Instead, they must spend 180 days in a rabies-free nation, undergoing tests, vaccinations, and quarantine before being allowed entry.
The total cost: nearly $18,000.
“We are not born with a silver spoon. We had to save every penny to bring him here,” says John. “We were also dissuaded by friends and family who said that you can easily get another pet for Rs 2 to 3k ($24 to $36). But what they did not understand was that Sky was not our pet; he was like a child to us.”
After months of saving, the couple chose Dubai as Sky’s quarantine stop. Divya explains their reasoning with a smile: “We chose Dubai as the quarantine country because we felt that Sky was a Hindi guy, and he would understand the language and not feel that the place was totally alien.”
Sky was boarded at a premium facility, but distance did not dull the worry. Video calls became emotional lifelines.
“We lived on daily updates about him and counted each day. Did Sky eat well today? Is he okay? Does he miss us? We stayed connected on video calls.”
For John, hearing Sky’s bark through the phone was both comforting and devastating, a reminder of what they were missing and what they were fighting to bring back.
Six long months passed in Dubai. Then came the flight to Melbourne, followed by another 10 days in quarantine. Finally, the moment they had dreamed of arrived.
“While we knew that Sky would reunite with us, Sky did not know it, and so the moment he saw us, the look in his eyes was something we will never forget,” says John.
Today, Sky runs freely across green lawns under wide Australian skies, chasing frisbees and reclaiming the joy that once faded with separation. For Divya and John, the sacrifices, financial strain, emotional exhaustion, and countless sleepless nights were never negotiable.
They chose love over convenience, commitment over money, and proved that bonds do not require words to be profound.
In a world often driven by material gain and easy choices, their journey stands as a reminder that real affection still exists, steadfast, selfless, and willing to cross oceans for a voiceless companion who once gave them unconditional love.
