This New Year’s felt big for me in a quiet, emotional way. Not just because we were headed to Vancouver, but because it was the first time I had ever taken any of my dogs out of the country. And it was Beverly’s first flight. A lot of firsts wrapped into one short trip.
Leading up to it, I was so nervous. Anyone who has traveled with dogs knows that familiar spiral. Will she bark. Will she cry. Will she panic. Will I be that person on the plane. To make it extra exciting, we realized at the last minute that her bag wasn’t going to work, so we had to quickly buy a new one right before the flight. Not exactly the calm start I had hoped for.
But from the moment we boarded, Beverly surprised me.
She settled into her carrier under the seat like she had done it a hundred times before. Calm. Quiet. Just watching everything with those curious eyes of hers. The flight attendants on Air Canada were incredibly kind and reassuring, which helped my nerves more than they probably realized. At one point, they even let her sit on my lap for a bit, and she curled right in, content and relaxed, like she knew she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Getting into Vancouver was surprisingly easy. All we needed was proof of her rabies vaccination, and just like that, we were in another country together. I had built it up so much in my head, and then suddenly we were walking through the airport like it was no big deal. I think I was more emotional than she was.
Watching how well she handled the flight and the travel made me feel genuinely excited for what’s ahead. It opened something up for me. This idea that I can take her places, visit friends, show up in the world with her by my side, the way I used to with Beth. It brought back that familiar feeling of freedom and companionship that only comes from trusting your dog and yourself enough to just go.
This trip felt like the beginning of a new chapter. A new year, a new country, and a little dog who proved she’s ready for more adventures than I gave her credit for. And honestly, so am I.
