For many pet owners, animals are family. An Indian couple’s recent experience has powerfully reinforced that belief, after they chose love over convenience while relocating abroad. Their story involving emotional separation, strict international regulations, and an expense close to Rs 15 lakh has gone viral following a video shared by Instagram page “Kahaani of Tales.”
The couple, Divya and John, were set to move from Hyderabad to Australia, excited about starting a new chapter in their lives. That excitement quickly turned into stress when they discovered that Australia does not permit dogs to be brought directly from India. Because India is not considered rabies-free, pets must first spend six months in an approved country before they can enter Australia.
“Why spend 15 lakhs on a dog? Get a new one. We got an opportunity to move from India to Australia. We were all excited until. Australia does not allow direct import of dogs from India. Dogs from India must stay 6 months days in a rabies free country. That’s 14 to 16 lakh just to bring him from India to Australia, and 6 months in another country,” the couple said in the video.
Faced with suggestions from others to leave their dog behind or adopt another one after moving, the couple refused to consider those options. Determined to keep their family together, they made arrangements for their dog, Sky, to travel from India to Dubai a rabies-free country where he would remain for the required duration.
Couple Stays in Dubai to Ease Dog’s Move
To make the transition easier for him, Divya and John stayed in Dubai with Sky for the first month. However, leaving him at a boarding facility for the remaining months proved emotionally overwhelming. The entire relocation process lasted close to 190 days and involved complex paperwork, medical tests, vaccinations, quarantine formalities, and mounting expenses.
During the separation, the couple stayed in constant touch. Daily updates, video calls, and frequent check-ins became a routine as they anxiously waited for the months to pass, hoping their decision would eventually lead to a reunion.
“Six months felt like forever. And then, finally, it was time. Sky came to us in Australia. All the waiting, the stress, the fear, and the sacrifices suddenly felt worth it,” they shared. Addressing the criticism they faced for spending such a large amount, they added, “This journey might sound unreasonable to some people, but for us, it never was. Sky isn’t ‘just a dog.’ He is our child, and we would do it all over again for him.”
Since being shared online, the video has drawn widespread attention, with many social media users praising the couple’s commitment and calling their story a reminder that pets are not possessions they are family.
