By Nadia Holm
As we were winding down on some pretty substantial renovations on a house we bought a year ago in Hawaii, my then-fiancé came home and asked me how I felt about moving back to Guam. I lived on Guam for 32 years before moving to Hawaii five years ago and had met my future husband there. A move back home wasn’t an unwelcomed development, but it was a pretty steep curve ball from the direction we thought we were going.
Over the next couple of days, we started thinking about how to reprioritize our plans to make this new and exciting opportunity work. When we announced our news to friends and colleagues a few weeks later, I was presented with the same question over and over, “Will you take Charlie with you?” Leaving him behind was never a consideration and of all the things we needed to do, keeping our family together was the most important and stressful task.
I contacted the Guam Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division, who provided me with the 2019 Guam Animal Rabies Quarantine Program Information Brochure. Fortunately, this brochure provides a great deal of information in an easy-to-read format and department representatives provide quick responses via email for anything that is unclear.
Guam requires an entry permit for each animal and the process can take two to three months so advanced planning will help avoid quarantine requirements and potential fines. Additionally, if the animal travels on United Airlines, you are required to use an International Pet and Animal Transporting Association pet transporting company. While this is a more costly option, if does significant streamline and simplify the process. I am working with Island Pet Movers, a Hawaii based company with a lot of experience moving pets in the Pacific region, for Charlies move to Guam in October.
Charlie's move to Guam is coming along. I am sure he will be terrified and confused when his move happens and unfortunately, there’s no way to explain to him what is going on. Wish us luck.