Life is funny. You think you’ll have all the time in the world to keep a detailed journal of a big move to Costa Rica—and then poof, the days vanish. I’ve been busy doing what feels like a whole lot of nothing… though in fairness, keeping two children alive and publishing two children’s books is hardly nothing. Still, I want to make time for this blog. I want a record of this adventure, and some stories are too good not to tell.

One of those is Jeff’s trip to Costa Rica with our two big dogs.

The Setup

Back in July, we flew here with 16 pieces of luggage, two kids under eight, three cats, and my one little dog, Daisy—lovingly referred to by Jeff as “a gerbil on steroids.” The big dogs stayed behind. Thank goodness. I’m not sure either of us could have survived that airport scene with 160 more pounds of canine in tow.

But of course, they still had to get here.

The Problem with Flying Big Dogs

Moving large dogs to Costa Rica is not as simple as booking a ticket. Because of the heat, very few airlines allow dogs to fly cargo—and by “very few,” I mean one. Alaska Airlines will do it, but only out of California. That meant we’d have to somehow get the dogs across the country first, and even then, I worried. If most airlines won’t allow it, there’s probably a reason.

And then there was Dexter. Sweet, anxious Dexter, who jumps at his own shadow. I couldn’t imagine him surviving four-plus hours in a noisy cargo hold.

The Solution: Perro Air

After way too much internet research, I stumbled across Perro Air, a company designed for people like us—slightly ridiculous pet owners willing to pay a small fortune to keep our furry family members comfortable. Once a month, they charter a pet-friendly flight straight to Liberia, Costa Rica. Exactly where we needed to go.

Enter Jeff, our designated dog chauffeur.

The Journey

First came the road trip: Charlotte, NC to Miami, FL with two big dogs in the back. Not exactly glamorous. Once in Miami, Jeff sold our car and stayed with family (thanks, McCrackens!) until flight day.

Then came the fun part.

Forget cargo holds. This was a chartered jet for dogs. Everyone—humans and canines alike—had a window seat. The flight was shorter than commercial, customs was a breeze, and apparently, the dogs slept like babies after making a few new friends. Jeff may have snuck in a nap too.

Honestly, the pictures don’t lie. Poor Jeff suffered terribly.

The Aftermath

All in all, it was about as smooth and stress-free as moving 160 pounds of dog to another country could possibly be. Jeff, of course, is now a devoted fan of Perro Air. He’s already suggesting we travel that way again.

Sadly for him, his next trip to the States will be on American Airlines. In coach.