Kamal Ghorui
This is the story of a couple from Hyderabad and their love for Sky. This is no ordinary tale of an animal-loving couple who reunited with their dog in Australia because they had been sorely missing him ever since they had moved base to the new continent. Divya and John prove that love can fathom all heights and move all barriers. Software professionals with steady jobs, they lived modestly, saving for a home, pinching pennies on weekend outings, and dreaming of stability. But their world revolved around Sky, their super cute golden retriever. Sky wasn’t just a pet; he was their anchor, their laughter on tough days, the wagging tail that greeted them after grueling 12-hour shifts. When a life-changing job offer called them to Australia, joy turned to dread. Leaving Sky behind? Unthinkable.
The couple moved to Melbourne to set up a life in Australia, but they constantly missed Sky. Meanwhile “Sky started suffering from anxiety issues after we left. He would have these bouts when he would have these fits. The doctor explained to us that these are symptoms of separation anxiety,” says Divya.But what kept Sky from reuniting with John and Divya were the stringent pet rules of Australia. Dogs from India can’t fly directly to Australia. They must spend 180 days in a rabies-free country undergoing tests, vaccines, and quarantine. The cost? A staggering ₹15 lakh! “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. But what they did not understand was that Sky was not our pet; he was like a child to us,” he added.
After saving a part of their salary, they finally set out to bring Sky to Australia. “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,” says Divya. They boarded him at a premium facility, video calls became 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.” John’s heart shattered hearing Sky’s barks through the phone, a sound that once filled their tiny flat with joy.
