When you’re through. You’re through.

We have arrived in the Netherlands.

After months of stress about the unknown, shots being timed at just the right moment, paperwork filled out so we arrived exactly 10 days after it’s completion per the requirements to enter blah blah blah blah here is how it all went down.

Our flight lands.

We get off the plane and walk to passport check. There is ZERO line so Brisket and I walk right up. I hand over my passport.

He asks how long we are here.

“We are just here for four days” I say.

“Who is we?” asks the passport agent.

“Oh, sorry. The dog and I.”

“Ok.” He stamps my passport unamused and unconcerned.

Along the way I see a girl on our flight who also has a dog with a service vest on. I had seen her at check in and she looked like a pro so I asked her how this all goes down.

She’s been traveling back and forth with her pup for years and we apparently have to declare them and then they examine our papers and check out the dog and we are good to go.

Ok, breathe. I was a little worried because back in the US, my paperwork had some errors in dates that the vet made and I was asked by the agent at the USDA to adjust and initial the mistakes. What if they didn’t accept these and wouldn’t let me in.

I pick up my luggage and we head to where the line splits into “nothing to declare” and “something to declare.”

Ok? Breathe. Here we go.

I walk up to the “something to declare” counter but there is no one there.

I wait.

Still no one.

So I walk through “nothing to declare” to find someone to approve my papers and check off my pup.

There is no one there either.

Now we are just IN the Netherlands.

Free.

On the other side.

I find airport security.

“Excuse me. I need to declare my dog. There was no one at the desk,” I say.

“Well you got through” he says matter to factly. “If you’re through then you’re through.”

And he walks away.

And just like that.

We are here.

No grand entrance. No drama. No official foreign approval. Just here.

Isn’t it amazing how much time and energy we spend worrying about things that never end up happening.

I literally almost cancelled this trip a few months ago because of the stress I created over getting this dog into Europe!

But, when you’re in, you’re in.

And we are in.

❤️