Together again - John and Teresa Dunne with Kimberley on the beach in Goa.

by Gerry Warren

When John and Teresa Dunne left Canterbury for a new life in Goa they reluctantly handed their dog into the care of an animal rescue centre hoping she would find loving new owners.

But after just two months they could no longer bear to be parted from her. So they had her flown nearly half way round the world to be with them.

Retired engineer John and wife Teresa fell in love with the laid-back lifestyle, climate and beauty of Goa beside the Indian Ocean after spending several holidays in the exotic location.

So instead of weathering the British winter, the couple decided to up sticks from their home in Upstreet and move there.

But they faced the difficult decision of what to do with their dog, Kimberley, a German shepherd/collie cross they had got from the Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary.

She had been part of their lives for nearly four years but when they decided to make the move, there seemed too many bureaucratic obstacles to bringing her with them.

It meant acquiring all sorts of Defra certificates and an export licence and paying a hefty bill for her transport, but the couple decided it would all be worth the effort.

Last Thursday, a courier arrived at the sanctuary to take the dog to Manchester airport where she stayed in a shipping agent’s kennels for two days before her 10-hour flight to Goa.

On Monday afternoon local time in Goa, John and Teresa were at the airport to meet her as she touched down.

John said: “We had not been away from her for too long so she recognised us straight away and threw herself at us.

“She looked very well and none the worse for her long journey.

“We took her for her first trip to the beach on Tuesday and she loved it.

“She has settled really well into her new home and there will be someone to look after her here when we pop back to the UK.”

He added: “I have to thank Margaret Todd and the Lord Whisky Sanctuary for having her back before we decided on her future.”

Read the full story in this week's Kentish Gazette.