The Foreign Service Journal, October 2021

FEATURE 54 OCTOBER 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FS family member Melissa Mathews is a communi- cations consultant and former journalist, currently posted to U.S. Embassy Amman. Her family includes three human children, a diplo-dog, Evie, and a Jordanian cat, Olive. W hen the Heidemann family moved to the Philippines in the summer of 2019, they settled in with their family: four sons and a 10-pound terrier mix named Winston. “He’s been a stabilizing force for our children during the transitions of Foreign Service life,” says mom Galia. When the pandemic hit, the children endured grueling lockdowns. It was traumatic, says Galia, but Winston “was an emotional support for our entire home.” Now, Winston’s future is uncertain. Like many Foreign Service families, the Heidemanns are scrambling to figure out Flying with Fido Taking your family pet home just got a lot harder. Here is what you need to know. BY ME L I SSA MATHEWS what to do after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion implemented a ban on dogs coming into the United States. That could force some hard choices. The policy, announced June 14, effectively bans the import of dogs frommore than 100 countries the CDC identifies as high risk for rabies. That means dogs at many posts may not have an easy time getting home. The policy went into effect in July, and a partial grace period ends in October. The CDC subsequently announced a limited permit program with stringent requirements that many say are difficult or impossible to fulfill. Struggles with the Permit Process When the CDC announced the ban, most Americans hardly noticed. But for military personnel, diplomats and private U.S. citi- zens who live abroad with their pets, the announcement hit home. GALIAHEIDEMANN Winston, a terrier mix, was a perfect gentleman during months of pandemic lockdowns in the Philippines. But a dog import ban from the CDC has the Heidemann family worried about how he'll get home.