The past few weeks have been a rare treat—I finally got the chance to travel again after a long stretch of staying close to home. It was a whirlwind of experiences across three states—Nevada, Arizona, and California. I caught up with relatives I don’t see often, attended a pet care conference, networked with industry friends I hadn’t seen in a while, and took in some breathtaking scenery along the way.
Overall, the trip was refreshing. It gave me the chance to recharge, learn new things, and experience a completely different landscape from what I’m used to in the Lowcountry. And the icing on the cake? The weather was fantastic!
But as great as it was to get away, I have to admit—there was one thing I really missed: my dog, Molly. She stayed with my son while I was away, and I have no doubt she had a great time, but I was definitely feeling some serious dog withdrawal. The relatives I stayed with didn’t have pets, which meant no evening cuddles, no dog walks, and no furry friend to shower with love. That all changed on my way home.
Meet Gus: My Surprise Travel Buddy
Like most travel adventures, mine didn’t go completely smoothly. My flight home was delayed nearly three hours due to bad weather elsewhere, which was frustrating, especially since it meant I wouldn’t get into Charleston until after midnight. Long waits in airports and lengthy flights can make for an exhausting day.
That’s when I met Gus.
Gus is an Emotional Support Dog for a student at the College of Charleston. This was only his second time flying, and it was clear that all the noise, movement, and unfamiliar faces had him feeling a little anxious. As luck would have it, he and his owner ended up sitting right next to me.
Normally, I wouldn’t pet or interact with a service or support animal without permission, but after chatting with Gus’s owner and mentioning that I own a pet sitting company, she gave me the go-ahead. I could tell she felt at ease knowing she was sitting next to someone who truly loves and understands dogs.
After some time, Gus started to settle in. He was fascinated by the window, and since I had the window seat, his owner let him hop into my lap to take a closer look. He sat there, happy as could be, gazing out at the world below while I got my much-needed dog fix. It was a win-win—Gus got to enjoy the view, his owner got a break, and I got some much-missed puppy love.
For about 30 minutes, Gus sat in my lap, completely enthralled by the sights outside until a flight attendant (understandably) asked me to put him down in case we hit turbulence. Even after that, he stayed close to his owner, offering comfort just by being there.
The Magic of Pets
This experience was a reminder of just how incredible service and support animals are. Over the years, my company has worked with organizations like K9s For Warriors, so I’ve seen firsthand how these dogs change—and even save—lives.
Gus may have been a little nervous on the plane, but he brought so much joy to those around him. He never barked or whined—just quietly observed and spread happiness. That’s the magic of pets. They bring comfort, companionship, and unconditional love, whether they’re sitting on your lap at 30,000 feet or curled up beside you at home.
And yes—dogs absolutely love looking out windows, even when they’re flying at 500 miles per hour!
Author– George Lockwood
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