Hello all,

  Well I just got notified that I got orders to Yokota. Coming there in January 2010. Need some help though, I am married with no kids but I have a dog and a cat. I have read many websites and I am freaking out a lot about my pet situation. I understand that dogs are only allowed in the garden housing and if they are not available, we have to board her. My wife does not like this one bit and since we both are very attatched to our dog, are now extremely stressed. I have read a few forums about this and I keep seeing people say that if you have a dog, you will get a garden house. Does that mean I will get it or thats what I have to get and wait for. I am an E5.. hoping to be E6. Please please please,  Any info and details would help.

You can probably ask your sponsor to check all these things out before you get here. You can also call the base housing office a month or two before you PCS. We coordinated with the base housing office before we PCSd here. We sort of got ourselves listed for a tower housing, so we didn't stay long at the TLF. But I don't think it would be difficult to get a garden housing in January since a lot of people are PCSing in that month! I know 4 families who live at the garden housing and are PCSing in January. If you really want to PCS with your dog, you have to sign up and wait for a garden housing. And always mention you'll PCS with your dog. If there aren't any available on-base though, there's always off-base homes! Goodluck! and I do hope you get to PCS with your dog! * hey, don't stress yourselves out from hearsay or whatnots..it's always good to know info first hand..goodluck!

Sorry I can't help with the housing issues, but if you're PCSing in January you need to start all the vaccines, blood work and paperwork TODAY!!! It's a long process and you have to leave a 6 month window at least to get it all done.

Ria- Thank you and yes will definately keep my sponsor (when I get one.... I just found out about these orders last night) in th loop and involved. And I will always mention that I am PCSing with my Dog.

Tirani- thank you. As soon as I can I will get that started. She is 4 years old and she already has a microchip but I gotta make sure its the right one, she has had 2 rabies shots already but I will talk to the Military vet and just do what they say. But yes I am right with you on that.

Do any of you know if I can come before my wife and dog and wait for housing? That would really take our stress level down.

I think you can request for permissive TDY for house hunting. But it's all under the discretion of the commanders. They usually approve those kinds of leave. Although some take their permissive TDY after signing out of the old base and before signing in at the new base, so they arrive at the new base at least 10 days before signing in. Try calling or going to your MPF and ask about this kind of leave. I don't really know the exact details.

It's also possible to leave your pets behind (with family, trusted friends) while you and your wife fly out and wait for a house- the pets can fly out by themselves once you've secured housing. It may be a less stressful option for your pets and you if you know they are in a comfortable house with loving attention rather than in a kennel for months.

I still can't imagine traveling with my pets! I think that would be too much stress added to the flight and checking in process.

Yes I will request Permissive TDY and hopefully things will run smoothly with that.

I dont want my pets to travel without me or my wife. We are coming from the east coast all the way to Japan. Yes it will be stressfull but at least we'll go through it together.

If you are on Facebook, a gal created a group called Yokota Dog PCS Help. She listed everything you need for PCSing with a dog, including some things she was required to get that werent on the list. There are also several of us who have offered to house a pet if the boarding facility is full while you wait for a house.