Yikes! That does sound like a nightmare! I moved from WA to CO, back to WA a few years later, then back to CO for a while, then a road trip to visit WA & OR Coast, then a year later, moved back to WA...all driving. Of course, I didn't have any critters with me in the moves. I did, however pick up a young stray dog (Border Collie) in MT, on my road trip, that looked like she fell off a farm truck (she had a bit of road rash that was almost healed) & she had a collar on that she had almost outgrown, it was pretty tight. She was about 30 miles away from any towns in MT, so I loaded her in my truck, she hopped right in, layed down on the floor of the passenger side, & went to sleep. I called my roommate back in CO & told her I may be coming home with an dog. LOL
I lived in the city, & it quickly became apparent that she needed to be a working farm dog, so I found a home for her on a farm. I do miss her, but I know it was the right choice for her. I had named her Montana.