Moving to Germany is not for the faint of heart, especially with a pet! I’ll keep this post short and share what worked for us. Many Facebook groups, blogs, and resources are provided on transporting your pet to Europe. If you are still stressed and have questions, reach out!

Now for the breakdown… per usual, ensure your pet is up to date on ALL vaccines, microchipped, and you have the necessary documents from your vet.

Document everything, screenshot everything, and be your pet’s advocate so they do not fall through the cracks.

We flew from Chicago to Frankfurt to have a nonstop flight for Maxine. I don’t think I could have handled layovers not knowing where she was located. We also chose Chicago as we flew out in September, meaning most airlines have a heat embargo. They will not fly your pet during certain months when the weather is too warm. We chose the Lufthansa airline as that was the only airline transporting pets as “excess baggage”. Maxine was to go into the cargo in her airline-approved kennel. I cannot stress enough to do your research! Ensure your kennel is airline-approved and that your dog is accustomed to it. I have unfortunately heard of people being turned away for not having the correct kennel.

Lufthansa was fantastic and had a pet checklist of what you need to bring or do before your flight. I knew they could tell I was frazzled and distraught leaving Maxine. The employee who took her to the cargo hold was pleasant and accommodating. After that, it was a LONG airplane ride for me as I was thinking of Maxine the whole time. It was all worth it when I saw her inside her kennel, waiting for us at baggage claim. I know for some families, this happy reunion isn’t the case. My heart breaks when I read an article about a pet not making it.

However, this is a triumphant story of our girl making it to Europe with us! We were ready to explore everything Europe had to offer us. We were jetlagged but ready.