Get Bronco to Europe: A Lifeline for His Best Friend

Dear Friends,

On October 24, 2024, me and my furry best friend, Bronco were supposed to take off on a life changing adventure together to Serbia where I grew up. Not to be confused with Siberia in the upper North region of Russia. I grew up in a small mining town in SE Serbia at the border of Romania and Bulgaria. It had always been my hope to return there some day and now seemed to be as good a time as any.

With high rent hikes making it impossible to find decent housing with a dog I decided to take what little I had in my bank account and put it towards this life changing trip for me and Bronco.

My first $700 purchase went towards my Bronco's passport of paperwork required for international travel with a pet abroad.

I had all his paperwork ready, a crate and thought I finally found an airline that would fly him in the “baggage hold” - not my first choice - on the same flight as me.

Our trouble started as the week’s drew closer to our travel date and I Lufthansa a highly referred airline - that is supposedly known for the best transport of pets. However, the excuses for not accepting my dog Bronco in baggage hold started almost immediately after I stated his breed - a Pitbull mix. The first was that he was considered a brachycephaly dog. But when I pushed back and even submitted paperwork showing he was cleared by our vetrinarian to fly they then admitted it’s because he is considered a fighting or "dangerous" breed. And the only way they would fly him is on a cargo freight plane through a pet relocation company that will cost me between $4,000 and $8,000. I tried to bypass the pet relocation company since I had already done most of the leg work and wanted to minimize my costs. But I was told I couldn't book freight privately with Lufthansa.

I will have to start from scratch with vet visits and the paperwork needed for his bill of health to fly out of the US and into Europe. That cost can run up to $700. Then there’s the specialized aluminum crate his breed needs for the flight. :(

The crate is about another $1000-$2000. And any incidentals that might happen from Philly to Europe.

Bronco has been my compass during some very difficult times and a beacon of light and motivation through my challenges with TBI and late diagnosis ADHD.

Bronco knows how to pick up my keys for me, to settle in with other dog sitting friends, he’s taught himself when to regulate me and taught me when I need to settle down and calm myself. He's taught me so much more about what unconditional love is. Yes, it's cliche and very true.

It's going on a month since the two of us were separated at Lufthansa check in and while I've managed to distract myself with the large number of strays I meet daily and semi fosters I've taken to looking after I am truly lost without Bronco and could use your help to get him back to me.

I am asking for your support towards getting Bronco either shipped or to fly with me in baggage hold. Whatever is left over from the donations I'd look to put towards helping some of the strays I've encountered in childhood town in Serbia.

With Deep Gratitude.

Mey Chang