Reader query: We plan on commonly travelling between the UK and France by ferry with our canine. Are there any pointers we should always pay attention to?
Almost all ferry firms and routes between the UK and France permit dogs and different small pets resembling cats and ferrets.
To convey a pet onboard you’ll almost definitely should be travelling by car as few firms permit foot passengers on with their pets, though this doesn’t imply that your pet should keep within the automotive all through the journey.
Condor Ferries and DFDS Seaways from Newhaven to Dieppe appear to be the one present ferry firms and routes that permit foot passengers to convey a pet.
Since Brexit, the principles round pet journey have modified barely however ferries together with the Eurotunnel stay probably the most handy technique to take pets between France and the UK.
Pet passports
Pets, in your case a canine, making the journey throughout the Channel must have a pet passport.
If you reside in France, you possibly can receive an EU pet passport from a licensed veterinarian, which is legitimate for the canine’s life so long as you retain updated with its rabies vaccinations, which needs to be yearly.
This EU pet passport permits homeowners to take their pets anyplace within the EU. It can also be legitimate for the UK.
It is feasible that Britons with a protracted keep visa for France may additionally have the ability to get an EU pet passport.
Read extra: Second-home owners in France to register travelling pets with I-CAD
Since leaving the EU the UK is now a ‘part 2’ listed nation, which means that UK vets are not allowed to challenge an EU pet passport.
Instead, UK pet homeowners should get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from their vet. There is not any set value for this so you possibly can count on to pay no less than £100 – £200, most likely extra. It is required for each journey to the EU.
Other situations
Your canine should even be electronically chipped and have a legitimate rabies vaccination. It should be no less than 12 weeks old.
Your canine can solely journey 21 days after the vaccination, to ensure that it’s immune. You ought to make sure that any additional vaccinations are given earlier than the validity interval of the earlier one has expired.
When travelling from France to the UK, it’s essential to additionally deal with your canine for tapeworms lower than 5 days and greater than 24 hours earlier than the journey (this doesn’t apply to cats or ferrets).
Read extra: Do I need deworming stamp on my pet passport for UK to France travel?
All this info should be clearly proven on the AHC or passport, together with particulars resembling date and time of vaccination or tapeworm therapy, product used and the vet’s stamp and signature.
Options for the journey
There are three important choices for taking your canine on the ferry: leaving them in your automotive, in a pet-friendly cabin or in onboard kennels.
Leaving your pet in your automotive is the commonest alternative. Some firms cost a charge for any pet you convey with you whereas others don’t.
Some ferries, for instance P&O Ferries, additionally supply a pet lounge for an additional charge (typically round £10-15). These often embrace a seat for you and house to convey your pet’s mattress, as properly an train deck exterior.
If you permit your canine within the automotive, bear in mind to crack open the automotive home windows, depart it water and ensure it has a cushty mattress.
Some ferries have additional necessities, resembling needing to modify off any alarms to be able to not startle the animals.
Pet-friendly cabins help you take your canine with you to a non-public space. The cost of those fluctuate relying on the corporate and infrequently should be booked properly prematurely because of restricted availability.
Finally, some ferries supply kennels so that you can depart your canine in the course of the journey. You will often want to offer bedding and have the ability to go to them a couple of times.
Whenever you’re walking along with your canine within the ferry, when going to and from the cabin or the kennels, your canine will should be on a lead and muzzled.
Read extra
Confusion over EU pet passport rules costs British dog owner £500
