There are two worldwide airports on our doorstep – Bournemouth and Southampton – Heathrow inside simple attain, plus Farnborough in the event you fancy a non-public jet and Gatwick not up to now too. When they’re working, the railways whisk you to London. Plus, we have now the nice ports of Southampton and Portsmouth.
For greater than thirty years now, we have now been common passengers on Brittany Ferries’ Portsmouth-St Malo route, visiting the home on the north coast of Brittany which we share with a quantity buddies. When Britain narrowly voted for Brexit (about which, correctly, I make no remark) one of many arguments superior for leaving was to be shut of EU forms. It’s not fairly turned out that approach.
We are proud homeowners of a two- and-a-half-year-old working cocker spaniel. She’s essentially the most biddable canine we’ve owned and along with her floppy ears and limpid brown eyes, cute. She has received all our hearts and particularly that of Mrs A – no imply feat – a lot in order that she will’t bear to be parted from her, though all of the proof is that so long as she is fed, watered and walked, our little canine transfers her affections quite too simply. She does, nevertheless, handle to summon up appropriate pleasure and tail wagging for our homecomings.
“Why don’t we take her to France?” advised Mrs A in a tone that to her seasoned husband indicated this was probably not a query. In my thoughts’s eye I imagined all method of ache however dutifully I consulted our vet. “The paperwork is a nightmare,” he mentioned wearily, “But it can be done.” So, simply shy of a £100 lighter I emerged with the brand new animal well being certificates that changed the old EU pet passport.
READ MORE: Sherborne House School announces range of open day events
Experienced momentary canine exporters suggested that the trick was to journey out on the UK doc after which when in France, get a neighborhood vet to problem a French passport to your pooch which is able to then final her a lifetime. On our first journey as a threesome the English doc handed inspection by Brittany Ferries at Portsmouth and into St Malo. A French vet duly inspected our canine’s vaccination certificates and issued a passport for 60 euros. He then needed to see her earlier than we returned, opine on her well being, and pop a worming pill down her – one other 53 euros. The return journey was bother free, as was our second journey. The French passport ruse was working. I needed to admit to Mrs A I used to be mistaken about my preliminary fears, one thing she at all times appreciates, certainly savours.
On the third journey, an eagle-eyed Britanny Ferries clerk thought the French vet had been too cursory transferring particulars from the UK vaccination doc. After we’d carried out the drive of disgrace from the queue to the ferry terminal this was confirmed by the French supervisor who delighted in telling us, “After Brexit these UK certificates are worthless too us”. It might have been Macron himself talking. After a lot blustering, he allowed us passage, “At your own risk”. There was no downside at St Malo. The vet rectified his mistake and after one other worming pill and 53 euros all was again so as.
Or so we thought till our fourth journey. This time Brittany Ferries determined that, because the French vet had signed that he had scanned the canine’s id chip after her rabies jab, her French passport was now invalid. The BF (add your individual interpretation of the initials) supervisor was adamant. We might go, however our canine couldn’t. So, we drove home 42 miles, left the canine with buddies and, dogless, took the crossing the next night. We are nonetheless awaiting a response from BF’s “customer care” division. I do know pet passports can’t be very far up the post-Brexit political agenda, however this wants sorting!
