One of the subjects that I am often asked about is that of transportation of our beloved furry family members. Many times I am asked about the best way to send animals to the UK, or indeed other countries. The choices are many and, in the end, it is a personal choice which method we use.
The first thing you need to do is check what vaccinations/treatments are needed in the country you are sending your pet to. Also, different pets may need different treatments. The best person to ask this question is your vet, as they are updated regularly on new laws and changes that have been made to the importation of animals in the country of destination.
If you are taking or sending a dog, cat or other animals to the UK, then you can check what is needed on the DEFRA website – www.gov.uk/pet-travel-information-for-pet-owners
You will need to ask about timing, how long after treatments will the animal be allowed to enter the country, and how long do you have to reach the final destination. All this can influence the method of transportation you choose.
With pet passports, things are now a lot easier than they used to be. I remember back in the 70s when I was training. We were also a quarantine kennels, and we would have many dogs and cats arrive with us for the statutory six months’ stay. And along with the animals we would get the owners visiting on a regular basis. The biggest and most time-consuming role was disinfection of all the visitors and us, the kennel maids. This process often took longer than the actual visit from the owners of the animals, but we had strict rules and regulations to follow, and follow them we did.
We were given white coveralls. These we would ask the owners to wear, with overshoe covers. The owners also had to wear gloves and masks. Many a time we would get an owner of a toy poodle, arriving in her Rolls Royce driven by her driver. Out she would get in all her furs and jewels. As she arrived at the gate to the quarantine block, she was shown into the changing area, where she had to put this white all-in-one coverall on – and she never failed to be wearing very high heels. Now, the shoe cover would not stay on with high heels, so she would use our courtesy wellies. We often chuckled seeing her turn from a very posh lady into a kennel maid!
We would get dogs in from all over the world. Some were dogs used by the forces, and upon their return to the UK they would come to us. These dogs were not the normal pet, they were used for mine and bomb detection, and guarding the camps. But now, with the introduction of the pet passport, things are a lot easier when returning to, or visiting, other countries.
There are many ways to transport your pet. The options are: flying, driving, sending with a pet courier, or even on some cruise liners. Whichever option you choose, you need to check your timings. If you choose to fly with your pet, it is not as complicated as we first imagine. It is costly, but the time it takes to arrive at your destination is a fraction that it can take with the other options.
If your dog is over a certain size then it will need to go into the hold of the aircraft. If it is a toy breed or a puppy, then it will be allowed inside the cabin, depending on which airline you choose. They seem to change from time to time, and some that did allow pets to fly no longer do, so it is well worth checking close to the time you wish to travel.
If you are driving to your destination, then taking your pet with you is a good option. There are many hotels that now allow pets in the rooms, and in France most restaurants will allow dogs in with you, so long as they are well behaved and on a lead. Like I said, the timing is vital. Your vet will tell you when it is best to take the pet in for its passport check and worming treatment. Tell the vet the date you are due to arrive at your destination country, and they will tell you the date you need to visit the vet, with the pet.
We have done this with Secret now a few times, and have found it to suit us, as it means we can take in some of the scenery and sights we did not see on the previous trip.
If you are looking to send a pet to another country for rehoming or the like, then the pet transportation companies are a great option. We have also done this, and we found it to be both excellent value and not too upsetting for the pet. We sent our Daliha to the UK via a pet transportation company. After speaking to a few, we chose one that we felt was perfect for her.
She was a nervous traveller and also timid of men, but the company we used arranged for her to be sat with the lady for the whole trip. This way she was not upset more than she normally was when we took her to the beach for a day out.
We asked about the arrangements in the vehicle, and chose a company that used a car for that particular journey. I thought a van with cages may have been a little upsetting for her, and the car choice for me felt much better. If you have a dog or cat that does not fret while travelling then the van and cages should not be a problem. If in doubt, then it is good to chat with other people who have either taken their pets with them or used a transportation company.
Until next month, happy travels!
By Sue Ogden
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Sue Ogden is a professional dog groomer living in the Algarve. In her regular column, she provides readers with information on how best to care for their pets. Trained in the UK, she studied nursing, breeding, grooming, nutrition and kennel management. 910 851 140
