Bringing your pet back to UK after cruising

Corky

Corky

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I intend doing the French Canals and the Med in early retirement in the next couple of years and would like to bring small dog with us. I've been told that despite pet passports etc. it's really difficult to bring the dog back into the UK so not to bother. Has anyone any recent experience of this or is it hearsay?
 
I take my dog to Spain for the summer for the past three years using the pet passport scheme - its really easy
the pet passport scheme is being stopped next year. Phone your Vet and they will give you all the details so taking the dog should be easy.
 
Corky said:
I intend doing the French Canals and the Med in early retirement in the next couple of years and would like to bring small dog with us. I've been told that despite pet passports etc. it's really difficult to bring the dog back into the UK so not to bother. Has anyone any recent experience of this or is it hearsay?
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You cannot bring your pet back on your own boat.

It has to come back via an approved carrier through an approved port.
 
Maybe one of you could come back on the ferry with the dog.
Pet passport is easy peasy.
I used to travel with my dog in the Eurostar every 3 or 4 weeks without a problem.
Keep checking though as they may relax the own vessel stuff.
 
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Reverend Ludd said:
Maybe one of you could come back on the ferry with the dog.
Pet passport is easy peasy.
I used to travel with my dog in the Eurostar every 3 or 4 weeks without a problem.
Keep checking though as they may relax the own vessel stuff.
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But the main problem is that currently you have to bring the pet back in a car, not so easy when you're on a boat!!
 
longjohnsilver said:
But the main problem is that currently you have to bring the pet back in a car, not so easy when you're on a boat!!
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What's wrong with a pet carrier box on a ferry or the train accompanied by SWMBO as a foot passenger? The point is that the Border Authorities need to be able to carry out checks & they can't easily do that if you arrive on your own boat in some secluded bay at midnight.
 
Searush said:
What's wrong with a pet carrier box on a ferry or the train accompanied by SWMBO as a foot passenger? The point is that the Border Authorities need to be able to carry out checks & they can't easily do that if you arrive on your own boat in some secluded bay at midnight.
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Logic doesn't seem to play a part in the pet passport scheme. We had to get swmbo SIL to come over to France in her car and pick up out 2 dogs. Taking them back as a foot passenger was not an option, they had to be in a car! Madness, but that's the rules.
 
Many thanks to all for your comments. It does seem to be a bit of a mess and time DEFRA sorted it out. It doesn't cover the option of returning by boat to the UK with Fido aboard at all. It seems a nonsense to have to dump one of the crew ashore to pick up a car to take said pet back by land.

Cheers
 
Corky said:
Many thanks to all for your comments. It does seem to be a bit of a mess and time DEFRA sorted it out. It doesn't cover the option of returning by boat to the UK with Fido aboard at all. It seems a nonsense to have to dump one of the crew ashore to pick up a car to take said pet back by land.

Cheers
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It is exactly as you say, a mess and a nonsense. I do know of some people who have all the requirements carried out by a vet in France but then simply bring their dog home in their own boat, on the basis that if they're stopped they can rightly say all inoculations etc have been done.
 
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