Long Distance Cruising with your dog

[mamafunk]

Does anyone have experience of sailing to the med with their dog? We have sailed with our spaniel for 4 years and he is an excellent boat dog. Want to spend a year+ sailing in Europe. Will I have to take a ferry with dog to France and back to get the pet passport verified? Plus did you go for hopping or crossing Biscay in one go?

 

[Abigail]

The issue really (given dog happy on boat) is that you cannot bring him back into the UK on your own boat. You will need the passport and the tick check as required at various EU borders. But the UK requires the dog to enter the country on an 'approved carrier' - ie a commercial vessel or plane or train. (He may be in your car on that carrier.)

If you are found to have an animal aboard when you reenter UK the customs will at the minimum call a vet who will examine the animal and may require quarantine or putting down - all at your cost.

Haven't done it ourselves but do know people happily cruising the med with dogs and/or cats.

 

[mamafunk]

Many thanks. Does that mean we can leave UK with dog on board having made all the pet passport arrangements? That way only need to arrange extra crew in one direction!

ps the vet would have to put me down before he could get to my dog!!

 

[clyst]

What about foreign boats with dogs on board , they arrive in this country on "unapproved" boats ?? Who check these mutts ??
Cheers
Terry

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Acsully, I wanted to ask something similar.

If we sail down with woofy and say cruise Morocco and Tunisia before heading toward Italy, France or Greece for example. Will there be a problem with the dog if he had been ashore in Africa?

I think it might prevent use of pets passport as they limit the countries you can visit and avoid quarantine but how do the Med countries react?

Does anyone know of suitable websites, such as the European versions of DEFRA for example.

 

[SQUIRRELS]

Try www.defra.gov.uk (check out the animals section)

Check with your vet, as they should have up-to-date info.

Also worth a try are: www.dogsaway.co.uk

Takes 7 mths in total to get pet a passport; different countries require diff frequency of rabies jab (i.e tavelling between Eng/France its now every two years).

 

[pragmatist]

Suggest you search this forum for previous threads. The thing which perturbed us most is the variety of nasty bugs and diseases which your British dog may be susceptible to.

 

[temptress]

Martin,

We know several couples who went to the MEd with dogs, their problem was getting them back into the UK later on.

 

[mamafunk]

Have spoken to very nice man at DEFRA and OK to leave with Dog on board. Can go as soon as clear rabies blood test one month after innoculation. but cannot return to UK for another 6 months and then via ferry/plane etc. In Spain they ask for annual rabies jabs rather than 2 years everywhere else and if you are a day late have to start the whole process again! Also have to get dog wormed/tick treatment from vet 24-48 hours before returning to UK.
By the way it's Colly not Martin, Kevin!!