pets at sea

[dignity]

Can anyone give me any info regarding taking my dog to sea (only in British waters), am I likely to have difficulties when entering ports, how can I prove I havn't come from over-seas? Can anyone help?

 

[snowleopard]

in theory it's a no-no as the customs could assume you have been abroad. in practice lots of people do it without problems. we plan to take our dog out more often but think it would be wise to have evidence of when you left port if asked for proof. incidentally dover and ramsgate totally forbid animals on board with threat of big fines. some other ports may do the same so worth checking. customs will of course never give you an official ok to carry animals.

 

[jleaworthy]

I think a lot depends on where you sail. We take our two Jack Russell terriers with us everywhere and the only problem we've ever had was landing at one or two places during the foot and mouth disaster last year. Mind you we sail on the west coast of Scotland and have never seen a representative of HM Customs and Excise. Long may that happy situation continue.

 

[byron]

I take my mutt with me everywhere, Ramsgate is the only Port than bans dogs. They are desperately trying to get this ban lifted but it needs an act of parliament to do so. In the meanwhile they are bending over backwards to circumvent the rule, you call them on the VHF and they escort you from your boat to land, to get back aboard you see security and it happens in reverse. I know its daft but its the best they can do. Keep your Log up... there is always a remote chance you may have to prove you are UK to UK.

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[andy_wilson]

1. Keep harbour receipts.

2. Advise the coastguard of your passage details.

3. Keep a log.

4. Teach him or her to relieve itself at sea. You may be caught out one day. Our dog went for 18 hours before accepting it was OK to go once.

I'm not sure you will ever have to prove you haven't been overseas, rather the authorities need to to have good grounds to believe that you have.

 

[Guest]

It may be helpful to get your pet certified under the PETS scheme. Basically this he/she needs up-to-date vaccinations and to be 'micro-chipped'. My cat was microchipped - it is just an injection much like vaccinations but means the animal can be electronically scanned and its identity proven. Consider it as an electronic passport.

See (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/).

My understanding of this it is it would mean a dog or cat can go on holiday to France and return without quarantine

Nick

 

[byron]

Don't get me going, I strongly believe that all pets should be micro chipped regardless, just as feel that pets injections should be bang up-to-date.

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[vyv_cox]

Pet passports

I'm not certain of my facts here but it is my understanding that the pet passport scheme is not applicable to private yacht crossings, only to ferries and aircraft (and presumably the tunnel).

 

[byron]

Re: Pet passports

Pet Passport Scheme - you must go via a commercial operator through appointed ports ONLY. In real terms it takes a hell of a lot of work, time and money and is not a job to be undertaken lightly, look forward to an exhausting 24 hours.

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