Planning a trip round Ireland with Doggie person

[Helina]

I'm planning to sail during summer 2008 from Finland to Shetland and round Ireland and come back maybe via Caledonian canal.
Is it possible to have Doggie person with me ?

 

[Sniper]

I fear you would run into problems with quarantine regs unless you do the trip non-stop,in which case Doggie person might have to keep paws firmly crossed for a very long time. Kinder to leave him safe at home for a couple of months. He looks too nice to subject to quarantine, which is what would be required should he set paw on UK soil.

 

[Oliveoyl]

So EU pet passports don't work for non-UK animals? Don't see the logic

 

[Moonshining]

Not any more it seems. She can travel on her own passport.

Woof!

 

[Helina]

Doggie person sends her greetings !
Does this quarantine concern Shetland and Ireland as well ?

 

[rickp]

Alas, for the UK - the only approved sea ports of entry don't help you. They are listed here and even then I believe it only applies to arrival by commercial ferry (would love to be proved wrong here).

The Pet passport scheme is practically useless for lesiure boaters.

Edit: See here which explicitly states that You may not bring a pet into the UK from a private boat or plane. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Rick

 

[Melody]

I think the problem, as others have stated, is bringing Doggie person into a port on a private boat is not allowed.

However, if you could come to the UK legally with EU pet passport and then embark on a trip there would be no problem so maybe you and Doggie person need to come over by ferry and meet boat and crew in the UK.

Shetland is part of the UK and Ireland has similar regulations.

We've done lots of sailing with our two black dogs and it's great fun so I hope that you find a solution.

 

[Helina]

Do you mean that I could drop my SWMBO and Doggie person to Calais and take them on board in Dover and then continue around Ireland and Shetland ?
Our Family friend is a vet and Doggie person already has a passport and chip but not yet the blood test.

 

[Oliveoyl]

Finland-Shetland-Ireland - don't see where Dover fits in. If there still is a Bergen-Shetland ferry, and if Norway is in the EU pet passport scheme, you may be able to avoid a large detour

 

[Helina]

The sailing plan is not yet made of steel, we are looking for the best combination. The main target is to sail around Ireland, the rest is extra nice. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Skents]

Just been researching an article on this very subject and spoke to DEFRA about their policy. They say although a pet may not be brought into UK on private boat or plane there is nothing to stop you returning to UK by approved ferry route after your sailing trip (although the animal will have to be injected for various intestinal nasties within 24/48 hours of departure for UK).

The main drawback here is the policy of the various ferry companies. As far as I can tell none of them (not even Brittany Ferries which provides on board kennels on certain routes) will allow foot passengers to bring a pet with them. Hence you're bu**ered unless you know someone who will take their car across channel to pick up the pet or if you can afford to fly back on an approved route.

Spoke to a very helpful chap at a company called Dogs Away (search it on Google) who is a sailor and offers advice and can book vets abroad etc for what seems quite a reasonable fee.

 

[Dyflin]

For bringing your dog into Ireland, have a look at the requirements:
How to travel into Ireland with your pet dog or cat (except from the UK)

 

[Helina]

Thank you for very good and informative advices.
Looks like Doggie person is going to have a domestic holiday summer 2008. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ashanta]

Is there a plasible reason why the rules resrtict to only specified ports and mode of transport. It doesn't make sense to me if the all the arrangements neccesitated in obtaining a Pet Passport lead to such restrictions! Barmy

 

[Neddie_Seagoon]

You could consider having a professional animal courier bring Doggie person to UK and meet you at a port - not cheap, but can't see why it shouldn't work as Doggie will then be in country.

 

[FAITIRA]

I have a dog (Portugese) and have brought her to Ireland via England twice. But we could not enter with the dog on board, she had to travel by "approved carrier", so that entailed me sailing over, from Spain solo and wife and dog via ferry. Yes the PETS SCHEME is almost useless for yachties.

 

[pessimist]

This is all total nonsense. We (foolishly) had our dog chipped and innoculated soon after the "pet passport" scheme was announced. Realised after the event that we could leave the country on our own boat but only bring the dog back by "approved courier". So we sail to Brittany as a family. SWMO and dog return via Plymouth and ferry. I single hand back to Plymouth and reclaim rest of family.

Makes sense doesn't it?

Politicians,civil servants. (asswipes, breechclouts?) TOSSERS!

 

[kds]

WTH is a "doggie person"
If a person - all that is needed is a passport.
If a dog - why not call it a dog ?
The mind boggles ! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Ken

 

[Maree]

We're heading off to the Baltic this summer with two cats - they both have their passports and blood tests.
The "recognised carrier" restriction is only for the PETS passport.

As far as I can see, I can apply for a licence to import into quarantine (at least a month in advance but don't have to give an exact date of entry), then the quarantine can do the tick & worm treatment and apply for early release on the basis that they have the passport. I think this will take a total of 3 - 4 days - and will at least be in the UK rather than abandoning them abroad and then having to take a car to pick them up.

The only downside seems to be that I have to land them at Parkeston Quay (I'm East coast based) and it could be fun playing among the ferries!! I'll be contacting the quarantine place in the next couple of weeks to double check, but it looks like a reasonable alternative.