Repatriating a dog from Holland

[phatcat1]

Hi all,

Not posted for a long time, but in need of help.

We wish to have a couple of weeks in Holland this summer and take our dog.

She is all jabbed up and no problem in taking her over.

The issue seems to be coming back. We have friends who will drive out and spend some time with us, and return via the tunnel.
The problem seesm to be them bringing our dog home with them, as we wont be with the dog.

Has anyone had any experience of doing this and any help/tips you could give us?

 

[alandalus11]

Hi Phatcat

We go over with our dog on a regular basis and have had no problems. BUT. We have encountered a few travellers that have been turned away and had to come back the following day as a result of the dogs health certificate being incorrectly completed so be careful and check your paperwork. Unless you have a European Pet Passport you will need a Health Certificate to take your dog out and bring back. The UK Vet needs to be DEFRA registered.

It will need to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies on the way out. On the way back to the UK you will need it to be vaccinated against rabies which it will be, but also you will need to make an appointment to see a vet and have tape worm treatment administered no less that 24 hours before you travel and no more than 5 days. The vet will need to sign, complete and stamp his section on the health certificate which you got from the UK Vet to confirm this.

I have attached a link to Eurotunnel info as this has all you need for travelling but your vet in the UK should also be able to advise you.

Pet compliance checklist – LeShuttle

Oh BTW. If you are going back and forth often and have a place in France then it may well be worthwhile registering with a vet over there and getting a French Pet Passport which would cover you for all of the European area. So much cheaper in the long run as the Health Certificate only lasts for the trip and the pet passport needs only to be updated with regular rabies jabs and worming treatment.

 

[phatcat1]

Hi Phatcat

We go over with our dog on a regular basis and have had no problems. BUT. We have encountered a few travellers that have been turned away and had to come back the following day as a result of the dogs health certificate being incorrectly completed so be careful and check your paperwork. Unless you have a European Pet Passport you will need a Health Certificate to take your dog out and bring back. The UK Vet needs to be DEFRA registered.

It will need to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies on the way out. On the way back to the UK you will need it to be vaccinated against rabies which it will be, but also you will need to make an appointment to see a vet and have tape worm treatment administered no less that 24 hours before you travel and no more than 5 days. The vet will need to sign, complete and stamp his section on the health certificate which you got from the UK Vet to confirm this.

I have attached a link to Eurotunnel info as this has all you need for travelling but your vet in the UK should also be able to advise you.

Pet compliance checklist – LeShuttle

Oh BTW. If you are going back and forth often and have a place in France then it may well be worthwhile registering with a vet over there and getting a French Pet Passport which would cover you for all of the European area. So much cheaper in the long run as the Health Certificate only lasts for the trip.

That's a great help, thanks. The dog has had its rabies jab etc, the issue is we can sail her out, but has to come back in a car through a registered port of entry. Friends were going to do that for us, but there seems to be an issue with UK immigration and someone else bringing your pet back whilst we sail back.

 

[alandalus11]

Haven't any experience of someone else bringing our dog back as he always travels with us but saying that I have just had a look at last years health certificate and it does have our names on it and I have also signed the back page to say I am not importing exporting dogs so I can see where you are coming from on that one. Your Vet may be able to shed more light on the best way to go. Sorry missed that bit completely. Having just looked on the Gov website it does say your pet can travel with someone else if you've authorised it in writing. However I would speak with your DEFRA registered vet to get proper guidance, he should know more. Ours was really helpful. The worst thing you want is your dog being turned away or spending time in quarantine.

Eurotunnel also have a questions section you could ask them as well for more advice
https://help.eurotunnel.com/hc/en-gb/requests/new

 

[Koeketiene]

That's a great help, thanks. The dog has had its rabies jab etc, the issue is we can sail her out, but has to come back in a car through a registered port of entry. Friends were going to do that for us, but there seems to be an issue with UK immigration and someone else bringing your pet back whilst we sail back.

It's been a while since I travelled with pets on Eurotunnel, but I have never been asked at pet control to provide ID to prove that they were in fact my dogs.

Just let sleeping dogs lie (pardon the pun) and don't volunteer information.
If your friends don't mention that it's not their dog, I very much doubt anyone will ask - as long as all the dogs health paperwork is in order.

 

[Mister E]

The problem could be if they get a return ticket. On the way out they would have no dog booked but one for the return.
That would be noticeable to the check in staff and the booking.

One solution could be two single tickets.

 

[Koeketiene]

The problem could be if they get a return ticket. On the way out they would have no dog booked but one for the return.
That would be noticeable to the check in staff and the booking.

One solution could be two single tickets.

Happens all the time.
When my parents were still alive, they used to babysit the dogs when we were away cruising.
So I took them over to Belgium on Eurotunnel (return ticket) and left them with my parents and returned to the UK on the same ticket without dogs.
A few weeks afterwards, I booked a Eurotunnel day return ticket to pick them up. No dogs on the outward leg, two dogs on the return leg.
Has never been a problem.

I think you are unduly worried.
As long as the dogs paperwork is up to scratch, you'll be fine.

 

[Mister E]

I am not moving any dogs but replied to someone who was having problems doing so.
I did say it could be.