Taking a dog to Channel Islands and France

[deborahann]

daft as it seems this confusion over taking pets abroad, and bringing them back has been going on for many years. We arrived in Guernsey on our boat, the dog jumped about and we most definately were taken out of the marina to the pontoons. No problem as Longjohn says, & he knows, he has done this many times.

But our vet, uppnorth, after receiving a small fortune for 2 dogs micro chipped, and the rest, had absolutely no idea that you could not bring back a dog from France on a private boat. He was the senior vet and had print outs from the defra site, which he quoted. As I understand it, we have never had a single case of rabies in the UK.

 

[Jonrob]

Owing to the rule that prevents the transport of your pet(s) back from France, we decided to take the boat to Calais,leave it there for a few days, and come back "foot traffic". This allowed us to take the car with pets through the tunnel, leave the car secure in Calais Marina, go on our holiday through France, Belgium etc., return to Calais,and do the reverse procedure with the car/pets back through the tunnel,and then return to pick up the boat, obviously a long winded procedure,and expensive,as the boat left in Calais for nearly 2 weeks with nobody on board,wasting mooring fees. The things you do for your pets!!!!!!!
John.

 

[Searush]

Yes, all the info on the site refers to dogs coming into UK from abroad. There seems to be no attempt to differentiate UK dogs returning home after a short holiday. This would probably cover the majority of dogs entering the UK I suspect, & would also represent the minimum risk - altho it only takes a second to get a rabies bite even if on a lead!

 

[Thepipdoc]

I still don't get it!
What's the point in having a marina that doesn't allow animals to enter and yet at the same time allow any animal to go ashore providing the boat is moored on a pontoon outside the marina?
I just dont undertand how a dog, cat or whatever can be considered safe so long as it isn't allowed in the marina!

 

[rib]

we have had rabies here,luckly not often

 

[longjohnsilver]

I still don't get it!
What's the point in having a marina that doesn't allow animals to enter and yet at the same time allow any animal to go ashore providing the boat is moored on a pontoon outside the marina?
I just dont undertand how a dog, cat or whatever can be considered safe so long as it isn't allowed in the marina!

Logic doesn't come into it. Unfortunately that's the way it is. It's their rules and they apply them without exception. The upside is that if you go to Jersey the outside waiting pontoon is connected to the shore so no dinghy required, and does have power. Whereas SPP it's dinghy needed and no power.
But Beaucette does allow dogs, so there's your Guernsey preferred option!

 

[guernseyman]

Logic doesn't come into it. Unfortunately that's the way it is. It's their rules and they apply them without exception. The upside is that if you go to Jersey the outside waiting pontoon is connected to the shore so no dinghy required, and does have power. Whereas SPP it's dinghy needed and no power.
But Beaucette does allow dogs, so there's your Guernsey preferred option!

Logic?

The notices around the St Peter Port marinas have, for years and years, referred to Great Britain of which we are of course not part.

I believe that the anti-rabies policy in the UK and CI is largely illogical. The incidence of rabies in France is confined to the far eastern corner. Your chances of encountering it on the French coast are zero.

 

[Bandit]

I think you will find that as for people for a dog coming in to the Channel Islands from France by the apropriate way ie on an approved ferry with the correct paperwork it is then in the "UK" and can circulate freely by Ferry, air or private boat between the CI and Britain.

There are quite a few people who come from the Great Britain to the Channel Islands on their boats with dogs just dont bring one on a private boat that has come from France.

 

[DAKA]

Just to add a little more technical detail.........

If someone took their dog into France for an overnight stop on the way to CI and then back to UK all would be in order AS LONG AS THE DOG DIDNT LAND in France, the dog could walk the pontoon in France but not set foot on the hard.


BUT

The piratical issues are more important , Guernsey dont want your pets and the UK dont want them after they have been abroad.

Beaucette is the exception BUT you need to check first, dont just turn up and assume its alright, if you need to use France as a safe haven for a few days then you are stuffed, so pets are best left at home with relatives.