posted by Travel Cat on Sep 14
Every type of pet has different requirements at home, and it’s no different when travelling with them abroad.
However, some pets have legal requirements that need to be considered before they can leave the country or arrive in a new one. Some also have requirements to attend to even if they remain at home in kennels or other paid care.
To start with we will look at a few things you need to consider when taking your dog away with you, either home or abroad. Dogs seem to be seen as a ‘part of the family’ and so holidays do tend to involve our dogs more than other species.
Considerations With Dogs:
The most common pet to be taken on holiday is the faithful hound. And there are certainly a few things to consider when taking yours on vacation - either home or abroad.
Depending on the breed and size of your dog, it will or won’t be welcome in certain accommodations, or even certain states or countries. For example many hotels will allow small breed dogs to stay overnight, but Pit Bull Terriers, for example, are a ‘banned’ breed in the UK, so can’t even travel here.
The UK is also Rabies free, and to keep it that way, any dog (cat or ferret) travelling here will need to either stay permanently in a quarantine kennel for 6 months on entry - regardless of breed and without exercise. Alternatively if you plan in advance - you can apply for a Pet’s Passport (completed 6 months before travelling to the country) to prove the animal is rabies free.
Consider The Regulations & Costs:
All journeys made by your dog will probably cost you money - with air travel probably being one of the most expensive. Air travel costs are normally calculated by the weight of the dog itself, but some airlines have different pricing strategies. Travel by train and boat may well be free for shorter journeys, but overnight trains or boats travelling longer distances may have different regulations.
Top Tip - Always check with each individual transport company you are considering rather than taking advice from a local vets or pet store, a friend or just one travel company and assume others must be the same. The reason for this specific advice is that it will be you and you pet that may have to pay more money or delay your departure if you take the wrong advice. The person who gave you their advice won’t be standing there, frustrated, writing another check - it is 100% up to you to get things right.
Mode of Transport:
Air:
Dogs being transported by air need to travel in a suitably sized crate with water available for the whole journey - regardless of destination. The owner cannot visit them during the flight, and they may sometimes travel on a separate plane to the owner anyway. If anything is deemed incorrect before departure (for example the crate is too small or the wrong type for that airline), you will have to leave your pet there until everything is corrected, possibly incurring extra fees or missing your own flight as a result.
Train:
Dogs travelling by train are usually allowed to travel with the owner depending on the company being used, but restricting your pet to a crate for long journeys will probably better suit the animal, allowing them to remain calm by staying clear of all the distractions and noises in the cabins - and of course you can sit with them the whole way.
Boat:
Travelling by boat is a less usual means for long distance as it takes so long to get anywhere, but shorter journeys could work out cheaper. Again, travelling this way is best done with crates to keep the animal out of harms way and to keep them secure throughout. Always check regulations with the boat company before heading off.
Toilet trouble will be an obvious issue for any animal that cannot be exercised outside - and during a long flight or other journey, they may have to soil their crate. If your dog will not do this, then you need to consider regular stops - either by taking a route that has many stopping points or by spreading the journey over several days - and adding to the cost. Some people would rather just get it all over with on one journey, therefore only ‘upsetting’ the dog one time (but for a long time).
Alternatives:
Many people though, would rather not put their dog in this situation, and so prefer to travel with their pets in their own vehicle, even though it may take longer. Basically, they make the journey part of the vacation.
This way, you do not have to follow any regulations to take you pet, and you get to stop whenever you want for exercise and food. It is still wise to restrain or crate your pet for the journey, but you control everything else to so with the journey, rather than relying on others.
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