Hi all, Away to Normandy again soon and wondering if anyone has had any experience taking their dog via ferry across the channel? We usually go via the channel tunnel but this ferry would save me around 5 hours of driving. The cost is roughly the same but we are a little worried about leaving "TEETH" (our wolfdog), unattended in the car for 4 hrs 15mins. He travels well etc and is fine in the car but we are concerned as to what his surrounding will be like whilst onboard. Maybe we molly coddle him a bit too much but either way, I would love some feedback from anyone who has done similar before please. I think we can nip down with a crew member and check on him if required. Is there a seperate area for vehicles transporting dogs etc?
If you put him in the freezer the night before you go, by the time you get to France he should have thawed out nicely and be good to go ...
Rabies Laws. You might have difficulty on this side (ie UK) .... Unless legislation has been changed etc. Better check it out.
I'm guessing that you have sorted out the 'pet passport'. As for the ferry we have only ever taken our dog on one once and that was enough. I don't know whether the longer trips have kennels on board but when we did Dover - Dunkirk we had to leave the dog in the car. I really wasn't happy as the car decks heated up like a furnace.
Yeah, he has his own passport guys, all that side is tidy. I was looking for info on conditions re the car deck etc similar to what Attila is giving. I had assumed there would be some kind of air conditioning etc.
In any potentially stressful situation like this I'd leave a ticking clock in the car with him, like a heartbeat, it seems to help keep a single dog calm...having said that I think I'd be put off by Attila's coments above
Thanks guys, I sent an email to Brittany Ferries this morning hoping they would say there are specific bays for vehicles carrying pets and they are monitored during the crossing, even if its just cctv. What I got was, you chuck your car on wherever the parking guy decides and nobody monitors nothing, even though I am required to obviously leave my windows partly open with all my worldly goods lying on the back seat. Looking like an extra 5 hours drive and running the gauntlet through the African war thats currently occuring in Calais unless the uk government has decided to bus them all in under cover of darkness again.
What happens if you walk on with a pet? There were plenty going across on this route last month in cars but sorry didn't take much notice . I'd be interested to know though
Brittany ferries are really good if you talk to them, I don't think they park pets in an allocated area but you can go and visit, some of the longer crossings allow you to take them into a cabin overnight. I am also told you can also get a pill from the vet to quieten him a bit. Give them a call is my advice.
Go with the tunnel, dog died on a PO ferry last month, had to be left in car, windows left open but was too hot on car deck.
Just did a bit of googling...three of the Brittany ferries have on board kennels, must be prebooked and you can visit your dog at any time when in the kennels. Might be worth a look.
I looked at that earlier, I think that's for the long haul ferrY trips to Spain. It does list the ferries involved and the trips they make. Well worth the earlier suggestion of a phone call to BF -the help pages on the website seemed quite comprehensive. They clearly want to help.
Yeah thanks guys, i have done plenty of homework on the crossings, only allowed in cabins on the longer trips, Santander etc. Char, only allowed on the cross channel ferries with a pet in a vehicle. I emailed brittany ferries as there was no mention of parking arrangements etc, the reply left me looking at the tunnel again. Wouldn't you think the ferry companies would at least make some kind of effort for those wishing to travel with their Pets, Temperature controlled area, especially as two on here have already mentioned how hot it gets, Monitoring, cctv at least as you are leaving your windows open, Specific bays, where pets are accesible in case of emergency. I thought I would save 5 hours drive and put my feet up but I am not prepared to put my Dog at risk for that.
