Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

We are taking our two dogs to the UK for a week. Never done it before.
Going by Eurotunnel and it says they need travel documents. Can anyone tell us what it is they need?
They have pet passports and all jabs are up to date.
Do we have to buy tickets? If so how, as I can't find that on Eurotunnel site.

Thanks all in advance.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Hi, apart from the usual vaccinations which you'll have done, worming and rabies seem to be the issues when travelling in either direction.
Here's the UK site with the rules and regulations:
https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/pet-passport

Make sure you comply with the regulations for returning to France, as per the French Customs site:
Voyage : venir en France avec mon animal de compagnie

If your dogs aren't already covered for rabies (ours isn't, but he never travels far), I think I'd be inclined to leave them in Kennels, esp. if you're only going to the UK for a week.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Your vet will give you the advice you need. If they have an up to date passport with proof of vaccinations then I believe all they need is worming and a stamp from the vet to say it has been done 48hours before travelling. Not sure if this has to repeated on your return.

If it is Eurotunnel you don't need a ticket for them just a sticker when you get to the terminal to indicate they are on board.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Thanks gb and dmu. Mine(s) of information as always.

They do all have rabies jabs - when we first arrived we met a local farmer at the vet who told us that rabies is on the increase in France, and we needed to be very careful. The vet has repeated that too.


Yes it is Eurotunnel. Any idea where we get the sticker?

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Yes, it's gradually moving westwards from Eastern France, but our Vet hasn't recommended it yet...
In any case, our dog is always on the lead outside the garden (unfortunately too aggressive with other male dogs to be allowed to run free). I'm more concerned about leichmaniosis, and take precautions....

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Hi Bigglesworth.

Please let us know how you got on, including the drive close to the tunnel.
I plan to do the same thing a little later in the year.

Bon voyage!

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

As far as I know - from a friend who brings their cat in and out regularly they give it the sticker to you when you check in. We have only done it once and that was some years ago. I know the rules have changed to make it easier.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Saw my vet today, he said in addition to what you mentioned, a worming treatment and health check, signed by a vet 1-5 days before departure.
Make sure the vet verifies the chip is still readable on his scanner.
Anti tick etc is no longer required.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Good point on the chip audio. Thank you

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Hi Bigglesworth. As I travel with my 2 dogs twice a year via the tunnel ( wouldn't go any other way ) just to confirm previous info given. Worming vaccination to be given 1-5 days prior to travel and also health check. Ensure your vet stamps and signs the passports and includes date and time. Also, ask your vet to ensure chip is readable on the scanner. Eurotunnel don't issue separate tickets for the dogs, they are included on yours - but you do have to pay for them ! At Calais, make sure you go to the animal centre BEFORE booking in. A friend was so busy reading all the signs and checking where the booths were, he drove up to the booth and then had to back out to go back to the animal centre. Apparently chaos ensued ! At the centre, you hand over the passports and your ticket. They give you the scanner to read the chip and then they check the scanner with the passport. A sticker for the windscreen is then handed over complete with doggy pawprint ! Coming back home (oh blessed relief) is much simpler. The sticker for the windscreen is given at passport control. No vet visit and no checks required. Don't think I've forgotten anything. Bon voyage !

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Thanks Ozzydog. I have passed on to SWMBO, who is much better at process than I am.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Our UK pet passport says that the worming treatment in France should be at least 24 hrs before and not more than 5 days before arrival into the UK.


Travelling from the UK, we just have our pet passport up to date, but then its a UK passport,

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Back!
Procedure exactly as Ozzydog said. (Thanks Ozzy).
You need to buy tickets for dogs at the same time as your own - mit is on the next page online. £20 each - each way. So not cheap.
Pet reception is a dedicated route off to the left BEFORE the first barrier. As Ozzy says, easy to miss if you are not looking out for it. You take the dogs in with you and they check tickets and dog (or ferret, or cat) passports. Hand you the scanner to check the chip. They then note all the vaccinations etc. You then get a sticker for the windscreen. (Flexipass seems much quicker. They just check your ticket and that you have pet passports, and wave you through).
Then join normal queue, although there is a special check to go through where they check pet ticket and (supposedly) pets. The two we took are small and could not be seen. We were still just waved through. We also had the load-shield down on our rather large car. NO attempt to check, the very nice lady was far too interested in chatting.
Then through passport control and away.

Hope that helps.
Have a good trip Audio!

On the way back, just as normal except they give you a special lane sticker with "paws" on it.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

Thanks bigglesworth. Very useful information. :thumb:

I hope you had an enjoyable time.

Re: Taking dogs to UK for visit
 

It was 15 GBP each way with DFDS.


Apart fromthe PET label, we wonder what you pay for although last August as we left France , the pet passport was checked with care and they scanned the dog's micro chip to ensure we had the dog on the passport


The advantage of the tunnel is that you get to stay with your dog for the journey