happyglow

I'm shipping my pooch from Vancouver to Netherlands and then on to UK on sunday. This is how I understand it:

YES vet de-worms and completes the certificate less than 120 hours before you are due to land. THEN a government vet has to rubber-stamp the form. Call your local "animal health" office; mine was really helpful.

Have you booked your flights yet? If not there's a good way to save $$$100s

Lorry1

Thank you so much I have been stressing lots lol

I have contacted our local animal health office and they have explained it all to me so feeling much better now.

No I haven't booked flights yet. Tell me all lol

happyglow

Worth considering if you are flexible - if you fly direct to UK you must fly your pets as "cargo", costing $1000s. If you fly to mainland europe first, you can take them (unless they are huge) as "excess baggage". No difference to the pets, but the cost is about $200-300 each. You can then go by eurotunnel or ferry to UK.

I'm flying to Amsterdam, then using train and Stena ferry to get to UK. Total cost for dog is less than $250.

Jerseygirl

If you are not flying to the UK and your dog is small it may be able to travel in the cabin...as part of your hand luggage. Between 10 and 15lb is the max weight...depending on the airline.

Lorry1

Why the heck didn't I think of that!?

Ok looking into flying to France and taking Le Shuttle to England.

Thank you

Celticspirit

Will they let you take two with a total weight of nine pounds in one bag?

Jerseygirl

I don't think so...best to check with the airline.

happyglow

I don't think so either.... wow they must be tiny, what are they?

Jerseygirl

I have a 3lb Chihuahua...so I could get at least 3 in a bag...or even 5 if the weight limit is 15 lbs.

happyglow

picturing a bag of five wriggling chihuahuas.

With the cabin issue, it's more a question of size than weight - they have to comfortably under the seat, which isn't much room!

Personally I think they should just ride on your lap and play in the aisles, would make the flight more pleasant for everyone

Celticspirit

I am a small time Chihuahua breeder since 1987....never had more than two brood bitches (my breeding and a breed specialist judge since 2007)
Believe me I know many Euros who have come to our National and have returned to Europe with a "bag full" of dogs. No Id's no health certificates. It seems like that trip is so not important....whereas to the UK rabies is such an important issue.....and rightly so. I have had two dogs who have been shown at Crufts. Tiarnan was the # 1 long coat in the UK in 2007. The paperwork was interminable.....but much cheaper than going through a shipping company. He lives in London as a RETIRED international champion.
I have judged in Australia, Russia, Ireland and Sweden and many assignments in the USA Canada and Mexico. Now I m heading back to Northern Ireland AGAIN.....so worry about my dogs.....just two...had scary experience last time...

windsong

This means that when I return I can save literally THOUSANDS with four pets!!!!

I was budgeting $1600 per pet and if I go this way, I can get all four over there for $1600 - or less. My dogs weigh 7 lb and 15 lb and the cats weigh 17 lb and 8 lb.

What would be the cost for them in the Euro tunnel?

I can just see me landing somewhere in Europe with luggage and four pet carriers. I hope I can find some help in getting them from the airport to the Euro tunnel

Where does the Euro tunnel stop in England? I would then have to move to a train station to get to my destination (north to Scotland probably).

happyglow

Check the restrictions on numbers of pets one person can take as excess baggage - IDK if there is one.

I looked into the cost of taxis through the tunnel, forgot now but posted on here somewhere. If you posted your personal luggage then perhaps you could manage the pets.... one of those pet strollers for the cats perhaps? Cheesy but effective

gailc

Unless I am wrong, you still need to have a 'pet passport' issued by the British govt. for pets entering into the UK via the Euro tunnel.
We have 3 cats and one small dog (8lbs) Largest cat is approx 16 lbs.
Doing it this way would/may save tons of money - the quote for ours from Air Animal was over $5,000 flying out of Tampa with BA and straight into Gatwick.
It is a lot of money I know, but, to avoid all that trauma for them (and us) - I would rather pay the money I think - knowing they were on the same plane to be picked up by us when we landed.
Also, you would need help getting them from airport to tunnel, which means eiher a rental van or hire someone - then when you get there I couldn't even imagine a train ride all the way up to Scotland - or even the Midlands where we would go. You could possibly spend almost as much as if you paid the original amount quoted with certainly a lot less drama for them and you.
If your pets are all the 'laid back' types, this would work - otherwise you could have a bunch of very traumatized pets on your hand.
My opinion.

Lorry1

Dogs can't go on the Eurostar but cost 15 GBP on Le Shuttle. You would probably have to hire a car from Paris Airport to Calais and through the tunnel then maybe hire another car in Folkestone to get home.

For this reason with all the possible hassle involved, we have also chosen to just fly dog by cargo to LHR. It's costing over $2000 with customs included but I think is less stressful than a lot of travel.