Dogs Abroad?

NWPT

Guest
Both of my Cocker Spaniels have passports and are free to leave and return to the UK. We are planning a trip to France/Spain in May. Does anyone know if you have to make Customs aware of the pets or do you just present the passports if challenged/requested to? I also believe that they will have to visit a vet before they return?
If anybody with any experience with the system could she some light on this subject, I would be grateful!

Regards,

Gary
 
We have been in Spain since November. On our outward journey we declared we had a dog when booking the tunnel. We were not checked by anyone on the whole route. Neither our or the dogs passports. On the way back we need to take her to a vet and have her given flea and tick treatment then she can travel not less than 24hrs and not more than 48hrs after treatment. Hope this helps.
 
Pets

When u book your ferry or tunnel u have to inform them.
You will not be challenged going out but you will coming in as already outlined by a previous wild camper.
I can recommend a good vet in st omer (english speaking)
 
wannabee said:
On the way back we need to take her to a vet and have her given flea and tick treatment then she can travel not less than 24hrs and not more than 48hrs after treatment. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's as easy as that. We've taken our dog abroad a few times (and the cats once) and the only difficult bit is timing it as above, allowing for weekends/Mondays/bank holidays.
 
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hi nwpt

in my experience the only interest Customs/Douane have in your dog is when they have a team, including dog & handler, all lined up to search your van. the OIC (head honcho) heard my cocker spaniel barking and looked at the dog handler. she shook her head & i was waved through.

since the pet passport scheme started i have spent just over 12 months in several trips, longest 6 months, to france. the only people to ask for the pet passport have been the tunnel staff at the pet check in and vets administering the treatment before the return journey.

can't say about spain as i only drive through it to get to portugal
 
no checks going into spain

Hi we have three dogs no checks from uk on euro tunnel.nome going into spain.coming back again nothing untill boarding from france to uk .
 
Hi can anyone recommend a vet in or near to calais for our return trip? los perros salchicha will need their tick and worm treatment.

Thanks in advance Tony
 
I used In October last year.

Clinique Veterinaire Du Parc Saint Pierre
73 Rue Astrid Briand
62100 Calais

Tel 03 21 34 93 88

The cost as I recall was 60 euros.

I have geard vets are cheaper in the St omer area.

Channa
 
Many thanks Channa.
Does anyone know of any at St Omer then as I have 2 dogs to fork out for.

Tony
 
I dont, and the surgery I used I turned up on spec.

The Nurses and Vet were both English speaking...and the hound was weighed before and given a check over.

It may be worth giving them a call...see if they will do a deal ?

Out of interest, the surgery is not too far from the Aire in Calais either...if you are on a a ferry at the strange time of day..

Just remember the not less than 24 more than 48 hour rule when you dock in Dover.

I travelled with Sea France, the hound was sat in the front with me...The chapt at Sea France passed me the scanner ...he then checked the passport...and that was the end of it ..

Regards

Channa
 
We just returned 10 days ago we use the vet at Ardres about 10km from Calais.you can stay in the large car park outside the vets .We returned and stayed at cite europe after.cost of vet was 44 euro lovely lady good english..

tel 03.21.35.40.03 47 rue du commendant Ardres

we have used this vet 2 times now also used the one at Calais they were fine as well ..

Val
 
Bearing in mind the "not less than 24 hours but no more than 48 hours" rule, do you really want to get to Calais and then have to wait for 24 hours before crossing?

When I'm in Normandy I take my dog to the vet the afternoon before my ferry. When I've been elsewhere, I try to find somewhere equally far away. All big towns have vets and in rural areas, every small town does too. Have a look on google.fr.

Even if your French isn't very good (and mine isn't), most grasp what the pet passport is and what they have to do.
 
Jacqueslemac said:
Bearing in mind the "not less than 24 hours but no more than 48 hours" rule, do you really want to get to Calais and then have to wait for 24 hours before crossing?

When I'm in Normandy I take my dog to the vet the afternoon before my ferry. When I've been elsewhere, I try to find somewhere equally far away. All big towns have vets and in rural areas, every small town does too. Have a look on google.fr.

Even if your French isn't very good (and mine isn't), most grasp what the pet passport is and what they have to do.
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Downtown Calais isnt that bad is it ?...

On the point of grasp and the Vets, It is worth double checking your documentation before you leave the surgery. In any case

Playing devils advocate for a moment and I am not for one moment familiar with the French Vets rules...But in the UK only certain vets are authorised to administer the PETS scheme.... I dont know and perhaps Jacqueslemac can confirm can any Vet in France administer treatment which is acceptable to all the necessary authorities ?

Channa
 
I've never had a problem, but to be honest I didn't know there were restrictions in the UK!

The vets I've used in France have just done the injections and tic treatment, signed and stamped the passports and I've sailed through the ticket check at the port without any questions.

Usually, though, it's been me who has had to scan my dog (and the cats when I brought them back). It sometimes takes a few goes before I track down the chip!
 
looked about a year ago into taking our dog on a two month visit to our daughter in the US. We assumed, since she is a vet, that she could sort this out easily...however.
The Us. demands microchipping, but does not recognise the International system.
Thanks to the unlamented George's Patriot Act, the dog had to microchipped for each state the plane would fly over (each state uses different standards).
George had this idea that, should terrorists bring down the plane from 35,000 feet, there was a danger that a UK. Rough Collie might be wandering lost in America.
The weirdest were when Lesley and her husband flew out with their dog, the paperwork had to be countersigned in Heathrow by a Vet. Checkin suggested that she do so in her maiden name because "we need two different signatures".
Her dog, Kasey, has only three legs so they also required a formal certificate stating that it left the UK. with three legs in case the US. authorities refused to allow it entry apparently thinking it may have fallen off over US. territory and they might be sued.
 
Jacqueslemac said:
I've never had a problem, but to be honest I didn't know there were restrictions in the UK!
Click to expand...

The passport has to be issued by a Vet who is LVI status ( local Veterinary Inspector)..In the initial stages of acquiring the passport. Not all vets are,it seems if my experience was anything to go by.

However for people taking a dog out of the UK once the passport has been issued treatments can be administered by any vet.

For anyone thinking of getting a pet passport, you need to allow 9 Months before travel to play safe.

There are strict rules as to the order things need to be done.

Microchip

Rabies vaccination.

After 30 days from the Vaccination a blood test to ascertain the vaccination was successful.

It is 6 months from this date ( assuming the test was successful ) before the animal can re enter the UK without quarantine.( a lot of people make the mistake of thinking it is from the date of vaccination )
If the test is not successful (rare I am told but can happen) A further blood test needs to be taken or the animal revaccinated and the time frame starts again.

Considering the blood samples are sent away to a lab, so the result can take a couple of weeks. Perhaps you can see why I would suggest 9 months prior to travel is a safe move
Channa
 
Been a few times with our German Shepherd (funny we have never had a problem with security)& Lab, just pop into Tourist Information and they will help you. Cost goes to some degree on size of dog. We used a vet in Etaples, Near Le Touquet, Docteur Goube Laurent. 18 Boulevard Bigot Descelers 62630 Etaples, nice man speaks good English (but most Vets do) Tel 03.21.94.67.01 80 euros for the two. We used a Vet in Calais Clinique Veterinaire Du Parc 73 Rue Aristide Briand, 62100 Calais 03.21.34.93.88 ok but not as good as above, and 120 euros. The best by far is if you are the Manch Area i.e Blainville- Sur-Mer is Cabinet Veterinaire Des Landelles. The vet is Anne-Sophie Le Carpenter she is brill good English and loves the dogs, we have used her loads of times, she is at 11 ru du Hom, 50560 Blainville Sur Mer. 0233076397.

Just watch out for the 24/48hr thing though as they are very keen.

France is a great place for dogs, they are welcome in 99% of places.

Good luck
 
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