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WE MAY HAVE had a few days of sun already this summer but we all know we can’t depend on that to last and so a trip outside the Emerald Isle is probably on the cards for many of you.
And your pets deserve a little R&R on a Mediterranean beach too, after a long year of paw-giving, hairball-producing and generally making your life more… interesting, right?
Bringing a pet on holidays can seem like a daunting task as there are so many different rules and restrictions to follow. To help you and your jet-setting animal companions, here are some of the most important things you need to know about taking them on holidays with you.
EU pet passport rules apply throughout the European Union and it is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct documentation for your pet. The ISPCA stresses the importance of ensuring your pet is wearing a collar, an ID tag and is micro-chipped also giving the temporary address in the event he/she gets lost so they you can be reunited as quickly as possible.
(Image: Paul J Coles/Flickr)
Animals will have to be vaccinated against rabies and specific tapeworm treatment for dogs is often required.
When entering countries like the US, border control for your pets will be as strict as it is for humans. Cats and dogs have to be rabies vaccinated and any dog coming from a country affected by screwworm will have to have a special certificate from a vet. It is also recommended that you refrain from using any natural bedding like straw or hay which may harbour pests and make sure their feet and bedding is free of excessive mud.
With regard to quarantine, countries are split into three different catagories with rules for travel to and from the various catagories. This website has a great breakdown of which countries require an animal be quarantined and which ones don’t so make sure you check that out before booking your trip.
Since Ireland is a rabies-free country, you will be able to enter any other country with minimal paperwork and without quarantine but it’s possible that there could be issues coming back from certain countries where there is a high incidence.
Airlines all have different rules on pet travel so you should always check this on their website before booking flights. Ryanair, for example, does not carry animals on flights except for guide dogs and even then, only on certain routes.
On Aer Lingus flights, no animals are allowed on shorthaul trips but you can take them on most other flights where they will be transported in the cargo hold.
(Image: andreaarden/Flickr)
Other airlines lines like KLM will allow you to take cats and smaller dogs into the cabin with you, once they are kept in a suitable kennel or pet travel bag.
Carmel Murray of the ISPCA said petowners should keep in mind that long journeys including the flight, transportation to and from the aircraft and waiting times can be “stressful for your pet especially if delays occur so you take this into consideration”.
(Image: Jess R/Flickr)
If your pets have a fear of flying, you can always travel by boat and this may be a more comfortable and less stressful way for your pet to travel as they can be kept in the car or in on-board kennels on ferries.
Brittany Ferries has a very helpful section on their website to make it easier for you to travel with your beloved pets and prices starting from €99 return for dogs travelling to France.
Always check with the hotel you’re booking that they are pet friendly – many already make a point of advertising the fact. Think about what you will be doing while you’re there as you may need to leave your pet in the care of staff at the hotel while doing activities they can’t take part in.
(Image: Sarah Ackerman/Flickr)
Some hotels will have an entire ‘pet programme’ with toys for pets, walking and grooming services and even veterinary services so it’s worth doing some research before settling on a place.
Alternatively, you can book an apartment, house or villa to stay in but again you need to make sure the owners allow pets on the premises.
Of course, if you’re planning on staying here for the summer and being a tourist at home, Ireland is actually a great place for a pet holiday.
Small dogs and cats can be carried free of charge on all Irish Rail trains once they are kept on a lead on your lap or in a container.
(Image: Dog driving/Shutterstock)
If travelling by car, always make sure your pet is never left in a vehicle on a warm or hot day ensuring he/she is secure and comfortable. If your pet suffers from travel sickness, speak to your vet beforehand about ways to minimise this. Always take plenty of water with you and feed your pet no sooner than two hours before you travel, taking regular breaks along the way.
Ireland also has a host of pet-friendly hotels and sites like this one and this one are a good place to start. Your kitty can sprawl out in front of a good oul turf fire and your pooch can be lord of the manor and explore the grounds of some of our finest period buildings.
If you have any other tips to add to the list, please feel free to do so in the comments section below. Oh, and send us a postcard.
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I have a dreadful fear of flying. I’ve tried to tell my owners but they just won’t listen…what should I do??
Try barking up a different tree.
We brought our Retriever to Inisbofin over Easter- stayed in The Dolphin Hotel who couldn’t have done more for us! Great time had by all!
Randles Hotel Kilarney a great dog friendly hotel for well behaved house trained dogs..
Is Ireland really a pet friendly place to holiday? Things must have changed recently.
Ireland is most certainly NOT pet friendly. There’s only about 3 hotels in Dublin that will welcome your best friend. One of them is The Four Seasons on Millionaires row and another the Travel lodge on Peasants avenue. I brought my little dog onto a train in a container and an old biddy started giving out. I’ve travelled all over Europe with my little Westie and this is the worst place for pet consideration.
Surely if you’re only going on holiday you’d leave your pets at home. I treat my dogs like they’re children, but I don’t see the point of putting your pet through so much stress, unless you’re actually emigrating.
Passport requirements for pets have become simpler and less expensive as of this year. No expensive blood test is now required. Rabies shot and a health check 8 days prior to travel is the main requirement. The window for vet check before returning to Ireland is now within 5 days of reaching port of departure.People should consult the Dept of Agriculture website in this regard. The journey on Irish Ferries from Rosslare to Cherbourg is quite long. Ship leaves in afternoon and arrives at 11am next day. It is a long time for your dog in the crates provided just off the car deck. You may visit your pet during the voyage so he/she may go to the toilet in a designated area but I find they are so excited to see the owners this does not always work. I have crate trained my dog this year in the hopes that she will be relaxed about the ferry crate. The vet will also give me a sedative for her.
If you are travelling with a pet you must park on the deck beside the kennels. This deck is last to disembark which is always annoying.
The good news is that once in France the dog has a great time. Dogs are welcome in most cafes, restaurants and hotels and in some motorway stops. Nobody dies. We’re off on Tuesday week. Yay!
I love staying in the Sneem Hotel, they have holiday apartments adjacent to the hotel and all dogs are welcome! Loads of running space too!
Flew our dog with aer lingus to jfk (emigrating). Much cheaper than other airlines and would recommend. Dog was last on plane and first off. Get a crate ‘much’ bigger than your dog.
I’d also strongly suggest a sedative of some sort. The ramp area (ie where the aircraft is parked), is a very noisy place and can be very stressful for dogs/cats. I’ve seen animals been loaded into aircraft holds in Dublin/Cork & elsewhere, and they have been so stressed that they were frothing from their mouths. Another thing I notice is that most dog/car crates have stupid water containers that resemble a small bowl. With all the moving of the crate by the baggage handlers and especially as it is loaded into the aircraft hold on a steep conveyor belt, the water has always spilled out from the bowl before the dog/cat ever gets into the aircraft. Now your pet has a potential 15 hour flight ahead of it with no water. Buy a properly designed water container suitable for crate use, they resemble a water feeder for eg a budgie…. A cylindrical container with a metal tube at the bottom, which the pet licks and this draws small amounts of water out at a time, with no chance of it spilling. (Obviously train your pet to use it b4 you travel).
What’s the best way to bring the dog to spain?
It’s easy going from Ireland -Uk-France… But returning is a whole different ball game … We’ve always had problems in Calais with our dogs passport, even when the passport has been 100% they always question something,which means we always have to call our vet back in holland at some ungodly hour to which he says ‘oh for gods sake what’s the problem with them (border control) this time!’ and it’s not just us he’s talking about!.. Otherwise it’s worth it bringing your dog abroad… Holland, Germany etc always made feel welcome with a dog and although Ireland is changing for the better, I’ve still had some hairy moments and am always refused in bars/restaurants serving food..I can understand it to a certain degree but we need to lighten up abit too…
Always bring our dog with us in Ireland, plenty of self catering
websites to help you find pet friendly accommodation!
When I go on holiday I usually leave her at home.
I book my two little devils into kennels for the wk, they love it and have a great time, that’s their holiday!
To enter ireland with our pet dog two years ago they also wanted a blood analisis (200€ in a private lab) also ryanair dont accept pets so he had to stay at home
There’s a hilarious passport ruling for anyone travelling from Ireland to the Uk or vice versa. You must have an upto date passport but will never be asked for it. No word of a lie. It cracks me up… Sad I know:)
Hi Michelle, I have just booked a flight with Aer Lingus to fly to Spain from the end of September, returning early November, I have been quoted over 500 euro with no guarantee of boarding ,plus I have to book it from the other side which I have been told could cost 600 euro, I would love to have my rescue dog with me but am thinking of cancelling the hole thing or is there any cheaper way of getting my bet to Spain.
Have you had any joy with this Kay, what did you do in the end? I’m emigrating to Belgium and my God I’ve never encountered so much hassle travelling in all my life. This country is unreal.
Ferry only that is.
I’m emigrating to Belgium and have to take a ferry to Cherbourg via Rosslare. Not one airline has quoted less than 500 and that’s only one way!!!!!! And she will be put in the hold. My mini jacker is a little softie, very sturdy woof but I am heartbroken at the thoughts of her locked away in such a noisy environment, where I cannot access her. With or without a sedative. I’m also being quoted 300 for her pet passport, tapeworm and rabies vaccine. She’s microchipped and otherwise fully vaxed otherwise.
I can fly from Dublin to Mexico via Frankfurt and back again to Frankfurt with my small dog in cabin. It’s only when I try to get from Frankfurt to Dublin on the last leg of the return trip that things get a whole lot more complicated. Lufthansa won’t take him any further except as cargo. I have to find a carrier and I assume it’s going to cost an arm and a leg. Bringing my dog in cabin from Dublin to Mexico costs only €70. I thought “great round trip only 140″.
Hey Patrick, so they let you exit the country with the dog on board? And for only 70 euro? What airline did you use?
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