Hounds on Holiday
I have just finished reading an article about pet travel by Liz King. It is called “Pet Owners - Give owners something to chew over” and reveals the many complications and costs that are involved when planning a trip away with our beloved pets. One thing is for sure, there is a lot more planning involved all round.
Thanks to the Pet Travel Scheme, which was introduced about eight years ago, pets have been travelling the world ‘willy – nilly’. No more hanging about in airport quarantines, pets can now enjoy the holiday with you from day one. In one month alone this year, over ten thousand cats and dogs entered Great Britain.
Sadly, the Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) is not for everyone. It can cost a fortune and there are number of strict regulations you have to take into consideration. Under the scheme, your pet is provided with a passport but to acquire one of these, your pet will have to undergo rabies vaccination and testing as well as be subjected to micro-chipping. While the Pet Passport costs about £200, paying this doesn’t mean that is all there is to it because you will still not be able to travel until six months have passed since vaccination testing. Travelling with your pet means impulse holidaying becomes a thing of the past.
After that, according to this article, there are the costs involving the transportation of your pet on holiday. This can vary from £22.50 for a return by ferry to over seven hundred pounds for flying. If you decide to travel by Eurotunnel, the cost for your pet will be about £30 as long as your pet remains in the car.
So far so good, you and your beloved pet are enjoying the south of France scenery but, there is a hiccup, the unthinkable happens and your furry friend has fallen ill. What do you need to do? You are well organised and have pet insurance. But pet insurance policies do vary and need to be read carefully and fully. The amount paid towards vets bills varies but £250 a trip is what you can expect. Ensure you have your pet insurance documents (as well as all your other insurance policy details) and its good to ensure you have local veterinary phone numbers with you too. On this subject, bear in mind that the hygiene factor and techniques employed in veterinary practices can vary from country to country. You could find certain veterinary practices across Europe of a lower standard than you would find in the UK. You may find yourself not entirely happy with how your pet is being cared for. Is it all worth it?
Essentially, you need to plan an awful lot in advance when taking your pet abroad. The article suggests we consider how our plans could be altered while accompanied by a pet. Many restaurants will not allow pets, so you need to think about how to work around this. Some hotels charge an additional amount to allow you to bring your pet.
Do you love your pet too much to take it abroad with you? There is a lot to consider when travelling with your pet. The bottom line, basically, is to consider whether or not your holiday will be more stressful with your pet around than if you were to leave it behind.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!