Travelling to Norther Ireland with dog

Mountainsandh

Hi all, my dog has a pet passport because we usually travel to France with him every year, but this year we are just going to travel around Ireland, maybe go up to co Donegal, and then we were thinking of crossing over to Northern Ireland.

I missed his boosters, they were supposed to be in February, but the vets messed up their texting/letter reminders, and since I knew we weren't going to France I didn't even worry about it ! I bring the cat in June every year, so I thought he was around the same time.

Anyway, so now I have him booked for the end of June, since the vet said that he would need a booster shot 3/4 weeks after the first, and this will be straddling our holiday (he'll be due his booster 2 days after our return).

I have read a thread from 2013 about travelling up to Northern Ireland with a pet, and laws that were to be relaxed for rabies, and pet passport... but I'm still not clear.

If he needs rabies, I could bring him to the vets tomorrow or the day after for that shot, he'll be ok for the 21 days delay, but the vaccines will still be at first stage, without the booster done, unless that booster can be done within 15/17 days instead of 4 weeks.

Thanks for any help, I'm bewildered.

I rang the vet as well, and she will be checking tomorrow morning, but it would be great to have people's experience here.

We'll be travelling in a campervan, and crossing from Donegal into NI, then travelling back down via the motorway.

muddypaws

Technically, he should have a pet passport, but there is an argument that its not needed for NI, as its covered under the 'one rock' EU legislation. When did he get his rabies vaccination, as he only needs a booster every 3 years within Europe, not annually. There is also no requirement for any other forms of vaccination for travel between UK and Eire, just the rabies, so he will be fine.

I drive across the border all the time, and have never been stopped at any point, I think tbh, that if they did try to enforce it, that war would break out

andreac

There is nothing at any border that would mean you would be stopped. So you have nothing to worry about. It's only the ferry ports you need to have them for.

Mountainsandh

Thanks guys !
I must check the rabies, he's 3 years old, and we've been travelling with him to France ever since he was a pup, so he might be due that, but to be honest, financially, if that could wait until next year I'd leave it till then.
I'd be doing the vaccinations anyway, so that's no hassle, but like that, if it's unlikely we're stopped, the booster can wait until we come back.


edit : just checked. Yes, he's due the rabies. I'll see what the vet says tomorrow, but I think it's expensive, so if she thinks that can be avoided until next year, then I'll leave it.

ShaShaBear

Given we have to drive through the North to get to our vet, no - you're fine

awanderer

I agree with other posters: I wouldn't worry at all. My partner is from Northern Ireland and usually brings our dog with him when he visits his family. This has never been a problem (he must have gone there over 20 times since we adopted the dog 2 years ago).

The only thing I would advise you to be careful about is that in the North it seems they are stricter about the dogs being restrained in cars. It seems that you can easily get fined if your dog is not restrained. According to the UK law however: "A seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard are ways of restraining animals in cars" so it is more or less basic safety measures anyway:).

Mountainsandh

Thanks awanderer.

I was talking to the vets, they didn't get through to the service, but I told them to forget about it. I'm not going to bother with the rabies this year. Well, I'll do it some time after Christmas for our visit to France probably next year alright.

But he's still due his vaccinations anyway and worming etc... so I'll get his pet passport stamped for that, and will have it with me.

We're travelling in a campervan, and I have a system all sorted out : since Gizmo hates being in the back (not even on his own, with the kids !), he comes with me at the front. I bought one of these big square light dog beds, the ones with a removable cover and just a slip of foam in it. I put an old baby cot mattress inside, it's not the exact size, but it keeps the structure a bit more solid. I open my glove box, there's a little tablet like on a plane, and lean the dog bed on that and my knees, and hey, presto !
A doggy camper hammock.

He loves it as he can see everything, or just go to sleep. He's not restrained by a belt, but I'm able to hold him if there's any bit of braking going on, and there's no chance of him going near pedals or anything.

So if you see a woman with a shih tzu cross relaxing on her lap in a camper this summer, that'll be me.

the beer revolu

A dog in a bed on your lap is not a safe way to transport a dog.
And from what another poster has said, is illegal in NI.

Mountainsandh

It is in a camper though, you don't tend to speed in a camper.

deadlybuzzman

Mountainsandh wrote: »

It is in a camper though, you don't tend to speed in a camper.

You don't but the north and donegal is full of nutcase drivers and if you're hit good luck holding onto an animal that gets launched. People used to say they'd hold onto their baby in a crash too.

Mountainsandh

I have tried the crate, and the seat belt restraint, but the current arrangement is what we're going for.
Should we be stopped by the police in NI we will make arrangements or return to the Republic.
Thanks for advice but that wasn't the object of my post.

muddypaws

I think its actually the law that dogs have to be restrained here as well, some Gards will pick you up on it, some won't.

DBB

My understanding of it is that it's not a specific "dogs must be restrained" law, it's a general law that there can be nothing in the car that can distract the driver or cause damage should the car come to a sudden stop. In other words, all cargo, human, animal or thing, must be safely and effectively restrained.
I know people who have been pulled up by the guards for not having their dog effectively restrained.

aonb

on a related subject -
Got our dog chipped/rabies & applied for passport this a.m.
We are going to UK for over a month in October. Normally we have someone come to dog/hen/horse/house sit, but our two other dogs have died, so cant leave him in the house on his own for so long so he gets to come with us!
Question: travelling by ferry to UK - can he stay in the car while the ferry is crossing? Does he have to be in a crate in the car (no space with all the luggage!)

NOT looking forward to the doggie version of:

AREWETHEREYETAREWETHEREYETAREWETHEREYETAREWETHEREYET

Pretzill

aonb wrote: »

on a related subject -
Got our dog chipped/rabies & applied for passport this a.m.
We are going to UK for over a month in October. Normally we have someone come to dog/hen/horse/house sit, but our two other dogs have died, so cant leave him in the house on his own for so long so he gets to come with us!
Question: travelling by ferry to UK - can he stay in the car while the ferry is crossing? Does he have to be in a crate in the car (no space with all the luggage!)

NOT looking forward to the doggie version of:

AREWETHEREYETAREWETHEREYETAREWETHEREYETAREWETHEREYET

They won't let you stay in the car whilst the Ferry is crossing. I know some people do keep their dogs in the car though - obviously if its not too warm, they have their bed and toys etc and they may let you check on them in transit.

There are kennels but I didn't like the look of them - and the dog may be more relaxed in the car particularly if you get the faster Ferry for a quicker crossing - I've never tried this because I don't bring my dogs with me on the Ferry but I'd be tempted to ask if you booked a cabin would they let him travel with you?

aonb

Pretzill wrote: »

They won't let you stay in the car whilst the Ferry is crossing. I know some people do keep their dogs in the car though - obviously if its not too warm, they have their bed and toys etc and they may let you check on them in transit.

There are kennels but I didn't like the look of them - and the dog may be more relaxed in the car particularly if you get the faster Ferry for a quicker crossing - I've never tried this because I don't bring my dogs with me on the Ferry but I'd be tempted to ask if you booked a cabin would they let him travel with you?

This is the question - will the ferry operators ALLOW the dog to stay in his car? Rather than the onboard kennels?
I know they wont let me stay in the car while crossing - will they allow us to check on the dog during the crossing (probably not I know) The dog would definately be happier in his bed in the car with his chews and a bowl of water on the floor....

DBB

Your dog can stay in the car, yes
I would not travel unless it were so, like yours, my dogs are perfectly at ease in the car but would stress in the kennels.
You're not *supposed* to be allowed go down to check on them during the crossing, but I have been let go down (maybe it's my honest face ), but honestly, I gave up doing it because I was disturbing my blissfully sleepy dogs when I did it!

aonb

Thank you DBB! JUST what I wanted to hear

muddypaws

My lot stay in the van every time, they're happy in there, oblivious to the fact that they are crossing a body of water and ending up in a different country lol I do wonder sometimes though if they think I'm a really bad driver, if its a rough crossing

Mountainsandh

I tried leaving Gizmo in the campervan on the crossing to France when he was around 7/8 months, in a crate. He was alright, but you had to wait at reception to be escorted to the dogs at certain times, and then only got to spend a few minutes with them (although the staff were very nice).

The crossing to France is long, and I was worried the whole time. If the crossing is rough, they won't let you go down to the dog, so they might end up on their own for 10 hours overnight and until landing the next day, say.

So on the return journey, I thought I'd try the kennels and see how it went. I've been putting him in the kennels ever since. He doesn't like it very much, but at least I can go visit him any time I want, make sure he's got water, goes to the toilet, stretches his legs...

Only thing is the people who simply don't use their brains, and think it's ok to rattle the door and draw the dogs' attentions, even bring the kids to "see the doggies" and keep talking to them. I think that's what distresses my dog the most when he's in there, otherwise he'd settle nicely.

Springwell

I've always left mine in the car - I'm slightly paranoid as gun dogs seem to be a target for thefts and I'd rather not advertise them being in the car never mind left in kennels on the boat!

They sleep all the way, even when I travelled with the pup at 16 weeks. I never go check on them or ask to, I'd only be waking them up!

muddypaws

Springwell wrote: »

I've always left mine in the car - I'm slightly paranoid as gun dogs seem to be a target for thefts and I'd rather not advertise them being in the car never mind left in kennels on the boat!

They sleep all the way, even when I travelled with the pup at 16 weeks. I never go check on them or ask to, I'd only be waking them up!

Now I'm wondering if I met you on the ferry once. When you travelled with the pup at 16 weeks, did you let him out of the car when we rejoined our vehicles, and he decided to go off for a little explore?

Springwell

I don't think so - they're all liver and white springs and firmly kept in their dog boxes!