Taking a dog to France

[John Nicholson]

Hello, did anybody take their dog to France via Dover Ferry lately? Do they check the dog's passport on the UK exit? For years ( even last year) they never did. I hear this year they do.
Only just discovered that my dog's rabies jab expired ( I thought they last two years) and we are booked to go on Thursday.
Many thanks!

 

[Phill D]

I am surprised that your dog was not checked.
I believe You are legally required to declare that you have the dog and provide the necessary paperwork.

Most rabies vaccines are for 1 year or 3 years, however as it’s expired there is a 21 day wait before the dog is allowed to travel and if you are in the the uk going to the eu the eu passport will be invalid if the rabies is carried out by a uk vet. So you will also need an AHC.

Good luck hope you can get it sorted

 

[Diabalo]

It should only be checked coming in as we dont have Rabies here.

 

[Phill D]

It should only be checked coming in as we dont have Rabies here.

That is obviously your opinion not what is required.
In reality we should not need a AHC.

 

[Phill D]

Ps; that would be an interesting debate with the border officials if the dog’s paperwork was not available

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[Aly1]

My dogs passport was checked at Dover last year on my way to Calais

 

[Grianan]

I’m trying to think of a way round your predicament but struggling. Can you postpone your visit?

 

[Phill D]

I’m trying to think of a way round your predicament but struggling. Can you postpone your visit?

I think the op has 3 options:
1. Travel Thursday and Dog does not go
2. Postpone trip for at least 4 weeks and get a quick rabies jab and AHC.
3. The dog is not declared and smuggled into the EU ( just kidding)

 

[Diabalo]

That is obviously your opinion not what is required.
In reality we should not need a AHC.

Phill D Of course you are right I stand corrected, I was thinking of it before the B word.

I think you have to wait awhile before traveling after a dogs rabies jab, not sure the length of time though.

 

[Phill D]

Phill D Of course you are right I stand corrected, I was thinking of it before the B word.

I think you have to wait awhile before traveling after a dogs rabies jab, not sure the length of time though.

It’s 21 days minimum from jab to travel.

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[Grianan]

I think the op has 3 options:
1. Travel Thursday and Dog does not go
2. Postpone trip for at least 4 weeks and get a quick rabies jab and AHC.
3. The dog is not declared and smuggled into the EU ( just kidding)

Yes agree - well with 1 and 2 only although 3 would potentially be quite easy if you’re that way inclined (I’m a rule follower so wouldn’t even think of it!).
Unless he’s out there for 2-3 months and a family member could bring dog out in 3 weeks, vaccinated and with AHC. It’s an unfortunate situation and I don’t know how easy it is to reschedule ferry. Eurotunnel is blissfully easy.

 

[John Nicholson]

I’m trying to think of a way round your predicament but struggling. Can you postpone your visit?

Not really...But I guess if I get caught, I will have to.

 

[InvictaMoto]

The check the passports and AHC's when you check in to travel with P&O. We used it earlier this year for the pet lounge. Have no idea about Irish and DFDS.

You can't get an AHC without a current rabies but whether they check further with an EU passport further than the chip matches I have no idea.

We were told by the vet in Belgium to not let a UK vet touch the passport she did for us....

 

[Branston]

When I booked with Irish ferries 2 dogs were paid for on the ticket. At Dover check in they anticipated that I had two dogs on board. I can't imagine how I would have convinced them that I hadn't got them on board. A.H.C. was checked going out at Dover.

 

[tkk]

P&O do check pet passport/AHC from my recent experience

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[Bramidan]

I thought if the dogs rabies vaccination has expired and there is therefore a “gap” I thought you needed to go down the blood test route.
If I am correct this takes a lot longer than 21 days, I thought it was 90 days.
You need to speak to your vet or research what DEFRA states.
I would be more worried about getting your dog back into the UK.

 

[Phill D]

I thought if the dogs rabies vaccination has expired and there is therefore a “gap” I thought you needed to go down the blood test route.
If I am correct this takes a lot longer than 21 days, I thought it was 90 days.
You need to speak to your vet or research what DEFRA states.

blood tests are only required if you intend to travel outside of the UK and EU i.e. Morocco!

 

[Bramidan]

blood tests are only required if you intend to travel outside of the UK and EU i.e. Morocco!

I stand corrected!
I thought when we left the EU we became an “unlisted country” and different rules apply.
Mind you I adopted a Turkish street dog some 9 years ago and Turkey was an “unlisted country” so perhaps I’m getting confused.

 

[Minxy]

P&O do check pet passport/AHC from my recent experience

Yes they do, we went to France in May with P&O and they were scanned/checked. Same coming back with DFDS.

 

[Minxy]

Hello, did anybody take their dog to France via Dover Ferry lately? Do they check the dog's passport on the UK exit? For years ( even last year) they never did. I hear this year they do.

Yes they do.

Only just discovered that my dog's rabies jab expired ( I thought they last two years) and we are booked to go on Thursday.
Many thanks!

Jabs are normally 1 or 3 years although we have had a 2 year one when there was a shortage of 3 year ones but that was many years ago.

How were you intending to provide the paperwork for your dog anyway?

Do you have an EU passport? If so the jab can only be written in by an EU vet so at present it's invalid*.

You'll need to get the dog jabbed in the UK, wait for the required no of days before he/she can travel to the EU and obtain an AHC to do so. There's no way legally for the dog to travel on Thursday.

(*Once in the EU you can have another jab done and entered into the PP to make it usable again.)

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[NRM]

Travelled out and back in June with Irish Ferries, they checked my dog's passport going out and return but didn't ask for the dog's chip to be scanned to check that it was the correct passport for the dog!!

 

[Riverbankannie]

Not really...But I guess if I get caught, I will have to.

Sounds like he is going to try it anyway. Would be good to know the outcome.

 

[rb62]

Sounds like he is going to try it anyway. Would be good to know the outcome.

Could be interesting explaining how the dog got out there to get it's rabies booster whenever the passport gets checked again

 

[Grianan]

Could be interesting explaining how the dog got out there to get it's rabies booster whenever the passport gets checked again

I guess they wouldn’t know it hadn’t come out on AHC with rabies not recorded on passport.

 

[rb62]

I guess they wouldn’t know it hadn’t come out on AHC with rabies not recorded on passport.

But he's crossing tomorrow so hadn't got time to get a rabies vaccination that he would need for an AHC.

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[Phill D]

the eu vet would not need to be interested in the ahc. a fresh jab given entered in the eu petpassport then use that on the way home after at least 3 weeks.

would i try to get the dog through without any paperwork? nope! but neither would i go without the dog!

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I don’t think with all the times I have been through the tunnel with my 2 Jacks anyone has ever checked, I have said to Mrs CC we could save a bit of money by “forgetting” to put the pups on the ticket

I would get it in Europe and then come back after the time needed