Travelling your pet safely
Guidance on travel
There are no requirements for pets travelling directly between the
You are advised to keep your pet fully vaccinated in accordance with your vet's recommendation.
You should consider getting advice on how best to transport your pets and protecting the welfare of pets during the journey. Information is available on the Defra website or you can contact a veterinary surgeon. You should inform the airline or ferry operator that you wish to travel with your pet.
Your pet should be healthy and fit for the intended journey. If necessary, ask your vet for advice before beginning the journey. An animal is not normally fit to transport if it is ill or injured (except for minor illness or injury).
Travelling by ferry, if you are travelling on a ferry in a vehicle:
- · try and get to the port early so that the carrier can give you the most suitable position in the car deck for your pet;
- · travel overnight if possible, when the temperature may be cooler;
- · make sure that the ferry company officials responsible for loading know that there is a live animal in you vehicle, and follow their instructions;
- · before you leave your vehicle, make sure that your pet will have enough ventilation (normally you will need to leave a least one of the windows partly open, but it is important to make sure your pet cannot escape;
- · make sure your pet is comfortable and has enough water; and
- · never leave your pet in a vehicle in direct strong sunshine or high temperatures as it is difficult to make sure there is enough ventilation to keep it cool. The inside of a vehicle left in strong sunlight on an open deck or in an enclosed deck where the temperature is likely to be higher than 25 degrees for more than a few minutes, will very quickly become too hot for the animal inside and cause distress and suffering.
For safety reasons, you are not normally able to visit the vehicle decks while the ferry is at sea. However, you can ask if it is essential. The ferry company should tell you about its access policy.
Travelling by air:
- · pets travelling by air will have to be in a suitably approved IATA container which is clean and must be leak and escape proof. The container must have enough space for the animal to be able to turn about normally while standing, to stand and sit erect and to lie in a natural position. Some pet shops sell approved IATA containers.
- · check with your airline that they are prepared to take your pet and ask them what they require.
- · some airlines ask for a private fitness to travel certificate which your vet can issue.
For further information please refer to either the States of Jersey or Defra’s websites:-
http://www.gov.je/Travel/TravellingPets/Pages/PetPassports.aspx
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/transport/heat.htm