Full Details of the PETS Travel Scheme

All Brittany Ferries routes are approved by DEFRA for participation in the PETS scheme. This applies only to cats and dogs returning from qualifying countries into the UK. Before commencing travel it is the owner’s responsibility to supply the following:

A valid DEFRA approved pet passport or veterinary certificate showing that their pet has been micro-chipped, vaccinated and blood tested for antibodies to rabies. N.B. Your pet may not re-enter the UK until 6 calendar months has elapsed from the date the blood sample, which led to a satisfactory test result, was taken. Therefore please allow at least 7 months for vaccinations before travel. Please note that a blood test is only required for animals returning to the UK from France or Spain.

A valid DEFRA approved pet passport or veterinary certificate showing that the animal has been treated against ticks and fox tapeworm not less than 24 hours, and not more than 48 hours, prior to returning to the UK. The owner should ensure that their chosen vet stocks the correct certificates.

For further information, call DEFRA Helpline on 0870 241 1710 or consult your vet.

Tick and tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet between 24 and 48 hours before embarking from a foreign port. An official certificate is required from the country in which treatment is carried out. This must be signed, dated and include date and time of treatment. If the certificate does not comply with this, we regret that we will not be able to carry the animal under the Pet Travel Scheme.

When planning your return journey on any of our routes, please give careful consideration to the timing of the tick and tapeworm treatment. Distressing difficulties can arise if things go wrong and return travel is jeopardised.

With this in mind, we do not recommend travel out of France or Spain early in the week as it may be difficult to obtain the necessary certificate from a vet at weekends. You will need to check in for the return journey from France or Spain earlier than other passengers (refer to your travel document for details) to ensure that enough time is allowed or the formalities to be completed.

Cross-Channel and Crossings to Spain

The animal’s owner/escort will be solely responsible for the behaviour and welfare of their pet(s) at the port and on board, and for compliance with the PETS travel Scheme’s provisions. They are also responsible for ensuring that the animal is sufficiently fit and healthy to withstand the intended journey. You are recommended to seek the advice of your own vet about health and travel concerns. At all times it is the owner/escort’s responsibility to comply with the DEFRA regulations governing pets travel. Brittany Ferries cannot be held responsible if the animal is refused travel due to incorrect documentation.

Animals will only be permitted to travel in the owner/escort’s vehicle (N.B. See below for exceptions). There should be sufficient space for the animal to move freely, and you should make the animal as comfortable as possible, using absorbent bedding, equipment and toys which the animal is familiar with. The garages may be warm when parking but once the ship is at sea, the temperatures are carefully regulated and the garages inspected at regular intervals. Before leaving your vehicle you must ensure that the animal(s) will have enough ventilation. This will normally mean that one or more windows will need to be left partly open, but it is important also to ensure that the animal(s) cannot escape. Please make sure that all doors are locked. You should also take with you any valuables that you may be carrying, as the Company cannot accept responsibility in the event of loss, theft or damage caused by pets or otherwise.

When the Pont-Aven and Bretagne are operating on the Plymouth to Santander route, dogs must occupy the kennel provided. Whilst any other domestic pet must remain in the owners/escorts vehicle throughout the journey. Access to the kennel and/ or garage area will be provided for owners/ escorts during the voyage at the discretion of the crew and will be dependent on sailing conditions.

If your dog is travelling in a kennel, we recommend you use a muzzle when exercising it or transferring it to the kennel from the car, as there will be other dogs around, in an unfamiliar environment.

Pet carrying vehicles will be issued with a identification sticker on arrival at the port. It is an offence to remove this sticker before leaving the port of destination. Failure to comply with this regulation could result in the animal being placed in short term quarantine.

For reasons of hygiene and the comfort of other passengers, animals must remain either in your vehicle, or in the kennel provided (dogs only). Animals will not be permitted in the passenger areas of the ship.

At the discretion of the crew and conditions permitting, owners/escorts may visit their animal on the car deck at pre-arranged times during the course of the voyage. Please report to the Information Desk on board at the beginning of the voyage for details of visit times.

The carriage of pets is subject to availability. We will not accept bookings for animals at the port on the day of departure. All animals are carried entirely at the discretion of the Company, who reserve the right to refuse travel at any time.

If any element of the PETS certification or microchip procedures should fail, we will only carry the animal if quarantine arrangements have been made for arrival in the UK. Any such arrangements and subsequent costs will be the full responsibility of the pet owner/escort.

In order to minimise failures upon return, it is part of the Company’s procedures, wherever practical, that microchips are scanned and checked prior to departure from the UK.

Passengers should be prepared for an inspection by DEFRA upon entry into the UK, to ensure that all procedures have been properly followed and that documentation is in order. A failure at this stage could result in the pet being either re-exported or placed in quarantine (at the owner’s expense).

Owners/escorts are solely responsible for being aware of, and complying with, regulations in their country of destination. They should also be aware that some countries have prohibitions and special regulations regarding certain breeds of dogs, and that they may be refused entry or transit. Please contact the appropriate authorities (eg the Embassy) of the countries you are travelling to and through, or DEFRA for further information. Brittany Ferries will not accept any responsibility if your pet is refused entry to the country of destination, or any country in transit.

We will not accept bookings:

• On the day of departure
• for unaccompanied pets
• for those travelling by foot, bicycle or motorcycle

Brittany Ferries has absolute discretion to accept or refuse any passenger, their vehicle, their pets or their luggage on board. The following administration fees will be made per pet: £15 ex UK to France; £22.50 ex France; £25 ex UK to Spain; £35 ex Spain.

For further information and/ or to make a reservation please call our Reservations Team on 0871 244 0744

Useful Links and Contact Details

DEFRA

• PETS Helpline: 0870 2 411 710
• Website: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm
• E-mail: pets.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
• Fax: 01245 458 749

Dogs Away

• Website: www.dogsaway.co.uk
• E-mail: sales@dogsaway.co.uk

These details are in accordance with the latest information available