I know we have some members in sunny Spain, and others who travel with dogs frequently.  Help would be much appreciated on behalf of a friend who has a slightly unusual travel requirement.  His Pug has been flown Barcelona from the USA, with his Father,  where they are meeting up for a "family Christmas", and from then on Miles  is wanting to travel back to UK with his Pug (whilst Father flys back to USA).  They researched the Pet PAssport requirements, and everything has been  sorted out to fulfill that.  However the stumbling block is getting him to the UK.  Being used to just taking the dogs (they have a few) with them when flying in the USA they were incredulous when told that it is a little more complicated coming to the UK, and that  the Pug would probably have to travel cargo, could not fly BA, would have to have another tick and tapeowrm treatment before setting off.......  They are now wondering, as no flights seem available, if it will be better to take a train through France and Spain, and then either the ferry or Eurotunnel.  So , does anyone have any knowledge if you can use the cross channel ferry or Eruotunnel if you DO NOT have a car with you, or any alternative ideas to get 1  young man and 1 mature pug from Barcelona to the UK shortly after Christmas?

our catalan girl come by road with no problem with animal couiers.

You can certainly go on the ferry as a foot passenger - I would suggest train and ferry.

when i was looking at possibility of a dog going with foot passenger to spain, it was not allowed (2 weeks ago)

Most ferry companies will only allow pets if they remain in a vehicle but according to this site P&O ferries will now take small dogs with foot passengers if they remain in an approved carrier at all times whilst aboard.  OK for a Pug but more difficult with a Bloodhound presumably!  They cannot travel the Portsmouth-Bilbao route under any circumstances due to the length of journey. All French and uk domestic trains are OK with dogs but Eurostar does not allow them.

> Most ferry companies will only allow pets if they remain in a vehicle

Er actually no they don't they will usually take dogs only if they are in the kennels after dogs died in a vehicle due to heat stroke on the way either to a show or from it

>> Most ferry companies will only allow pets if they remain in a vehicle

> they will usually take dogs only if they are in the kennels after dogs died in a vehicle due to heat stroke on the way either to a show or from it

I got the original information from reading ferry websites, as we were thinking of travelling with ours next year.  When you say 'kennel' is that a facility on the ferry?  My sister in law regularly travels to Ireland with her dogs in the car and we are thinking of doing the same route.  Have the ferry companies issued new guidelines but not yet updated their sites?  

Yes they have changed their guidelines I would check with the companies directly regarding taking your dogs on any ferry. If the journey during the summer I certainly would not leave my dogs on the car deck of any ferry.

There are air conditioned kennels on the Pride of Hull & the Pride of Rotterdam(Hull to Rotterdam)I have no idea what the other ferries facilities I'm sure there was a thread when the dogs died

On short journeys the dogs are allowed to remain in the car, but that would only be channel crossings for me

On longer journeys then the ferries(on the sites I have been on)have kennels Stena the company whose ferry the dogs were on board  when they died died now allow visits to dogs left in cars

Thanks Moonmaiden

Ours would be a short Irish crossing in the autumn.  We will be travelling that same route without the dogs earlier in the year so I'll ask if I can have a look at their kennels whilst we are onboard.

I did eventually find the page, before I got your links, on the Stena ferry but I had to say I didn't want to leave them in the car before the kennel info came up on the search.  You would think that it should be more prominent.  One of the sites I went to do not allow you to prebook the kennels, so it was first come first served.  Tricky, I would imagine, when people are travelling to a show.  I might make sure we avoid 'show timed' crossings :)

Thanks again

the ferry route i take to europe is harwich-hook of holland. not all ferry routes accommodate dogs.
there are kennels behind the cars one level down form the passenger. we were told we could leave dogs in car, but last time we did this was march this year, so it might have changed since then.
you can ask during the journey for someone to take you down to check, but its discretionary.
the car deck is locked otherwise.

the ferry route i take to europe is harwich-hook of holland. not all ferry routes accommodate dogs.
the kennels are free-standing on the car deck behind the cars, one level down from the passengers.
we were told we could leave the dogs in car, but last time we did this was march this year, so it might have changed since then. we opted for the kennels. they were big enough.
you can ask during the journey for someone to take you down to check them, but its discretionary.
the car deck is locked otherwise.

On the "Pride"ferries to Rotterdam & Bruges you can visit your dog as many times as you like

Thanks for all the advise and help.  My latest update is that they reached Calais yesterday, having trvelled by train from Barcelona via Paris.  They then got turned back due to the tick and tapeworm treatment, which had been administered in Spain, but apparently not stamped in the correct way!  Miles found a vet in Calais who re-did the treatment and issued a new blue form (not sure what this is) and they were due to board a ferry this afternoon.  Still waiting to hear, so I hope no news is good news!