Hello,
wondering if anyone can advise us! Live in North Wales and have booked a holiday cottage in Ireland for a week, planning to take the two dogs with us. I thought the ferry would have kennels, which some do, but apparently not the one we are booked on. It's one of those fast ferries, and you have to leave the dogs inside the car. That in itself isn't a problem, but I once heard of pets dying of fumes in the 'car area' below deck, so am rather worried now, wondering whether we just leave the dogs at boarding kennels instead. Has anyone ever taken their dog on one of these ferries and left them in the car?
Hilda

i haven't personally, but my older sister bought her dog and cat over from germany on the ferry and left them in the car while on the ferry from calais to dover. she stayed with them at all times and fed and watered them and they were all fine. maybe ask your vet for advice. hope that helps, enjoy your trip!!

Hi Hilda,

Glad you asked this question as we are going to Isle of Harris in the summer
and have to go on the ferry, and I was wondering the same.

I just assumed we would leave him in the car, but now your story has worried me.

Also, I didn't think passengers were allowed to stay in the car parking area during voyage..
does anyone have any more info.

Kind Regards
Louise (and Rufus) x

Hi Louise,
I would be quite happy to stay below with the dogs, but as far as I know everyone has to go upstairs. Security for the cars I suppose.
Hopefully someone will reply with a positive experience and put our minds at rest!! I really would like to take my dogs with me on holiday.
Hilda

Hi we did this from Stranrar to Belfast for Belfast Champshow and the car deck had as many dogs in cars and vans as it did cars that day with no problems. Gillian

Thanks to everyone who replied! On the whole of it there doesn't sound as if I have anything to worry about then, so I think we will take the dogs with us!
Hilda

We went over to Ireland only last week. Holyhead to Dublin our trip was, with Irish Ferries. Trip was about 3/4 hours, and the dogs were left in the car. No problems with car fumes, or anything. Can't say there isn't or never has been problems, but from my experience of trevelling everything has been fine.
Adam

Hi Adam,
That's good to hear! Although ours is classed as an 'Irish fast ferry', we've been told the trip from Holyhead to Dublin is two hours.
Hilda

We took two Cavaliers many years ago, Holyhead to Dunleary (sorry can't spell it). The crossing was 3hrs 30mins but of course it's much longer that that by the time you've boarded and disembarked. You aren't allowed to stay on the car decks.

The dogs were about 18 months at the time. They were absolutely fine, on their Vet-bed on the back seat. The only thing was, when we rejoined the car & my daughter sat on the back seat, she exclaimed, "Ugh! It's all wet!".......

Cathy.

If you're gping with Cal Mac - and I expect it will be to Harris - then they are very good with dogs. If it's not a too long a crossing then you can leave your dog in the car or take it on board with you and go pretty much anywhere with them. I have left mine on the car once - only to find the burk next to us had left his alarm on!!! it had been going the whole 55 minutes crossing(to Arran) and had driven the dog nuts - hardly surprising. There are usually lots of people with dogs - some leave them in the car - some take them with them and I've never seen any problems with them.

On RORO ferries - you're not allowed in the car deck during sailing - especially since the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster - it may be different for Catamarans or Hovercrafts and they may have a different deck for those with animals with limited access - but I've never found a ferry that lets you stay with your car other than the very small ferry where you never leave your car.

Pam n the boys

Oh yes I remember doing a ferry to the Hebrides with the dogs can't remember if it was Harris, there was a little lounge area that you could take your dogs to - we left ours in the Landie so we could go to the bar :D

We didn't take out dogs when we went to Ireland but I noticed lots of dogs in the cars. People were definately not allowed to stay with them but I don't think the fumes would be a problem, engines are switched off as soon as parked and the huge loading doors are open right up until sailing time so I can't see the air being too bad. I would think the dogs would be more settled in their own cars than in kennels, when we caught the overnight ferry to Shetland many years ago dogs were in wooden kennels on a covered but open deck and some of them weren't too happy.

I am having the same problems we are travelling to Cork city on 'Shankses Pony' ( no car) and i just read (on a ferry site) about dogs, if no car, being left in 'kennels' on the car deck, we have no car and are taking our 3 tiny chihuahuas ( 2 x 2 1/2 lb and one 8lb) with us, there is no way hubby and i will be leaving the tinies in the kennels on the car deck the fumes WOULD kill them, i have a large sherpa travel bag and a leather bag which will hold them and will take them with us, we are trying to get on the stena lynx which only takes 1 hr 39 minutes from Fishguard to Rosslaire, also as i am too scared to stay inside the ferry i will be dragging hubby to sit on the outside deck whatever the weather.

If you are planning on leaving your dogs in your car then please give them plenty of ventillation. The heat from all the cars engines rally make it very warm for the dogs. I have travelled many times to Ireland and each time I have given them plenty of air and to come back down at the end of the journey to find them snoring their heads off. PLease don't worry about fumes as all the car's engines are switched off. I have always left my dogs in my car as I found to it to be quiteter for them.

Margaret

Hi Margaret,
I had been thinking about whether it would get really hot in the car actually - we've got a sun roof so could leave that maybe half open, though I wouldn't want to have the windows down too far - imagine coming back and finding the dogs had escaped! That would be a right nightmare!
Hilda

Hi Hilda,
I know how you feel. I too was worried about my dogs welfare on our fist ferry crossing. All alone in the car deck, the fumes, the very unlikely ferry disaster. Since then I've taken my dogs many times on ferries to France and back and I'm still nervous even though there's been no need to be. I've travelled with different companies and all were really sensitive to my needs. We were allowed to check our dogs several times on the journey down in the car deck. Another company allowed our dog to travel with us upstairs but it had to be kept in a carrier. I'm sure your dogs will be fine.

Good luck !
Tania

It does get really hot down in the hold with the cars. I have a dog guard at the back and I tend to leave the tail gate open so I would be tempeted to leave more than just the sun roof open. Mind you the last time we went to Ireland we drove off the ferry with the tail gate still up and nobody bothered to tell us ! What about all your windows open just enough for your dogs not to escape and your sun roof open that should do the trick.

Margaret