Taking your pet on holiday requires some organisation. First, you have to make sure that the place you are going to stay in accepts pets. Second, you have to decide how you transport them there. If you are travelling to Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey or any other country where you can travel freely with your pet and  there is no quarantine required, special requirements are still necessary for ferries and flights.

Ferry companies require that, if travelling by car, your pet must stay in the vehicle. In this situation it is advisable that a window is left open for ventilation purposes. For ferry journeys of less than two hours you should not need to go back to the car. In certain circumstances however you can ask to be allowed access to the vehicle. On longer ferry journeys, ask permission to check your pet at two-hourly intervals. This will allow you to give water and food if necessary. Ferry companies have people patrolling the car deck and they will also keep an eye on any pets travelling in vehicles.

If you go on as a foot passenger you can take your pet with you, however some ferry companies may ask you to confine you pet in an appropriate carrier - a carrier designed for transporting pets. These carriers are most commonly plastic or wooden and have the appropriate air holes, ventilation and water carriers. Always check with the ferry company first.

Some airlines allow small dogs and cats to travel in the cabin; if this is not the case they have to be put in the heated and ventilated hold. The types of carriers allowed for transporting your pet vary. Soft carry bags are permitted for short journeys when the animal is allowed in the cabin. If the animal is to travel in the hold then the carrier must be made of a more substantial material, such as wood or plastic, and conform to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations. Some airlines have more specific requirements, so always check with the airline before doing anything regarding a crate. Also, some airlines have planes which do not have pressurised holds: this means they cannot carry livestock. 

A crate for a pet is measured in a specific way: the length of the dog from its nose to its tail, the height from the ground to the dog's elbow joint, the width of the shoulders and the height of the dog from the ground to the top of its head. The carrier must be large enough for your pet to stand, turn round and lie down in comfortably. There must be sufficient ventilation holes to allow air to circulate. Separate food and water containers must be fitted to the inside of the carrier in such a way that they can be refilled from the outside. It is a good idea to purchase the carrier some time before the journey so that your pet becomes accustomed to it. You can put the pet’s own bedding and toys inside, and even feed them in the carrier for several days before the journey.

If you are planning on moving abroad and wish to take your pet with you then you will need to contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), in order to obtain the correct documentation, quarantine regulations and health certificates necessary for your move.  Further advice on travelling abroad with your pet is in our International Travel section.