Pets in Paradise: How to Holiday with the Whole Family
Whilst a vacation is meant to be the time to relax, unwind and forget about the worries of every day life, preparing for an extended period of time away from home can cause a lot of stress and worry in itself.
Firstly, there’s the issue of which destination to go to. For families, this can be a particularly contentious issue given that mum and dad’s idea of a romantic break in the sun might not exactly be what the little ones are looking for. Then there’s the issue of arranging for someone to look after the house for a fortnight – after all, those plants certainly won’t water themselves.
Perhaps the biggest concern most holidaymakers have before setting off on their well-earned break is who will take care of the pets. Not everybody is lucky enough to have an animal-loving neighbour with enough spare time on their hands to commit to feeding and walking the dog every day. While pet sitting agencies may seem like an option, this can take a significant chunk out of the holiday budget.
Moreover, a pet is often considered to be part of the family unit and it can be difficult to leave Rover or Tiddles behind whilst everyone disappears for some fun in the sun. That's why taking a pet on holiday is the ideal solution - eradicating many of the concerns and costs that are attached to vacationing.
For those who like to stay local, it’s simply a case of checking that the hotel or resort is pet friendly. However if the plan is to head to the continent, then there are other issues to consider. The UK has been rabies free for a long time, so re-entering the country after a holiday abroad will result in a six-month quarantine period.
Unknown to many, the UK has formal agreements with a number of other countries in Europe and further afield, that allow cats, dogs and ferrets to bypass quarantine as part of a pet travel scheme (PETS). To be eligible, the animal must be fitted with a microchip and be vaccinated against rabies – and importantly, a blood test must be taken, after which a six month period must pass before the pet can re-enter the UK. For this reason it’s important to be thinking at least half a year ahead when travelling abroad with pets.
Of course, regardless of the holiday destination, the importance of having adequate pet insurance in place cannot be overstated. Vets fees can be an enormous financial burden at the best of times and by arranging appropriate pet insurance cover in advance, this will go some way towards ensuring that this break in the sun is a restful one.
Firstly, there’s the issue of which destination to go to. For families, this can be a particularly contentious issue given that mum and dad’s idea of a romantic break in the sun might not exactly be what the little ones are looking for. Then there’s the issue of arranging for someone to look after the house for a fortnight – after all, those plants certainly won’t water themselves.
Perhaps the biggest concern most holidaymakers have before setting off on their well-earned break is who will take care of the pets. Not everybody is lucky enough to have an animal-loving neighbour with enough spare time on their hands to commit to feeding and walking the dog every day. While pet sitting agencies may seem like an option, this can take a significant chunk out of the holiday budget.
Moreover, a pet is often considered to be part of the family unit and it can be difficult to leave Rover or Tiddles behind whilst everyone disappears for some fun in the sun. That's why taking a pet on holiday is the ideal solution - eradicating many of the concerns and costs that are attached to vacationing.
For those who like to stay local, it’s simply a case of checking that the hotel or resort is pet friendly. However if the plan is to head to the continent, then there are other issues to consider. The UK has been rabies free for a long time, so re-entering the country after a holiday abroad will result in a six-month quarantine period.
Unknown to many, the UK has formal agreements with a number of other countries in Europe and further afield, that allow cats, dogs and ferrets to bypass quarantine as part of a pet travel scheme (PETS). To be eligible, the animal must be fitted with a microchip and be vaccinated against rabies – and importantly, a blood test must be taken, after which a six month period must pass before the pet can re-enter the UK. For this reason it’s important to be thinking at least half a year ahead when travelling abroad with pets.
Of course, regardless of the holiday destination, the importance of having adequate pet insurance in place cannot be overstated. Vets fees can be an enormous financial burden at the best of times and by arranging appropriate pet insurance cover in advance, this will go some way towards ensuring that this break in the sun is a restful one.
