Travel with Guinea pigs to Italy, through France, from UK

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Alaric

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Hi all.

I need to drive to Italy to pack our family home - we will all hopefully soon be together back in the UK. I have my daughter's two girl piggies with me here in the UK at the moment, and plan to take them with me in the car. I've been trying to find out what format letter I need to accompany the piggies to show they have no health issues and are domestic pets, not commercial, but am struggling to find the form that's mentioned online. Apparently it's defined in "Annex 27 of the Order of 19 July 2002", but I fall asleep as soon as I open the documents that I've found through google and have not managed to find the guidance referred to.

If anyone knows could they please let me know what needs to be in the letter, or preferable send me a copy of one that they have used? Thanks.

Al.
 
Sorry I don't know, I have seen this being mentioned before.
Just to say that some guinea pig rescues do pet boarding, short and longer term, which might be easier.
 
Hi. I'm now on the phone with the animal, plant and health agency, who apparently deal with piggies travel. I'm on hold while they look into it.... incredible. I'm foreseeing one very unhappy 12 year old when I arrive in Italy without the piggies. Of course, as part of the eu this was all much more difficult eh?
 
I can't say for sure but if I'm remembering right when this has come up before, piggies don't need papers to travel. Try searching in the forum for previous posts on this.
 
That's true for entry to the UK at the moment, but after 1st Oct this year new rules kick in - from what I can gather all animals need a health certificate to go from UK to France. For piggies I've been told but the vet that I may need to export them from the UK, then re-import them on return, whatever the duration of the trip.

So the APHA have just come back to me - I was on hold for about 15 minutes. They have no forms / certificates at present, and have suggested I phone the border authority in France and then in Italy. So the vet didn't know, the APHA didn't know, and the .gov website says nothing re rodents, other than saying a health cert is needed. But the vet doesn't know what that is....

So, I'm off to google the numbers for the border authorities... they'll be really pleased to hear from me haha. My French and Italian are pretty good as it happens, but I am sure this is not going to go well.

Al.
 
Well, that was easy. Since Brexit, no animals other than dogs, cats or ferrets are allowed onto the Eurotunnel trains. I've just been told that by Eurotunnel. That's pretty clear isn't it.

Re boarding I'll be looking into it. I have secured a place for them at a friend's place, but am not sure I want to impose. I'll see if a boarding place can take them, but actually I now finally have them free of mites and looking very healthy. I don't want them to contract diseases while boarding. Hey it's an ordeal for me, let alone the piggies haha.
 
Yes if you've got them healthy you don't want your good work undone. That's why I'd choose a guinea pig rescue (details on the forum) for boarding if possible. They look after them better than anyone.
 
Ok thanks. I have actually got them booked in to Home Page, with Victoria, who seems very nice. I will check out the guinea pig rescue as you suggest though.

So in conclusion it's really easy actually isn't it, post Brexit no travel for piggies. Simple. Actually I wasn't keen on taking them on a long journey like that.

Al.
 
Sorry to revive an old thread - but in case any one else is googling for this later - Eurotunnel have apparently since changed their policies and you can take guinea pigs on the Eurotunnel as long as you have this form filled out by a vet. There's a specific page on their website that details this policy.

I figure I've spent 2 hours googling around travelling with the pigs to Europe post Brexit, I may as well save someone else the time!
 
Katsycakes said:
Sorry to revive an old thread - but in case any one else is googling for this later - Eurotunnel have apparently since changed their policies and you can take guinea pigs on the Eurotunnel as long as you have this form filled out by a vet. There's a specific page on their website that details this policy.

I figure I've spent 2 hours googling around travelling with the pigs to Europe post Brexit, I may as well save someone else the time!
Click to expand...
Hi, does that form apply on ferry travel? I’m moving to Sardinia from UK and want to take my two guinea pigs with me.
 
Pickle&Fudge said:
Hi, does that form apply on ferry travel? I’m moving to Sardinia from UK and want to take my two guinea pigs with me.
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Hi, I’d imagine so if you’re travelling through France as it’s a form from the French government - if your port is in another country you may need a different form. Make sure you tell your vets in advance that it’s not a European Health Certificate that you need but a separate form as the certificate is for cats, dogs and ferrets and is far more expensive - we paid around £70 for forms for both pigs but the EHC was quoted at more like £200 each.
 
Katsycakes said:
Sorry to revive an old thread - but in case any one else is googling for this later - Eurotunnel have apparently since changed their policies and you can take guinea pigs on the Eurotunnel as long as you have this form filled out by a vet. There's a specific page on their website that details this policy.

I figure I've spent 2 hours googling around travelling with the pigs to Europe post Brexit, I may as well save someone else the time!
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for this, this is so helpful! I‘m moving to Austria in 2 weeks and will be taking the piggies on the Eurotunnel train as well. I‘m so nervous & really hope that everything goes without problem at the border. Have you moved already? If yes, how was everything for you?
 
stef.trg said:
Thank you so much for this, this is so helpful! I‘m moving to Austria in 2 weeks and will be taking the piggies on the Eurotunnel train as well. I‘m so nervous & really hope that everything goes without problem at the border. Have you moved already? If yes, how was everything for you?
Click to expand...
Hope your move goes well, I’m sure the piggies will be fine x
 
stef.trg said:
Thank you so much for this, this is so helpful! I‘m moving to Austria in 2 weeks and will be taking the piggies on the Eurotunnel train as well. I‘m so nervous & really hope that everything goes without problem at the border. Have you moved already? If yes, how was everything for you?
Click to expand...
Best of luck! Yes we moved two weeks ago and it was absolutely fine. We managed to get the form filled out at a local vets4pets and the Eurotunnel was absolutely fine. The woman checking our tickets did say ‘oh we only allow cats dogs and ferrets’ but when challenged she checked with a colleague and let us in. It does clearly say on their website that rodents are fine :)

The pigs did not enjoy the trip very much, but were absolutely fine once we arrived and they were given a pea flake! They were wheeking their heads off and running around within 24hours as if nothing had happened!

Here they are inspecting the quality of Dutch carrot cottages! 😁

E602106D-9EE5-455D-9643-CD2284AD24CB.webp
 
stef.trg said:
Thank you so much for this, this is so helpful! I‘m moving to Austria in 2 weeks and will be taking the piggies on the Eurotunnel train as well. I‘m so nervous & really hope that everything goes without problem at the border. Have you moved already? If yes, how was everything for you?
Click to expand...
Good luck with your move. I’m sure your piggies will be fine.
 
Katsycakes said:
Best of luck! Yes we moved two weeks ago and it was absolutely fine. We managed to get the form filled out at a local vets4pets and the Eurotunnel was absolutely fine. The woman checking our tickets did say ‘oh we only allow cats dogs and ferrets’ but when challenged she checked with a colleague and let us in. It does clearly say on their website that rodents are fine :)

The pigs did not enjoy the trip very much, but were absolutely fine once we arrived and they were given a pea flake! They were wheeking their heads off and running around within 24hours as if nothing had happened!

Here they are inspecting the quality of Dutch carrot cottages! 😁

View attachment 187363
Click to expand...
Glad it went so well, amazing. Did you take them in a car, and take grids and hay etc? What were the piggies in? Great you were able to source Dutch carrot cottages!
 
Black piggies said:
Glad it went so well, amazing. Did you take them in a car, and take grids and hay etc? What were the piggies in? Great you were able to source Dutch carrot cottages!
Click to expand...
Yes we took them in this carrier. We used to open out the sides to give them more space on journeys but recently we’ve realised they prefer a smaller more cozy space since they just hide for the entire car ride anyway.

We dismantled our c&c and bought a big bag of hay with us - about half of the car ended up as guinea pig items but of course they’re worth it 😅.
 
Katsycakes said:
Yes we took them in this carrier. We used to open out the sides to give them more space on journeys but recently we’ve realised they prefer a smaller more cozy space since they just hide for the entire car ride anyway.

We dismantled our c&c and bought a big bag of hay with us - about half of the car ended up as guinea pig items but of course they’re worth it 😅.
Click to expand...
Great carrier for long distance! Lucky piggies you went to all that effort.
 
Katsycakes said:
Best of luck! Yes we moved two weeks ago and it was absolutely fine. We managed to get the form filled out at a local vets4pets and the Eurotunnel was absolutely fine. The woman checking our tickets did say ‘oh we only allow cats dogs and ferrets’ but when challenged she checked with a colleague and let us in. It does clearly say on their website that rodents are fine :)

The pigs did not enjoy the trip very much, but were absolutely fine once we arrived and they were given a pea flake! They were wheeking their heads off and running around within 24hours as if nothing had happened!

Here they are inspecting the quality of Dutch carrot cottages! 😁

View attachment 187363
Click to expand...
So sorry I haven‘t replied any earlier - the last weeks were madness but your reply has helped me very much to stay calm about the whole form & Eurotunnel situation.

And we made it! We got caught in the whole Eurotunnel chaos on Saturday so it was quite a long & taxing journey and the piggies had to be in their carriers for nearly 18 hours straight. Felt like the worst piggy mum ever! Thankfully we had enough hay and they happily took water from the syringe after we ran out of cucumber. In the end we didn’t even need the form at the form at the border!

The little monkeys are settling in nicely and are munching like champions. I built their stacked C&C today in a temporary location (ignore the mess around the cage - I haven‘t even started to unpack my life yet). It‘s currently a 4x2. They‘ll move into my bedroom soon, though, and then I‘ll add a little L-shape to it so they have a 5x2. I‘ll post another picture in the cages section once it‘s all finalised!
C3B9F517-35C0-41E4-A9D5-D37173E15A4D.webp
 
stef.trg said:
So sorry I haven‘t replied any earlier - the last weeks were madness but your reply has helped me very much to stay calm about the whole form & Eurotunnel situation.

And we made it! We got caught in the whole Eurotunnel chaos on Saturday so it was quite a long & taxing journey and the piggies had to be in their carriers for nearly 18 hours straight. Felt like the worst piggy mum ever! Thankfully we had enough hay and they happily took water from the syringe after we ran out of cucumber. In the end we didn’t even need the form at the form at the border!

The little monkeys are settling in nicely and are munching like champions. I built their stacked C&C today in a temporary location (ignore the mess around the cage - I haven‘t even started to unpack my life yet). It‘s currently a 4x2. They‘ll move into my bedroom soon, though, and then I‘ll add a little L-shape to it so they have a 5x2. I‘ll post another picture in the cages section once it‘s all finalised!
View attachment 187943
Click to expand...
What a journey! Glad it's gone well 😊
 
stef.trg said:
So sorry I haven‘t replied any earlier - the last weeks were madness but your reply has helped me very much to stay calm about the whole form & Eurotunnel situation.

And we made it! We got caught in the whole Eurotunnel chaos on Saturday so it was quite a long & taxing journey and the piggies had to be in their carriers for nearly 18 hours straight. Felt like the worst piggy mum ever! Thankfully we had enough hay and they happily took water from the syringe after we ran out of cucumber. In the end we didn’t even need the form at the form at the border!

The little monkeys are settling in nicely and are munching like champions. I built their stacked C&C today in a temporary location (ignore the mess around the cage - I haven‘t even started to unpack my life yet). It‘s currently a 4x2. They‘ll move into my bedroom soon, though, and then I‘ll add a little L-shape to it so they have a 5x2. I‘ll post another picture in the cages section once it‘s all finalised!
Click to expand...
I was just thinking of you today! So glad it all went (relatively) smoothly and the piggies are all set up in their new home!

Glad to have helped out in return for all the adorable baby (and now grown up) pig pics I’ve enjoyed from you over the past year or so! 🥰
 
Amazing! Glad everything went to plan (well almost) and the piggies are settled, you must be so relieved after all that worry x
 
Katsycakes said:
Sorry to revive an old thread - but in case any one else is googling for this later - Eurotunnel have apparently since changed their policies and you can take guinea pigs on the Eurotunnel as long as you have this form filled out by a vet. There's a specific page on their website that details this policy.

I figure I've spent 2 hours googling around travelling with the pigs to Europe post Brexit, I may as well save someone else the time!
Click to expand...
Hi! Did you get the piggies checked on the day of boarding as mentioned on the form from Eurotunnel?
 
Katsycakes said:
Hi, I’d imagine so if you’re travelling through France as it’s a form from the French government - if your port is in another country you may need a different form. Make sure you tell your vets in advance that it’s not a European Health Certificate that you need but a separate form as the certificate is for cats, dogs and ferrets and is far more expensive - we paid around £70 for forms for both pigs but the EHC was quoted at more like £200 each.
Click to expand...
So did you use your vet or did you have to get an appointment in Folkstone on the boarding day?
 
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