on the road with Animalcouriers

Animalcouriers set off from the UK with pets on board bound for France, Spain and Portugal.

Simonetta brought us her gentle yellow Lab Pachi, who travelled to the UK with us a year ago from north west Spain. He is on his way back to stay with his grandma, Monica, where Simonetta will join him next month.

Silver tabby Tosca is travelling with us from Milton Keynes to El Vendrell, Spain. This gorgeous puss is a little puzzled by the journey, so we’re doing our best to be very reassuring.

Cute Annie May is a Posavac Hound who’s had quite few moves in her short life. She was rescued from life on the streets in Romania and adopted by Janise, who brought her to live in Derbyshire. Now the family has moved to the Portuguese Algarve and naturally Annie May is travelling too. This sweet-natured dog clearly hasn’t forgotten her early years, as she’s very quick to snatch up any dropped or unattended food!

Staffie cross Crystal Is travelling with us to join her family who’ve moved from Erith to Andalucia in Spain. This sociable little girl homeboarded with courier J before we left and she just loved chattering and nattering with everyone who passed through the house!

Steve and Janet have relocated to Mallorca from Harrogate, and now their five cats — Percy, Magnus, Dash, Chinie and Mause — are on their way too. Their journey started around a fortnight ago when we collected them in Harrogate. These fine felines stayed at Burntwood Cattery and Kennels near our office, until we were ready to leave for continental Europe. We’ll drive them as far as Barcelona to board the ferry to Palma, where they’ll be met for the last leg of their journey home. Despite their fairly long and fragmented trip, these are five very chilled-out cats — probably because of the rather sedate nature of the journey.

Also on board is gentle, long-haired black cat Rosie, who’s swapping East Sussex greenery for Algarve sunshine. She is very interested in all the goings-on in and around the van, and enjoys keeping an eye on everything from her elevated lookout.

Maya and Mabel left Edinburgh for the Figeac area of France, to rejoin Florent and Amie. Mabel has taken everything in her stride and been quite calm — although we were warned she’s not too keen on cuddles. Maya, on the other hand, is quite indignant about her routine having been disturbed!

Tonight we reach the southern French town of Narbonne, where we’ll spend the night before crossing the border into Spain tomorrow.

Simonetta says goodbye to Pachi — she’s very much looking forward to seeing him again next month

Tosca looking a little bemused by this whole travel thing

Annie May is ready for the off

Sociable Crystal hopes to catch our eye

Pachi has a good old chuckle at Crystal’s knock knock joke

Magnus… or Percy…

Percy… or Magnus — we’re struggling to tell these two jet black slinky cats apart!

Handsome ginger Dash shows off his magnificent whiskers

Calico cats Chinie and Mause are as chilled out as their three siblings

Gentle long-haired beauty Rosie

Mabel, who took travelling more or less in her stride…

…unlike her sibling Maya who’s been pretty indignant about the whole business!

Fortunately for Maya, she and Mabel were the first pets to be delivered, just outside Figeac. Florent’s mum Joelle was there to greet the cats, soon to be joined by Florent who was already on his way from the airport.

Annie May enjoying a sunny walk

Pachi catching a few rays — spot his handsome check collar!