Animalcouriers recently drove a pair of Rhodesian Ridgebacks from Sweden to France; a pair of cats from Germany to the UK, and collected a rabbit at Schiphol airport who’d flown in from Dubai.

Guanajuato (Gia) and Olwyna (Olli)

Mother and daughter Rhodesian Ridgebacks Gia and Olli travelled with us from their winter home near Stockholm in Sweden, to their summer residence near Nice in the south of France. It’s a longish drive, but mum Gia is a little too anxious to fly, so a comfortable road trip at a pace the dogs can both enjoy is much more relaxing all round.

Gorgeous Gia

Gorgeous Gia

Awesome Olli

Awesome Olli

From Sweden we crossed to Denmark via the Oresund bridge, then took the ferry to Germany.

The dogs took quite a fancy to this limo spotted along the way!

The dogs took quite a fancy to this limo spotted along the way!

Crossing our favourite Oresund bridge from Sweden to Denmark

Crossing our favourite Oresund bridge from Sweden to Denmark

This handsome hound has obviously crossed on the Puttgarten ferry before!

This handsome hound has obviously crossed on the Puttgarten ferry before!

Our journey took us from Germany through Austria, Switzerland and Italy, and into France to deliver Gia and Olli to the Nice area.

Gia is perfectly chilled out on waking up in Germany

Gia is perfectly chilled out on waking up in Germany

She seems to enjoy life on the road

She seems to enjoy life on the road

Is that a frankfurter I smell? wonders Olli

Is that a frankfurter I smell? wonders Olli

Driving past wheatfields

Driving past wheatfields

Finding beauty on the autobahn

Finding beauty on the autobahn

Collecting passes and tolls in Switzerland and Austria

Collecting passes and tolls in Switzerland and Austria

Not a bad view from the office window as we approach the Alps

Not a bad view from the office window as we approach the Alps

Oli enjoying the Alpine air

Oli enjoying the Alpine air

Pretty Alpine flowers

Pretty Alpine flowers

On arrival in Nice, both dogs immediately checked that everything was as it should be.

Gia checking out the pool

Gia checking out the pool

Olli checking that the marble floor is as nice and cool as she remembers

Olli checking that the marble floor is as nice and cool as she remembers

Lucy and Katia

While in Nice courier S called in to collected fabulous felines Lucy and Katia, who’re relocating to the Scottish city of Edinburgh. This cosmopolitan pair travelled with stylish cat carriers and showed themselves to be quite the friendliest of cats.

Lovely Lucy

Lovely Lucy

Cheeky Katia

Cheeky Katia

The view over Monaco

The view over Monaco

Katia enjoyed hearing the birdsong on an Alpine morning…

Katia enjoyed hearing the birdsong on an Alpine morning…

…while Lucy preferred waiting for breakfast in bed!

…while Lucy preferred waiting for breakfast in bed!

Courier S felt watchful eyes upon her as she ate her own breakfast

Courier S felt watchful eyes upon her as she ate her own breakfast

We enjoyed a beautiful drive around the French and Italian Riviera, then crossed the Alps, passing ski resorts packed with flowers in full bloom.

Hmm, is there a football match on somewhere?

Hmm, is there a football match on somewhere?

Spotted at a rest stop near Nuremberg in Germany — a scale model of the Saturn V rocket which carried Neil Armstrong to the moon. The accompanying plaque encouraged visits to the Hermann Oberth Museum of Space Travel.

Spotted at a rest stop near Nuremberg in Germany — a scale model of the Saturn V rocket which carried Neil Armstrong to the moon. The accompanying plaque encouraged visits to the Hermann Oberth Museum of Space Travel.

Poe and Obi

We stopped off in Wiesbaden to pick up Poe and Obi. These two cats stayed at a cattery while their owners went on ahead to prepare their new home in Harrogate. They’re a little shy, but very bonded, so opted to share a cat box for part of the trip. Poe has asthma and travelled with a feline aspirator and medication, and seemed to enjoy the attentions of best buddy Obi.

Poe (black) and Obi (black and white) cuddle up

Poe (black) and Obi (black and white) cuddle up

A closer look at this gorgeous pair

A closer look at this gorgeous pair

Stunning skies as we arrived at Calais

Stunning skies as we arrived at Calais

What a great welcome sign!

Poe and Obi arrived for a short stay at the Harlow Carr Kennels and Cattery in Harrogate. What a great welcome sign!

Stitch

Well travelled rabbit Stitch started his journey by plane in Dubai, and flew to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. Linda from VCL Logistics collected him at the airport and looked after him while he rested after the flight. After several sleeps and meals, this furry bundle was ready to continue his journey with Animalcouriers, who drove him from the Netherlands to York in the UK.

Stich had plenty of time to run, play, sleep and eat between getting off the plane and getting into our van

Stich had plenty of time to run, play, sleep and eat between getting off the plane and getting into our van

Courier Joe collecting Stitch

Courier Joe collecting Stitch