on the road with Animalcouriers

We spent the night with our friends Heather and Alan at Barking Mad Kennels near Lagos, in Portugal, where we gave our van a thorough clean-out, ready for our trip back to the UK in time for the holidays. Heather and Alan treated us to a very yummy home-cooked supper of locally caught mackerel.

Heather has a new dog called Hope, who was found on the streets in Setubal. You can see they totally adore each other!

Benji

We delivered gorgeous Benji, who travelled with us form the UK, to his lovely grandma just outside Lisbon. She’s taking care of him until owners Joana and Carlos arrive.

It looks like Benji will be in extremely good hands

Nazare

In Porto we collected lovely little Nazare from his doting grandparents. We tend to find Portuguese people are very family oriented, and this couple were no exception. Nazare is on his way to rejoin owner Maria in Oxfordshire

Maria’s parents gave Nazare lots of kisses and cuddles goodbye

Nazare meeting Tyrean on one of our walks. Very soon after the ‘getting to know you’ rituals, they were playing together.

Portugal showing its links to pre-history!

Timmy

North of Porto we met up with Timmy, who’s been in the care of his godmother and her mother. Owner Maria is already in the UK and can hardly wait for Timmy to join her.

Timmy all ready for the off

Timmy’s godmother says goodbye

Here’s the handsome boy himself

Bella, Chester, Tabitha, Tiger, Victor, Ben, Sheba and Jake

This wonderfully large family of character cats and senior dogs belongs to Una and Kevin. After many wonderful years living in the Dordogne region of France, Una and Kevin are heading back to Nuneaton.

The dogs are all rescues, and the cats were either born in Una and Kevin’s home, or found nearby and taken in.

Border Collie Jake is deaf, but he knows what a treat looks like, even if he can’t hear you talking about it!

14-year-old Ben, another Collie, is a fine and friendly fellow

Good-natured Sheba will do (almost) anything for food. Her back legs are a bit weak, so we have to lift her in and out of her bedroom when it’s time for a walk.

Three of the cats: pretty Tabitha — Tabs to her friends…

…Handsome ginger tabby Chester…

…Equally handsome ginger tabby Tiger

Snowy and Smudge

We collected feline duo Snowy and Smudge, who’ve been staying at Casa Antigua Kennels and Cattery in Denia, in Spain’s Alicante province. Now they’re on their way to rejoin owner Sam in Sheffield.

Simply stunning Snowy and Smudge

Alfie

Cavapoo Alfie was on holiday near Limoges with his owner, who sadly died unexpectedly. Alfie was taken in by the local SPA shelter, where he stayed for three weeks while his family in Scotland investigated how to get him home.

They contacted us at the end of last week, and we managed to make contact with the shelter with the help of a French-speaking colleague. The family sent Alfie’s passport by DHL in time for us to collect him and it as we drove through France, and a vet in Limoges carried out the parasite treatment needed for Alfie to enter the UK. We’re so pleased Alfie will be back in time for Christmas.

It looks as though cute and cuddly Alfie was a popular resident at the shelter!

Oci

The final passenger to get on board was super tabby Oci, who belongs to Loraine. We collected him in the Corrèze, and his final destination is Pembrokeshire in Wales.

Good-looking, attentive Oci