on the road with Animalcouriers

We met up with a gorgeous group of cats and dogs, our UK-bound passengers travelling from Greece.

It was a glorious morning in Glyfada (a suburb of Athens), as pets and their owners started to assemble round our van

Tiggs, Simba, Widdle Puss, Lexey and Jelly

This fantastically named fivesome belong to David and Gay. All the cats attached themselves to David and Gay while they were living on the island of Skiathos. Now it’s time to return to the UK, and all the cats are going too. Our friend Akis, pet taxi driver extraordinaire, collected the cats on their arrival at Volos port and took them to Chris’s Animal Hotel, where they stayed until it was time for them to join our trip.

Lexey comes up to see what’s going on

Widdle Puss, sharing with Lexey, is somewhat shyer

Simba is another quite forward character

Much more forward than Tiggs, who’s hiding under a fine pink blanket

Jelly is a very relaxed, laid-back personality

Rafa

Young Rafa arrived from Nine Lives Greece. He’s a gorgeous affectionate fellow who will doubtless make his new owner in Southampton very happy indeed. Courier J reports that every time she opens Rafa’s bedroom door, he wraps himself around her neck!

Rafa arriving with Christine

Freddie

When cats are travelling, a small space to curl up in and hide makes them feel safe. Often their cat carrier will do, but we couldn’t fit Freddie’s carrier into his bedroom. Intrepid Cordelia from Nine Lives Greece went off in search of cardboard boxes. With scissors, boxes and an old blanket, she created comfy little palaces for all the cats who were missing a cubby hole!

Here’s Freddie, a very cuddly character, peering out of his private nook

Chelsea

Lovely Rottweiler Chelsea arrived with Marco. His partner Stephanie is already in London, and now Chelsea and Marco are on their way to join her.

Marco sees Chelsea safely into her bedroom

Such a soft dog! We look forward to walks with her.

Roomi and Snooki

German Shepherd Dog Roomi and Golden Retriever Snooki belong to John. John, his dogs, his fiancée and her mum are all relocating back to Edinburgh.

John with his adorable hounds

Roomi relaxes while waiting to get on board

Jazz

Cute Shih Tzu Jazz belongs to George and Julian. She’s been in the tender care of their friend Yiannos while waiting to travel to rejoin her owners, who can hardly wait to see her again.

An affectionate farewell — Yiannos told us he will miss this little character

Saxo and Elpida

These delightful dogs started their journey in Lemnos, where Fontini saw them on to the ferry. On arrival in Athens, Christine collected them and oversaw them to kennels. Then Akis collected them and brought them to us for their journey to the UK.

Both dogs are rescues, being by Starlight Barking Trust. They’re on their way to the Manchester Dog Café, where Tony and his team do a great job finding new homes for dogs like these two. Lucky Saxo has a new owner waiting already.

Akis with Elpida

Saxo having a good look around

Ioukas

Boxer Ioukas is travelling with us to London, to rejoin owner Christos.

Handsome Ioukas

Moli

Eleni brough her cat Moli to join the trip. We’ll see Eleni again in Surrey, when she calls in to collect Moli when she arrives.

Eleni arrives with Moli

We love Moli’s wonderful asymmetric markings

Chloe, Sabrina, Betty, Ginger and Bert

Another fab feline group, these five belong to Daphne. Owing to a change in cirdumstances, she is rehoming them privately in London.

Daphne (with Cordelia from Nine Lives Greece) arriving with her cats

Ginger and Sabrina curled up in one of Cordelia’s cardboard housing modules

Bert, very attentive

Laurie

Laurie, another Shih Tzu, was a late addition to our trip. His owner Louika is a lawyer, who’s already moved to Leeds with her job. We caught up with Laurie and his grandmama at Corinthos, just outside the A8 supermarket.

A proper send-off for Laurie

Dear little Laurie

When we arrived in Italy after our ferry crossing, we needed to find a 24-hour vet, as three of the pets’ passports contained errors. We had the great good fortune to come across Clinica Veterinaria Due Madonne in Bologna, where a vet and two nurses were on hand to help.

Big smiles and a can-do attitude at Dr Rossi’s 24-hour clinic

Bomby

At Calais we scooped up little Bomby. He travelled with us a few weeks ago, but at Eurotunnel no-one could find his microchip, so he wasn’t allowed to cross the Channel. Instead, he went to kennels, had a new microchip fitted and a new rabies vaccination. Three weeks later, he was ready to travel.

We nicknamed him Gnasher, as he shows his teeth to demonstrate what he thinks of people! Underneath it all, however, he’s as soft as butter.

Bomby on his way to the UK at last

Pet passport and microchip checks at Eurotunnel. Courier Matthew from GoFetch helped us on this trip.

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