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.
It’s wonderful that so many people are “behind” the scenes helping the animals who are moving homes to be with their humans OR finding homes at last. It makes us happy to see animals reunited with their families just like it makes us happy to see how comfy they are on their journeys thanks to Animal Couriers!
Hugs, Pam and Teddy too
The number of people behind the scenes working to find homes for these many strays is incredible. We salute them.
oh what cute passengers! and we love chelsea… she is super beautiful!!! btw: do you know a ferry where foot passengers with dogs are allowed (france to uk) … I asked google but I could find only one company what no longer exists… sigh… I also signed the petition for allowing pets at eurostar but I have some doubts that they will change the rules till next year ;O))
Sadly we don’t know of a ferry that will take foot passengers with dogs 🙁 At the moment you would have to book a car onto Eurotunnel or a ferry. Fingers crossed they change the rules soon.
As I always say, it’s nice to see how happy everyone is.
We are very lucky to have such happy passengers — the trips go so well when everyone settles into the flow.
What a great group and a round the clock clinic. How wonderful.
It’s quite something to come across a 24-house clinic. We’re most certainly going to keep them on our books.
Oh my goodness – what a wondrous collection!! Widdle Puss is my favorite name ever – I won’t go beyond that..:)
But, of course, I would have to snatch Saxo for my very own – that face is irresistible to me!
Safe journeys, and may the road rise up to meet you with happiness and love!
Ha ha, isn’t it a great name! Saxo is going to make his new owner very happy.
What a gorgeous collection of passengers! And some early entries for the longest tongue contest!
It’s been a while since we’ve had a good longest tongue entry!
Oh, how cute they all are, Annie 🙂 Elpido looks a little sad. We purray that he finds a furrever home soon too <3 We love how to get your own sunshiny castle for the kitties, that means that Granny has work to do now…MOL 😀 Pawkisses for a safe and peaceful journey to all of you 🙂 <3 <3 <3
We’re very hopeful for Elpida — Starlight Barking Trust and Manchester Dog Cafe are a great combination!
Wow so many travellin katss an dogs Lady Annie!! Thee Fab Five katss are so kewl. An Bert Kat iss so reegal.
An wee LUV Roomi!! He’ss so hansum!
Wishine furryone a safe trip; they all are inn good pawss, mew mew mew…
~head rubsss~ Siddhartha Henry~
A very big consignment of furry friends!
Mee wishess Lexy kat could come live with mee here…shee’ss so-o cute!!!!!
Wouldn’t that be lovely! You’ll have to make sure you’re fit and ready.
Quite a few happy cat travelers here going to new places!
Beautiful passengers, as always. Especially those rescues. It is so good to see them have another chance at life in a good home!