on the road with Animalcouriers

Two Animalcouriers vans recently made trips to France and Spain to ensure Christmas reunions for pets and their families. After all, no-one wants to be apart for the festive season!

Coco

Little Chihuahua Coco is the apple of owner Stacy’s eye. She travelled with us on a private trip from London to Aix en Provence. Coco is a character who knows what she is — and isn’t — prepared to do. Stacy did ask us if we’d managed to give her a cuddle! We said, not exactly!

Initially, Coco wasn’t prepared to go for a walk.

Courier M let her take her time to make up her own mind, while he enjoyed a coffee

His patience paid off…

…and Coco enjoyed her walk!

We had a giggle with Stacy about whether she should send Coco to the dog training centre next door

On arrival, Coco accepted a little stroke from housekeeper Aida

Gilets jaunes (yellow vests) in action at a roundabout near one of the A9 motorway exits in Narbonne

Matisse and Georgina

Coton de Tulear Matisse and King Charles Cavalier Georgina belong to Colleen and family. They’re frequent travellers who made a private trip with us from Monaco to London for Christmas. Both dogs are very friendly and sociable, and couriers J and M were delighted to welcome them back on board.

Colleen with gorgeous Matisse and Georgina (and a very festive tree)

We had a bit of fun window shopping in Monaco — new footwear for the Animalcouriers team perhaps?

These look cosy for après ski

Blue period

Ready for Christmas

Fidji

Darling Fidji, a Jack Russell Terrier, belongs to Sophie and family who live in London. They’re spending Christmas in France with their extended family, and Fidji travelled with us to join in all the fun.

Sweet-natured, well behaved Fidji — a pleasure to have around

Is this restaurant in Rambouillet a farmers’ favourite?

Itchy, Duke and Duchess

This fine feline trio belong to Lara and Paul who’ve relocated from the UK to a gorgeous farmhouse in the Dordogne. We collected the cats from Carol at Cats Whiskers cattery in Essex where they stayed on the runup to their move to France.

Duke in front, Duchess taking cover behind him

Duke happy to show his handsome face to the camera

The cats keen to explore the minute they arrived

Hope and Lola

Hope and Lola belong to Maria. Hope is a typically lively Boxer, while Lola is an endearing Collie cross. All three are moving from Kent to Cantabria in Spain. Hope and Lola are travelling a little ahead of Maria, but Maria’s mum and dad were on hand to receive them.

Maria seeing he beloved dogs away

An evening welcome from Maria’s parents

Tia and Becker

Another canine duo — Tia and Becker are a splendid pair of Great Danes belonging to Tracey and Marc. We collected them in Essex and delivered them to their new home in Alicante, where Tracey and Marc were waiting to welcome them. They wrote to say:

“Just wanted to say thank you so much for looking after Tia and Becker. They arrived incredibly excited and no worse for their adventure! I reckon we found it more stressful than they did. Courier Richard was fantastic and obviously loves his job.”

Affectionate Tia and Becker

Becker eyeing up the swimming pool

Not one of our passengers — an intriguing hybrid of a rocking horse…and a skateboard?

Romantic gourds

Katie

Katie, a delightful Labrador, belongs to Margaret and Graham, who’re returning to the UK after 16 happy years near Alicante. In all her 10 years, Katie has never been away from her owners’ side, so their temporary parting was a source of much trepidation.

We’re pleased to report that Katie soon settled in to the trip and proved to be a model passenger. Much to the delight of Margaret, Graham and Katie, they were all back together again after just three days.

Adorable Katie

Sarabi

Beautiful Sarabi belongs to Anca and Marius. We collected her in Barcelona and delivered her to her new home in Cambridge. Sarabi is a real people puss with a playful temperament. A charming note from Anca followed a happy reunion:

“Sarabi is home with us, at last! We wanted to thank you for your support during this process which turned out to be a little challenging at the beginning. And a special thanks to courier Richard for his dedication, it is very much appreciated.”

Goodbye hugs for Sarabi

Poupoune

We collected slinky black puss Poupoune in Besancon from Alex. Poupoune is on his way to rejoin owner Jeremy in Edinburgh. Poupoune was a little grumpy at first, but soon melted and happily accepted respectful head tickles.

Alex looking relieved that Poupoune is safely inside the cat carrier at last!

Caesar

Our final collection was Akita Caesar, whose earlier trip to the UK had to be temporarily halted at Calais while his passport was put in order. We collected this very personable hound from kennels and took him to rejoin owners Kasim and Lizzie in London.

Caesar greeted courier Richard by turning in circles and licking his hand — what a friendly dog!