Things were pretty hectic for Animalcouriers in January. Highlights include couriers J and M flying to Greece, and courier Paul driving to France and Switzerland. But first, a report from a trip to Wales with courier Richard.
Aragorn, Envy and The Hound
The intriguing pet trio belongs to Jane, who’s relocated from Bangor in North Wales to Southampton.
Aragorn, named after one of the main ‘Lord of the Rings’ protagonists, is a dapper tuxedo cat. Envy is a Skink — a type of lizard; and The Hound is a Hognose Snake.
We collected them from Jane’s sister, Kyla, who’d been taking care of them since Jane moved. It wasn’t too much of a challenge for Kyla, as she has a cat, a snake and a terrapin of her own!
Aragorn, a true gent
Envy the Skink
The Hound, who had recently shed. Hognose Snakes are so called because of their upturned snouts. We’re pleased to say they’re also non-venomous!
To Greece with Billy the Pug
Couriers J and M flew from London Heathrow to Athens with Billy the Pug. Billy’s owner works long hours in London, which keep her way from home. So she asked her brother in Athens to look after Billy for her.
In Athens, couriers J and M met up with seven pets headed for the UK via Paris Charles de Gaulle. We decided to fly because of inclement weather around the Alps and the need to keep our passengers warm and safe.
Checking in at Heathrow with Billy and the travel boxes we needed for the return flight
Billy seemed to quite enjoy the experience, and certainly did his best to look cute for the desk staff. Here he is looking pleased with himself, having had a bite of courier M’s breakfast wrap.
Billy waiting for our flight to be called
Billy with his owner and her brother at Athens airport. She was able to fly back to London happy in the knowledge that Billy is in the tender care of her family in Greece.
Jack, Bruce, Charlie and Harry
This family of three dogs and a cat belong to Alan and Suzanne, who’ve swapped Crete for Lincolnshire.
Jack looking a bit puzzled as his box goes off to be x-rayed
Bruce checked in and waiting to go
Super relaxed Charlie post check-in
Handsome Harry ready to fly
Neronas
Cute Westie Neronas belongs to Lito, who’s been working at Leeds Hospital for a while. Now completely settled in, she sent for Neronas, who’s been in the care of her family in Athens.
Lito’s dad and partner meet us with gentle Neronas
Neronas at his new home in Leeds
Toffee
Chocolate Lab Toffee belongs to Marina. Her cousin met us at Athens airport with Toffee. He travelled with us all the way to Edinburgh to join Marina, who’s relocated for work.
Toffee is so friendly and playful
Marina’s cousin adding final details to the paperwork
Toffee waits patiently while his travel box is x-rayed
Toffee gets a new collar and lead on being reunited with Marina and Carlos
Belly
Jack Russell Terrier Belly is a bundle of fun! Owner Anastasia has moved to the UK for work, and now Belly is able to join her.
Belly arrives with Anastasia’s brother
Belly with our great friend Akis, whose pet taxi service is a boon to us in Athens
Akis came to support us and reassure our travellers, despite feeling rather under the weather with a virus
Meeting up at Paris Charles de Gaulle
We watched as our passengers were unloaded from the plane at Charles de Gaulle. Courier Paul met us at the airport on his way back from collecting pets in Switzerland and France, and we travelled together by road to the UK.
Frequent passenger Coco, collected by courier Paul in Aix en Provence, will be spending the next few weeks in London with owner Stacy
Gorgeous, friendly cat Chocolat, who travelled from Switzerland with courier Paul, being reunited with owner Trent
wow how great that the airlines offer not only the news papers to two legged passengers, Charlie got one too ;O) the mama swooned for the snake, but it seems it is anyway not her day… she read driving to WHALES… please santa bring her glasses LOL
We’re always impressed by how dogs and cats can read a paper through their bottoms! Was that driving two whales? One would be a challenge… 😀
WOW – January WAS a busy month for Animal Couriers………what lovely travelers though. My favorite is the pug – I hope he will be OK in his new situation. If he rarely saw his owner because of her work then hopefully he’ll get more attention now – he’s just too cute for words!
Pam
Billy is a hoot and we’re sure he’s going to have a fabulous life in Greece and get all the attention he deserves!
Actually hognose snakes are mildly venomous. The have rear fangs that not only secrete a mild venom, but they use them to puncture and deflate toads (one of their favorite meals) to make them easier to swallow. Hognose snakes will puff up and strike in defense, but rarely bite, and when puffing and striking doesn’t work, they rollover and play dead. They are interesting because they take on color morphs of the venomous snakes where they live, and mimic venomous snakes very well. The one you show looks like a western hognose that is similarly patterned and colored like prairie rattlesnakes in the southwestern US.
Ah, thanks for that update Tim! Courier Richard will be glad to know for future passengers 😉 They are the most glorious creatures.
quite a journey
Much safer to fly at this time of year as the Alps are rather treacherous.
Good grief – such a collection of passengers – never a dull moment in January!!
Brilliant!!
P.S. I see Andy is having a hip replacement – I’m hoping he won’t try to play professionally again…but sometimes it’s hard for them to say enough is enough…he’s a gamer.
January can be busy indeed! We certainly hope that Andy had the resurfacing to make his life pain free and not to try to return. We’ll see… 😉
Wow, that was an interesting assortment of passengers! I wonder if flying ever affects their health – it does mine 🙂
We would generally prefer to take pets by road for shorter journeys but the snow in the Alps made that unworkable. If you move to the other side of the world, you sadly don’t have much choice! We do have one client who takes his dog on the QE2 between the US and UK 🙂
Good work in a difficult month for weather.
It is making for fewer choices but there’s always a way round.
Another great group of companion animals as always.
We are enjoying the variety!
Such lovely passengers and so well traveled! I like Charlie’s relaxed attitude. Perhaps he needs glasses, reading the paper so close. Handsome Harry looks quite relaxed as well, given the commotion that must have been going on.
It does amaze us how cool they are at airports! They might be people watching, like us 😉
The intro had me waiting for the photo of a cat, a skink and a snake all traveling together in the same carrier. Bet that would have been an adventure…
Ha ha, you are naughty 😀
Meow meow a Tuxedo, a Skink an a Snake…soundss like a funny mistyery novel Miss Annie!
So many 4 leggedss travellin…..
An Chocolat lookss furry happy to bee with Mistur Trent again…
***purrsss*** BellaDharma
Yes, it would make a great mystery novel!
Poor Mistur Akis; hee looked a bit green inn his gillsss so too speek….is hee feelin bettur now Miss Annie? Belly iss a cute Terrier too!
He wasn’t very well at all. We really appreciated him coming to help us. He’s well on the mend now, thanks Bella Dharma!
Mee sendss mee ***purrsss*** to him an LadyMew said a purrayer of healin fore him! Yore furry well-come Miss Annie <3
All beautiful passengers, Annie. I read Tim’s comment on the hognosed snake. I did not know that either. The skink is an interesting fellow, too. 🙂
Sorry Lavinia, for some reason WordPress decided to put your comment in the spam folder 🙁 We love how we learn something new every day!
Some of those names are very creative.
It has been suggested that we publish a book of the best pet names we’ve encountered on our travels. It gets longer and longer!
Hard to beat the ‘cuteness’ of a pug, especially one with its tongue wrapped around its nose. 🙂 –Curt
They sure are cute. Billy kept us great company on the way out.
Aragorn is a fantastic name for the tuxedo cat. Quite the unlikely trio to have there! And sweet photos of Billy and Bruce at the airport. Toffee is gorgeous, if ever the owners need a babysitter I’m free! 🙂 It’s good to know our fur babies in the world can travel safely and be cared for so incredibly well.
Caz xx
It was a family of animals we don’t see often! Great names all of them. Careful about the babysitting offer, you may get inundated with offers 😀
smiling to all
the happy travelers 🙂
They’re all smiling back!
Toffee is a charmer! And I LOVE Hognose snakes! They play dead when they get scared, to the point of tongue hanging out of their mouths. They are drama-llamas!
Clever things!
OMC what an adventure…I was relieved when the flight was done…MOL 😀 Pawkisses for a Wonderful Day and safe travel ahead
It was busy busy busy!
I’d never even heard of a Hognose Snake! Toffee looks fun.
When you’re dealing with animals you do learn something new all the time! Toffee is a gorgeous fellow. Always on for a tickle.