A number of families relocating from Gibraltar to Malta asked Animalcouriers to transport their beloved pets for them. We took them by road through Spain, France and Italy, then via Sicily to Malta.
Jack
We collected friendly Jack, a Boxer-Pointer cross, from Erika at Cozy Kennels in Cadiz. This bouncy fellow belongs to Clare, who has relocated to Malta.
We love Jack’s kohl-rimmed eye!
Jack tries out for ‘longest tongue’
Freya, Loki, Bella and Nina
This fab four, two dogs and two cats, belong to Nela and Jorge. All are calm, chatty and travelling well. It’s obvious they come from a warm and loving home.
Nina and Bella travelling like many cats do, tucked up in bed
Beautiful Bella
Gorgeous Nina
A lively and very bonded pair, Freya and Loki
But they certainly know how to ‘sit’! Freya on the left, and Loki on the right.
Freya fancied a turn behind the wheel!
Quil and Dax
Beagle Quil and his best mate Dax work as a team, with Quil in charge. This dynamic duo belong to Beth. She left Gibraltar a week a head of her beloved dogs — the longest she’d ever been apart from them. A very excited reunion in Malta was clearly on the cards!
Gorgeous Quil
Adorable Dax
Bell, Tatty, Toby, Rue and Rocket
A quintet of cats! These fabulous furries belong to Natalia and Ashley, also relocating to Malta.
It was a jolly hot and sunny day when we met Natalia and her cats
Toby (a girl, despite her name)
Toby’s sister Rue. These sweet calico girls were happy to share a bedroom
Stunning tabby Rocket
Tatty and Bell. Tatty (the tabby) was so named because she was found in a bedraggled and scruffy state. She’s grown into a beautiful cat in Natalie’s care.
We crossed from the Italian mainland to Sicily, arriving at Catania
Exploring Malta
Having delivered our arriving passengers to their families on Malta, we had a bit of spare time to explore this delightful island. We spent some time in the town of Mellieha, looking at the papal throne used by Pope Jean Paul II, among other things.
Courier M particularly enjoyed a wander round the town’s WW2 air raid shelter, which was used extensively as Malta endured 3,300 air raids.
The shelter is composed of this 500-metre tunnel and a number of side rooms. The attendant told us he had used the tunnel himself as an eight-year-old during a raid in 1942 that lasted three days and nights, during which 2,500 people took shelter here.
Mellieha was gearing up for a big festival while we were there
Firework displays were being assembled
And a statue of St Mary blessing St Jean de Vallette, after whom the Maltese town and harbour of Valletta are named, was brought out
Weasley and Maori
We were sorry to miss the festival, but we had to get back on the road. Before leaving Malta we went to collect Jane’s cats Weasley and Maori. Unfortunately, Maori had done a bunk, but has since been spotted and will, we hope, join a future trip.
Handsome Weasley on his way to rejoin Jane in Staffordshire
He proved to be one of the coolest cats we’ve ever transported. Mind you, given that he’s clearly named after a certain Harry Potter character, we were surprised Weasley wasn’t travelling by broomstick or floo powder!
Kimora
On reaching Italy we headed to the lovely hillside town of Popoli to collect super cute kitten Kimora. She travelled with us for a reunion with owners Ariana and Silvano in Bedford.
Good friend Diana has been looking after Kimora for her owners. It’s clearly gone very well, as she was sad to say goodbye.
Gorgeous Kimora
Accompanied by her favourite toy to keep her company
Simba
In Tuscany we met American Staffie cross Simba. He’s the pride and joy of Lakota and Jorge, who’ve moved to Bristol. Sister-in-law Sabrina and her mum have been taking care of Simba since his owners travelled to the UK.
Sleek and playful Simba
He’s affectionate and well behaved, too
It was quite an emotional send-off — the family will clearly miss Simba
A joyful reunion for George and Simba in Bristol
Lila
One of our cherished regular passengers, lovely Lab Lila is on her way back to the UK following a summer break in Milan.
Family friend Johnny has been taking care of Lila since owner Fausta returned to London
oh how good that freya was with you… she can help out when your driver needs a break ;O)
Just a shame her paws don’t reach the pedals 😀
They look a fun crowd on this trip. I think the longest tongue contest is going to be close!
It’s been ages since we’ve had such a great set of entries!
Love those faces.
Endlessly entertaining.
Too bad you missed the festival. Your lovely load of cats and dogs was festive.
It was a shame.
Wonderful happy faces as usual……….some beautiful sights to see too!
Hugs, Pam and Teddy
It was fun to catch the excitement of the festival, even if we missed the actual day.
Don’t look! I am going to STEAL Simba!
😀 — think you’d have a fight on your hands!
Beautiful passengers, some WWII history and a festival!
Yes, this blog post was packed!
Oh, I just LOVE this post of all these perfectly gorgeous passengers!! Truly. You all do seem to have the most beautiful animals on your trips!!
I also enjoyed very much the tour of the WWII air raid shelters. That is one part of history that always sticks with me.
It was particularly interesting to speak to someone who’d actually used the shelters.
Glad to see the ‘longest tongue’ contest is alive and well. 🙂 I think you had more than one contestant this time. Also, always fascinated with the names. Loki seemed much more disciplined than the god he was named after! Hard to imagine hanging out in that bomb shelter with 2500 other people for three days. Obviously, it was better than the alternatives. Fun, interesting post. –Curt
Glad you enjoyed it. We were very surprised to have so many entries to longest tongue 😀
I’m coming back to be an animal courier <3 🙂
Oh, please do!
The wonderful pictures of your passengers have almost turned me into a pet fancier….but then I remember the responsibilities that come with it and am content to remain a spectator.
Sometimes it’s best to watch from the sidelines. Pets and gardens…
Our little one is going to have to rough it in our camper while we go a-traveling, not having the luxurious accommodations that your passengers do! Every one of your travelers look quite relaxed and happy. Hope the same is true for our pup.
Sissy will grin and bear it — how could she miss all that fun!
Wee love George an Simba!!! What a grate pair they are!!! All THE doggiess an catss look wunderfull as they travel with yore Coureererss….
Did you see how much Beeuteefull Bella looked just like mee Miss Annie??? An THE other black cat named Bell iss all so a looky-like!!! Wee Bella Girlss are furry kewl rite?
***purrsss*** BellaDharma
Oh yes, we did see the resemblance BellaDharma!
Sweet, adorable kitties and doggies. We can imagine that it is hard to say goodbye, even if it’s not furrever. Granny knows all about it, she’s such a softy…MOL 😀 Very impurressive shelter. We have a lot of those here too. Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend and safe travels ahead
Granny being a softy is exactly as she should be!
Wee ‘Black Bellass’ have to stick together, mew mew mew…..
Oh, you surely do!
Mew mew mew 😉
They are all stunning dogs
A gorgeous group, all.