To make your journey go smoothly you will need to be familiar with the EU and PETS rules and Stena Line's terms and conditions of carriage of pets. We also recommend that you seek advice on how to ensure your pet's wellbeing during the journey as this is your responsibility. All pets must either travel in your vehicle or in the onboard kennel. Pets are not allowed in the public areas or cabins onboard our ships for hygiene reasons. Please ensure that your dog has done his needs before you go onboard. Unfortunately there is no outlet onboard our ships.

Onboard kennel
There are a limited number of places available in the onboard kennel that must be booked in advance of travel. This can be booked at step 4 in our online booking system. Pets can travel inside your vehicle however, we recommend that dogs should be placed in the kennel. As pets are not allowed in public areas and cabins. The kennels have the following dimensions:

- 2 big kennels: deep 100 cm, high 100 cm and width 120 cm
- 2 large kennels: deep 100 cm, high 67,5 cm and width 110 cm
- 8 small kennels (4 double kennels): deep 100 cm, high 67,5 cm and width 55 cm

Travelling by car
At check in you will receive a coloured hanger to identify that you are carrying a pet. This should be placed on your windscreen rear-view mirror and must remain there until you have cleared customs in each port. When boarding the ship we ask you to follow the directions from our staff closely. After boarding please report to the Guest Service on deck 9.

If your pet is travelling inside your vehicle you must ensure that:
•  your pet at all times remains inside your vehicle.
•  the ventilation inside your vehicle is good and the pet's welfare is well catered for.

Travelling on foot
If you are travelling on foot you must book the onboard kennel for your pet, your pet may otherwise not be permitted to travel. After boarding please report to the Guest Service on deck 9, our staff will then help you to place your pet in the kennel.

Visits during the crossing
We recommend that you make a short visit to your pet during the crossing to ensure its wellbeing. This can be arranged at the Guest Service on deck 9 where a member of staff will advise you when the visit can take place. Your pet may however at no time leave the vehicle or kennel.

Which pets does it concern?
Dogs, cats and ferrets are subject to the EU pet passport UK Pet Travel scheme (PETS) rules and must comply to avoid quarantine in the UK.

EU pet passport
Pet travel with dogs, cats and ferrets is bound by the conditions of the EU pet passport. The EU pet passport replaces all passports or other documents previously used for pet travel in Europe including the PETS document. The EU pet passport can be acquired at any authorized veterinarian after a microchip has been fitted and a successful blood test has been given. The following procedures must be followed in the order listed below.

Microchip
Your pet must be fitted with an approved electronic transponder (microchip) for identification by an authorised veterinarian. Several organizations handle the registration of electronic pet identification numbers. This registration may also be useful when retrieving a runaway pet. The microchip number, location of the microchip and the date of insertion of the microchip must be mentioned in EU pet passport.

The placement of the microchip must be done before the pet gets rabies vaccination and blood test. Did your pet already had a pet rabies vaccination or blood test before the placement of the microchip then the vaccination and test should be done again. Because on all documentation the microchip number must be mentioned.

A good readable tattoo, placed before the 3rd of July 2011, is also acceptable.

Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies by an authorized veterinarian. This procedure must occur after fitting the microchip. Your veterinarian will need to register this vaccination in the EU pet passport. Please check if the following information is correctly and completely filled in:
1. date of birth and age
2. number, date of placement and location of microchip
3. date of vaccination (with duration and date revaccination)
4. product name of the vaccine
5. serial number of the vaccine
6. signature and stamp from the veterinarian

The validity of the rabies vaccination is determined by the manufacturer of the vaccine (the period can be found in the leaflet and can vary from 1 to 3 years). Your veterinarian needs to register the expiry date clearly in the EU pet passport.

After the rabies vaccination the waiting time for EU- and listed countries is 21 days. Travel is permitted on the 22nd day. For unlisted countries the waiting time is 4 months in total. (see blood test)

Blood-test
When transporting animals to Great Britain and Ireland from the European Union or a registered country (see link Defra for listed/unlisted countries) blood tests are no longer required.
Animals from a NON registered country still have to undergo a blood test (after the microchip has been fitted) This test must show that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. The test must be taken within the timeframe that is determined nationally. For Great Britain and Ireland this means a test 30 days after the rabies vaccination and in total 4 months prior to entry. No further tests are required after the first test which gives a satisfactory result, provided the pet is subsequently revaccinated against rabies by the "Valid until" date in the EU pet passport. The vet must sign it off in the pet passport by means of a signature and stamp of the practice.

Tick and tapeworm treatment
Only dogs must undergo a tapeworm treatment by an authorized veterinarian not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours prior to arrival in the UK.

The EU pet passport must be completed in section VII (worms) giving the:
- time and date of treatment
- product name and manufacturer
- signature and stamp from the veterinarian

At check in
You must declare that you are carrying a pet to Stena Line check-in staff. If your pet is a dog, cat or ferret: when travelling to the UK a member of staff will check that the EU passport has been completed in accordance with the PETS rules and read the microchip on your pet verifying its identity. If your documentation is in breach of the PETS rules Stena Line is obliged to refuse your pet to travel under the PETS scheme.

After the crossing
After disembarkation in Harwich you may be subject to an inspection by DEFRA so please keep your papers close at hand.

Stena Line terms and conditions of carriage of pets
•  You are responsible for ensuring the animal's welfare during the crossing.
•  All pets must travel inside a vehicle or in the onboard kennel and remain there throughout the crossing.
•  We recommend that dogs should travel in the provided onboard kennel and Stena Line cannot be held responsible for any material or immaterial damage that may arise from not using our kennel facilities
•  It is your obligation to ensure that all conditions for EU pet travel and the UK Pet Travel scheme (PETS) are met. Stena Line cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information given.
•  Should your pet not meet the conditions of the EU pet travel and the UK Pet Travel scheme (PETS) the animal is liable to be held in UK quarantine for a period of up to 6 months or be re-exported.
• Stena Line is obliged as an accredited PETS carrier to verify your documentation on travel to the UK and will refuse the carriage of your pet if the documentation is in breach of the PETS rules.
•  If you are planning to quarantine your pet in the UK you will be fully responsible for all arrangements and cost associated with this procedure. You will need to produce the relevant documentation to Stena Line prior to carriage.
• Stena Line cannot be held liable for any cost material or immaterial in connection with non compliance with EU pet travel and PETS rules.

Stena Line wishes you and your pet a pleasant trip