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Don't send your pet around the bend says Stena Line |  | | | 11 August 2008 | | Source: Stena Line | Leading ferry company urges the trade to educate travellers on taking their pets on holiday and works with leading animal psychologist to help holidaymakers do it safely.
Leading ferry company Stena Line is encouraging the travel trade customers to spare their pets the psychological distress of being left behind when the family goes on holiday. Working with animal psychologist Dr Roger Mugford, the ferry company has found that animals can suffer separation anxiety if left in boarding kennels when their owners go on holiday.
According to research by the RSPCA animals left in boarding kennels away from the security of the people and places they know are prone to suffering from angst known as "separation anxiety". This can take the form of howling, barking, loss of bowel control, chewing, or a mixture of all four.
Dr Mugford, Britain's leading animal behaviourist and psychologist, said, "Pets require more than just a balanced diet, a constant supply of fresh, clean water and safe place to play and exercise; they need companionship for at least part of the day.
"Left in unfamiliar environments, pets have been known to reach levels of depression that verge on hysteria so I have teamed up with Stena Line to educate the travel trade that its customers have a viable alternative to leaving pets with relations or in kennels and to offer some guidance to ensure that holidaying with pets in Europe can be stress-free and enjoyable for everyone."
Dermot Cairns, Stena Line's sales manager for the UK and Ireland, said, "We are keen to encourage the trade to educate holidaymakers on taking their pets with them and persuade them to do so, as the findings of animal psychology experts have corroborated our suspicions that pets left in boarding kennels can suffer genuine mental health issues. We also want to help people to ensure that their pet travels as safely as possible so we have asked Dr Mugford to work with us to devise a set of simple travel safety guidelines."
In June 2007 Stena Line upgraded its onboard kennels - now the largest on the North Sea - to cater for the needs of the significant proportion of passengers wishing to travel accompanied by their pets on the £10 pet fares to Holland. Owners could also choose to leave their pet in their vehicle throughout the crossing if they prefer. Lead-in fares for adults start at £49 per person one-way for car including driver.
In 2007 Stena Line carried 1,301 dogs and 117 cats between Harwich and the Hook of Holland as part of the pet travel scheme and the refitted kennels ensure that the levels of onboard comfort enjoyed by Stena Line's four-legged passengers match that of their owners. With pet wellbeing in mind, the kennels are well ventilated, spacious and located in a quiet area of the vessel.
All pets travelling between Harwich and the Hook of Holland must have a valid pet passport. More information can be found at www.defra.gov.uk
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