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Pet pug Merlin dies on P&O ferry

A pet pug died during a Channel crossing on a P&O ferry after he was banned from leaving the car - despite temperatures soaring to 30 degrees.

Kirsty Wallace's dog Merlin and two of Ms Wallace' other dogs had to be kept in the vehicle during the journey from Calais to Dover on Friday - one of the hottest days of the year.

When Ms Wallace returned to her car after the four-and-a-half hour [error corrected by me as it was stated year and not hour] crossing on the Spirit of France, the three-year-old dog had died and could not be resuscitated.
...[snip]...
P&O Ferries said it was a 'distressing' incident but that the company had followed the rules
Full article and photographs here...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-day-year.html

Well I guess they would say that, but perhaps a little sympathy and condolences would not have gone amiss.

Your comments and views:
mjfromga
Dogsey Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,680
Female 
 
22-07-2014, 09:09 AM
Sad that he died, but the owner shouldn't have left him in there. That was a very, very bad idea... and it cost her poor dog his life. Even if the rules state that the dog must be left in there, a 90 minute ride over in that heat is of course going to kill him... Have to be smarter, I'm sorry but I blame the owner more than the ferry rules.
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tawneywolf
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,075
Female  Gold Supporter 
 
22-07-2014, 09:27 AM
I'm pretty sure there are kennel facilities onboard, can't understand why she didn't use them
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Malka
Dogsey Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 18,088
Female  Diamond Supporter 
 
22-07-2014, 09:44 AM
P&O Ferries - no apparent kennel facilities onboard for journeys between Dover-Calais-Dover.

If you are taking your pet(s) on the Dover-Calais route you will need to check-in at least one hour before departure and the animals must remain inside the vehicle at all times during the crossing. Foot passengers cannot travel with pets.
[My bold]

http://www.poferries.com/tourist/con...g_your_pet.htm
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mjfromga
Dogsey Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,680
Female 
 
22-07-2014, 09:46 AM
Then she shouldn't have brought the dog at all. Of course that long of a ride left in a hot car is going to kill a Pug. I feel sorry for the dog... another silly owner thinking a dog will be okay for long periods of time in a hot car. When will it stop?
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tawneywolf
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,075
Female  Gold Supporter 
 
22-07-2014, 10:01 AM
That's strange I do know of some one who used kennel facilities when they sent over to France
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Malka
Dogsey Veteran
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 18,088
Female  Diamond Supporter 
 
22-07-2014, 10:42 AM
I honestly do not know tawneywolf. All I know is that the story was reported in the media and as such I posted it on here.

I also checked with P&O regarding their Dover-Calais-Dover route and posted what their website says, with a link to it.
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CaroleC
Dogsey Senior
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 939
Female 
 
22-07-2014, 12:41 PM
This is not the first time this has happened - two Dutch Bouviers de Flandres died on the ferry a couple of years ago. So many dogs are travelling on pet passports these days - perhaps you have to be prepared to forgo your holiday, or dog show, if the forecast suggests it will be too hot. Surely the carrying company could issue some warnings about the risk when documents are checked.
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magpye
Dogsey Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,424
Female 
 
22-07-2014, 01:24 PM
They should provide a deck area for people to be able to take their dogs! I would like to travel with my dogs in the future and would be heartbroken to have to leave them in the car particularly as they will not allow you to go down and check on them once the ferry is in motion. ... I think if travelling to france with dogs, the euro tunnel is the only option... At least you can stay with them and get them out into the carriage if they are becoming distressed.
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Fourlegz
Almost a Veteran
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,019
Female 
 
22-07-2014, 02:02 PM
Are you allowed to take dogs on Eurostar? I didn't think you were.
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