Paddy the pooch makes his mark with passport
Tomorrow, the eight-year-old Shih Tzu becomes the first Irish dog to fly out, under the EU pet passports scheme.
His owners, Joan and Barney McArdle, were offered fares of 39 each way.
Highly-trained staff had to be employed to deal with the animal, said Budget Travel marketing manager Rosin FitzGerald.
A one-stop, pet travel agency had to be set up in order for Futura, the carrier, to qualify to carry pets on the Spanish route.
The charge covers everything involved in shipping the dog, including checking of documentation, meeting and greeting, the check-in, cargo, customs and costs connected with the approved courier on arrival back into Dublin.
Joan McArdle has been fighting tooth and nail to be able to bring the family’s pet dog to Spain on holiday since EU pet passports became law last July. However, Paddy is more than a pet, she revealed yesterday, convinced her loyal dog saved her life. “I’m a sound sleeper but one night when I was alone he started barking right in my face and going berserk. The bedroom was full of smoke, as was the landing and stairs, the whole place was black. Only for him I would not have woken up, as I also have asthma. Oven gloves had been smouldering on the hot hob of the Aga cooker during the night.”
Joan and Barney are delighted to be able to have Paddy share their 10-week Spanish break, as they had to leave him with a friend the last time.
“We offered to fly them to Spain after hearing their story on the Gerry Ryan Show,” said Budget Travel’s Roisín FitzGerald.
Futura, the carrier, was given approval to take pets on the Spanish route only last week, said a Department of Agriculture spokesperson. The department issues passports for pet dogs, cats or ferrets free of charge, but the owner must first have a vet check them for necessary vaccinations as well as verify they have microchip identity.
