Explain how regulations can put dogs at risk on a ferry line?

I would like to share my experience of transporting my dogs on board a Stena Lines ferry from Cherbourg to Rosslare, earlier this month.

Upon boarding, at 7pm, I was surprised that my car — I had two dogs inside — was directed to the upper deck (deck 6), which is an open deck. On all previous sailings with animals in a car, I parked on a lower, covered deck.

I raised the issue with the staff who were supervising the boarding, explaining the dangers of the dogs being left in a small car that would be exposed to the heat of the sun for several hours. They told me there was nothing they could do about it.

At 10pm that night, we were allowed to visit our dogs and I was surprised that there were three other passengers who had their dogs in cars parked on deck 6. We were all concerned about the consequences of leaving our dogs locked in the cars until the next day, as the weather forecast was for warm temperatures.

By 1pm the next day, the temperatures on the open deck were such that I had no other option but to go against regulations and take the dogs out of the car. When I reached the car, the dogs were panting heavily and were in discomfort.

I am glad that I took them out when I did. I was not the only passenger to do so, and we obviously attracted the attention of the captain and the crew, who then came to talk to us about the dangers of accessing our cars outside of the designated visiting times.

They also assured me that the practice of transporting dogs inside a car on an open deck had been sanctioned by Department of Agriculture vets in Ireland and France. I will certainly be pursing the issue with both departments.

Brian Sullivan

Briska

Lemybrien

Co. Waterford