Paws and Passports: Navigating Changing Rules with Paws-itivity!

After 3 months of being home for the Summer, it was time to come back to Canada.

Since my travels with Maurice back in 2021, the rules on flying to Canada with a support pup had changed, so it’s always worth making sure you do this each time you travel.

In order to fly with Air Transat back to Canada from England, I could no longer fly out of London like before. The two options I had were Scotland or Manchester. Luckily for me, I have family that live only a couple of hours away from there, so Maurice and I did one last trip before heading back to the land we call home.

Before getting to the airport, a trip to the vet again is a must, to make sure you have fit to fly forms for the dog, a list of what you need can be found here. You should still have all your vaccine certificates from entering the country and it’s important to keep hold of these for the way back. The form to fly from England to Canada is much simpler than the one needed to get to England, so there’s much less to worry about this time around. The vets in the UK should have access to a website called DEFRA where they will fill in a form that looks like this. Depending on where you are in England, I was in a small southern village, it’s hard to say how much they will know, so do your research on the government websites and go prepared.

Paws, Pup-arazzi, and In-Flight Adventures: Maurice's Return to his homeland

If it’s even possible, Maurice was even more popular than on the way to England, with Manchester airport being much smaller than Toronto (which we are thankful for).

Walking through the duty-free section felt like the red carpet, based on all the phones taking pictures, the frantic waves and many stops we made for passerby’s to meet and greet Maurice.

One thing to note is that there are no dog relief areas in this airport; there is a small smoking area which you can go to, but Maurice being the little prince that he is, was not up for doing his business on the concrete (even with pee pads). Something to bear in mind if your pup has high standards like mine, make sure you take them before you go into the airport!

While I ate my last meal deal (click here to see one of many UK delicacies) Maurice spent his last few hours on English soil cuddled in my lap.

Maurice looking out to the window and ready to embark his journey

As I said in my previous post, the air hostesses can truly make or break the trip when travelling with your dog, some are very by the book and others can be more lenient.

On our way home, Maurice was allowed to stay in my lap the whole time and look out of the window, it was fun to see his expressions while up in the sky. One great difference flying back to Canada from England, versus the way there, is that you can go direct on one flight; for those who read my first post, know that it’s not easy getting into England, so it’s great to know that once you land you only have a short way to get home.

Once we landed back in Canada and had gone through security, you will be asked to go to the Canadian border inspection room. Here you will have to show the paperwork for you pup and pay a small fee (under $100) to get them into the country. Luckily for us, we were just a short drive away from home and looking forward to some well-earned rest after our second time travelling back from Canada together. Until next time!

Paws for Thought:

• Preparation- Make sure you refamiliarize your pup with their carrier, they may not have to stay in it the whole time, but some flights do make them sit in there for take-off and landing. 
• Timings- make sure your rabies vaccinations are still valid for your return, especially when going away for a few months like we did.
• Stress free- make sure your pup has the meds they need, whether it’s prescribed by the vet or a calming collar to help them during the flight.
• Budget- getting to Canada from England might not be quite as costly, but you will still be paying for the vet forms, as well as an inspection fee when you land back into the country.  .

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About the author:

Meet Paige-Ruby, a 31-year-old with an unbridled passion for travel. For the past five years, she's called Toronto her home, having journeyed across the Atlantic from the UK. Her days are often filled with watching the latest films at TIFF, delving into captivating fantasy novels, and seizing any opportunity to attend music festivals.

She opened her heart and home to Maurice, her beloved dachshund, upon her relocation to Toronto. Since then, she's embraced the dachshund breed with unwavering affection, solidifying herself as a lifelong enthusiast. With a curious spirit always seeking new experiences, she hopes to explore writing for enjoyment and connect with fellow dog enthusiasts.

Connect with Paige-Ruby and Maurice through Instagram at pagination1992 or Maurice_the_menace.