Holidays in Italy with My Family and Our Dog
I know I’m not alone when I say that my dog is more than just a pet – he’s part of the family…which is why, when we went on our family holidays in Italy, he came with us.
In the past, we have been on several holidays in Italy and left our dog at a kennels in our home town. Although the kennels are run by highly professional staff and kept spotlessly clean, our poor Rocky pined for us while we were away – and the truth was that we missed him too. Add to that the fact that the boarding fee for Rocky’s stay was almost as much as it would cost for one of us to stay at a hotel, we decided it was time for a change.
We love holidays in Italy so decided that we would stick with the same destination, but choose a holiday which allowed our dog to come with us. I found that it was fairly easy to find camp-sites which accepted doggy visitors, so the decision was made – our family holiday would be a camping trip!
Of course, before we booked our holidays in Italy there were a number of arrangements to make. Just like us humans, dogs need to have their own passport which allows them to travel through Europe. We took the recommendation of the DEFRA website, which suggested we visited a veterinarian to discuss everything we needed to do to make sure that Rocky could travel with us. The registration process with PETS is fairly complex, as it includes vaccinations, microchipping and a blood test before the dog can actually travel. Rules also mean that the registered dog cannot travel for the first six months after the passport is issued.
Once we’d completed all the necessary requirements for Rocky’s passport, we were able to book our ferry and accommodation and start planning our vacation. During the journey itself, we were driving our own vehicle, so it was easy to ensure that our pet was comfortable and not overly stressed by the new experiences. During the ferry journey, we were a little concerned that he would be upset, but a walking area was provided, so we were able to reassure him.
When we arrived at our destination, holidays in Italy began for all of us. We’d brought some of Rocky’s favourite food and toys, so he instantly felt at home, although it was easy to buy additional supplies in the local shops. We loved having our canine companion with us, and he was thrilled discovering all the new smells, sights and sounds of Italy.
Our recommendation for any dog owner who hates leaving their pet behind when they go on holiday is to sort out a passport as soon as possible. While it may seem like a complicated process any vet will be able to guide you through it, and it is worthwhile to be able to enjoy your family holidays in the company of your faithful friend – after all, he deserves a holiday too!