P&O Ferries are planning to introduce dedicated dog lounges to their fleet, including ferries on their Larne-Cairnryan route.
The work to meet the needs of travellers with pets between Northern Ireland and Scotland, will be carried out as each of the present vessels is refitted. No completion date for work has been set as yet.
The dog lounges on P&O's Irish Sea ferries are expected to mirror the company's current Pet Lounge on their Dover to Calais route with indoor booths, TV, charging points and plugs, plus a dedicated steward and an enclosed exercise area. Travellers can upgrade to the P&O Pet Lounge for £12 each way.
Read more: Stena Line bar dogs from passenger areas
DogsLive understands the P&O plan is in response to the increasing number of family dogs in the UK and Ireland and the move to a more dog-friendly society - but it will take time to put in place.
The news comes as Stena Line confirmed they are barring dogs from all passenger areas of their ferries from November 1. Instead all pets booked onto their ships must be stowed in a vehicle or booked into one of 12 metal kennels situated on the car deck.
Stena has apologised to customers and agreed to carry out a review to examine ways of improving existing onboard kennelling facilities. No date has been set for the review.
The change in Stena's regulations has come as a hammer blow to many dog owners, many of whom received phone calls from Stena staff to say their dogs were no longer welcome in passenger areas.
After some confusion and repeated phone calls from customers, the company agreed to honour all bookings with pets until Christmas, but are taking no new bookings.
The company pointed to an “increase in health and safety concerns for customers and staff as a regular and increasing number of complaints from passengers” as they reason to axe pets from the lounge areas.
Claire McWilliams, 37, lives in Glasgow and travels to see her family in Co Derry several times a year, and her main consideration when getting a dog three years ago, was whether he would be able to travel with her and her partner Dani O’Neill.
Claire, a phonics trainer in schools, said she was left upset and shocked when Stena phoned her last week about changes to her bookings. She explained: “I’m relieved to hear that P&O are going to make this a priority because the new rules from Stena create a real problem for my family.
“I got a call telling me that Stena was no longer allowing dogs on board in carriers from November 1, and that my dog, Murphy, a miniature Dachshund would either have to be booked into their kennels on the car deck or be left in the car.
“I was in tears by the time I got off the phone and I called my mum to explain to her and she was left in tears. I didn't sleep that night worrying about it. In fact my extended family has been really upset about this because they want me to come home as often as possible and bringing Murphy home makes a huge difference to my mum, especially since the death of my dad.
“My partner Dani and I planned sensibly to bring Murphy into our home, and that included being able to travel back and forth between Derry and Scotland. We started crate training him at 13 weeks old so he would be comfortable in a crate while we were on the ferry.
"If we hadn’t been assured of being able to travel together, we’d potentially have had to think about the sense of actually having a dog if they couldn’t be part of our family visits and events.
“I know some people will be happy for their dogs to stay in the car on the ferry, but our dog is just not used to and he suffers from separation anxiety but as long as we are close by, he is fine and just sleeps in his crate on those journeys.
“We have travelled to the Aaron islands, and on those ferries there are dedicated spaces on board for people with dogs. I’d imagine there must be a lounge area somewhere on the Belfast Cairnryan ferries, such as the Hygge Lounge, that Stena could dedicate to passengers with pets.
"If Stena are saying some people have created a problem, it seems very unfair that the rest of us who do act responsibly, have to pay the price.
“Unless Stena changes their plan for something more customer friendly, more sensible and workable for people with dogs, then we can only hope that P&O are able to introduce their dog lounges on board as soon as possible.
“It makes no sense to make these dramatic changes knowing that there are so many people who include dogs as family members, who are not catered for by a major transport company.
"So good for P&O. They are responding to the market and they will get a good result with this. Let’s hope they push it through asap. For me, the priority is Murphy. He’s part of my family, he's responsibility and I’ll do anything to keep him safe and ensure his welfare.”
Stena's decision has created a storm across social media with many threatening to cancel bookings and boycott the company, and an online petition has attracted thousands of signatures. Set up by Daniel Davison-Ward, it calls on Stena Line to include the Irish Sea routes in the dogs welcome approach evident across the rest of the company on other routes.
A spokesperson for Stena Line, said: "Over recent years, on its Belfast-Cairnryan service, Stena Line has permitted passengers to bring small pets onboard, via handheld pet carriers, into its various lounges and accommodation areas. Larger pets have been accommodated via onboard kennels or remaining in customer cars on the car deck.
"Unfortunately, an increasing number of issues, including pets not being kept in their carriers and a lack of control over their pets by some owners, has led to an increase in health and safety concerns for customers and staff alike as well as a regular and increasing number of complaints from passengers.
"It is with regret that as a result of these ongoing issues, Stena Line has taken the decision to stop allowing pets into lounges and accommodation areas and are, instead, advising customers to either book one of the available free kennels or leave their pets in their vehicle. The company has committed to carrying out a review to examine ways of improving onboard kennelling facilities.
"Providing a safe, secure and relaxing travel environment for all passengers is a priority for Stena Line. The proposed changes, which come into effect from 1 November, will bring the Belfast-Cairnryan route into line with all Stena Line routes to England and Wales from the island of Ireland as well as other Irish Sea ferry operators.
"Stena Line would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause some customers, but the escalating scale of the problem has unfortunately left the company with no alternative."
The news from Stena created a storm of protests from dog lovers across Northern Ireland and GB, with the ferry company inundated by emails and phone calls from people seeking clarity or a change of heart.
A petition set up urging Stena Line to rethink their policy is expected to push through the 2,500 signature mark.
Claire McWilliams said: “I have written to Stena Line, and I have written to Naomi Long to explain what this means to a family like ours. We would pay more to have Murphy safely with us, we would travel on the really late or early ferries, we would be happy to be in a separate lounge from the rest of the passengers. We just need to have our family together and not be penalised because someone else made a mistake.
“Knowing the potential for dangers on the car deck that passengers are not allowed onto while the ferry is at sea, knowing cars and other vehicles were crushed in stormy weather by lorries toppling over in 2018 on a P&O ferry, I cannot understand how any company would want any sentient being to be left in a car - I know mine won’t be.”
P&O were asked for comment about their plans for upcoming dog-dedicated lounges and said they were unable to comment at this stage.
Stena Line have confirmed they will continue to permit official guide dogs and Assistance Dogs International registered or accredited assistance dogs in all areas onboard.
READ NEXT:
The Queen's wrote funny letters from her dogs to the royal staff's dogs
Camilla's Battersea rescue dogs getting ready for new home at Buckingham Palace
'Change of circumstances' excuse crippling dog rescue centres
To get the latest dog news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter
