Following calls from pet owners, a popular ferry service has announced plans to add dedicated dog lounges to their fleet. The new offering will be included on their busy Cairnryan-Larne route.
Though no official date has been confirmed, the new service is designed to help those travelling between Northern Ireland and Scotland with pets.
The move comes as more and more families across the UK include their pets within their travel arrangements and will see dog lounges added to P&O's Irish Sea ferries. These are expected to be similar to the ones already available on their Dover to Calais routes with indoor booths, TV, charging points and plugs, plus a dedicated steward and an enclosed exercise area. Customers will have to pay an added fee to upgrade the P&O Pet Lounge, which is expected to be around £12 each way, reports Belfast Live.
The news comes as rival Stena Line confirmed they are barring dogs from all passenger areas of their ferries from November 1.
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The ruling now means that any pet booked onto their ships must be stowed in a vehicle or booked into one of 12 metal kennels situated on the car deck. The move has angered pet owners and led to the firm looking at new ways to try to improve its offering.
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 the reason to axe pets from the lounge 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.
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.
"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.
“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.
"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."
A petition set up urging Stena Line to rethink their policy is expected to push through the 2,500 signature mark.
P&O were asked for comment about their plans for upcoming dog-dedicated lounges and said they were unable to comment at this stage.
What do you think? Is the ability to travel with your pet important to you? Let us know below.
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