As a car-free dog owner, I have always encountered many difficulties in travelling with my pet dog by train from the UK to the European continent and vice-versa. 

For example, Thalys allows small pets weighing less than 6 kgs to travel for free when they are in a pet carrier, and dogs who do not fit in a carriage/container to travel upon payment of a 'dog's ticket'. Unfortunately, Thalys does not travel to Great Britain. In contrast, Eurostar, which does travel from the European continent to the UK, refuses to become part of the pet transport scheme and thus will not allow any pet on board except guide dogs and assistance dogs, just because they have to accept special needs dogs not to break the law.

Eurostar's motivation to refuse the presence on board of any kind of pet is based on at least the following assumption: dog ownership leads to car ownership. In the attempt of convincing their customers that it is in their best interests not to travel with their pet animals, Eurostar is claiming that their trains do not have space to carry animals comfortably and continues by suggesting that pet owners should opt instead for Eurochannel and cross-channel ferries when they travel with their pets. Again, this is another assumption, as travelling on board cross-channel ferries might be a dreadful experience for a pet dog. At least, it was for my dog.

Eurostar's claims show that it prefers to lose customers than to acquire new ones. Furthermore, in contrast with any business sense, Eurostar prefers to lose a source of income (dog tickets) instead of allowing pets on board of its high-speed trains.

If you, like me, believe that pets have the right to travel with their owners on Eurostar, as they do on Thalys and other international trains, please, sign my petition.

Many thanks!

A dog's owner and car-free international traveller