Petition to the UK Government: Don’t force dog owners into cars. Ensure dog owners can choose sustainable transport options when travelling with their companions.

The UK is encouraging people to make more sustainable travel choices: to use public transport, reduce car dependency and choose lower-carbon alternatives wherever possible.

However, millions of people who share their lives with dogs are excluded from those choices.

For dog owners, particularly those travelling between the UK and mainland Europe, sustainable travel is often not a realistic option. The current transport system frequently leaves people with only one practical solution: travelling by private vehicle.

This is not because dog owners do not want to choose greener alternatives. It is because our transport infrastructure has not adapted to recognise that dogs are part of modern family life.

Ferries provide the most immediate opportunity for improvement. At present, the Newhaven-Dieppe route is the only cross-Channel ferry service that allows dogs to travel with foot passengers. Even then, dogs must travel in onboard kennels rather than remaining with their owners. However, the route's check-in requirements, departure times and onward rail connections can make the journey extremely difficult without a car, turning a straightforward trip into a multi-day journey.

Beyond ferries, international rail travel remains unavailable for ordinary dogs. Unlike assistance animals, dogs are not currently permitted on international rail routes from the UK, preventing dog owners from accessing one of the most sustainable forms of long-distance transport.

We are calling on the UK Government and transport operators to:

• Expand practical foot passenger ferry options for people travelling with dogs.
• Improve coordination between ferry and rail timetables so dog-friendly routes function as genuine public transport connections.
• Work with international partners and rail operators to develop safe, practical options for travelling by train with dogs.
• Include companion animals in future sustainable transport planning.

People should not have to choose between caring for their pets and making environmentally responsible travel choices.

A future with fewer cars and lower-carbon transport must work for everyone, including the millions of people who travel with dogs.