Ferry staff let dog cook to death on ‘stifling’ car deck after refusing to let owners check on beloved pet
Couple had concerns about the heat but were refused permission by staff
A COUPLE whose dog died in their car on a cross-Channel ferry have demanded operators change the rules.
Lisa Hall and partner Craig Skett had left Staffie Oliver in their vehicle with the windows down in the car deck for the 4am two-hour trip to Dunkirk in September.
Lisa, 46, had wanted to check on him due to concerns about the heat but was refused permission by staff.
When she and Craig, 33, reached France they went to the “stifling” car deck and found Oliver dead.
Lisa blamed overheating and has launched a petition calling for owners to be allowed to take their pets out of the car on ferries.
Operator DFDS charges £15 each way for “safe” transportation of animals and states that passengers can visit pets with staff during crossings.
But teacher Lisa, of Calne, Wilts, said: “You’re told when you purchase your tickets you’re not allowed to take the dog out of the car and you have to park up, open the windows and leave water.
“The temperature even with the ventilation was stifling.
“I had concerns, it is like leaving a child in a car and we didn’t want to leave him.
“By the time we got to Dunkirk, Oliver had died.
“We were concerned during the trip but when we asked if we could down to check on Oliver a man said no.
“DFDS said there was suitable ventilation but when we got back to Dover it was 24.5 degrees outside our car on the ferry. It was boiling down there.”
"My partner is still in shock. It still hasn't dawned on him and the loss is hard to describe.