Popstar Ariana Grande's mum complains at P&O Ferries for not allowing pets to travel
Published: 00:00, 02 June 2015
Updated: 17:47, 02 June 2015
The mother of American pop-star and actress Ariana Grande has complained about pet regulations enforced by P&O Ferries in Calais.
Joan Grande took to Twitter to vent her anger, after her two pooches Toulouse and Sirius were denied travel across the Channel to Dover on Sunday.
They did not have the adequate paperwork to be allowed on-board the vessel, according to P&O.
Ms Grande said: “My experience crossing from Calais, France to Dover, UK, on the ferry was the worst experience of my life.
“The P&O ferry was lovely, just to set things straight, the people at the ferry border were horrible to me and to Toulouse and Sirius.
'The people at the ferry border were horrible to me and to Toulouse and Sirius.' - Ms Grande
“The problem was in Calais, all the dog paperwork was correct, but they refused entry to Toulouse and Sirius because why? Nothing.
“Please know that I am telling the story, not for sympathy, because I have the best blessed life in the world, and I am so grateful.
“I’m telling the story because abusive people shouldn’t be in power and we must stand together, when we see bullying and abuse and make it stop.”
Her daughter Ariana was thrust into the spotlight when she appeared on Broadway, sparking other appearances on Nickelodeon television programmes.
She is best known for the release of Bang Bang, a track featured in her album called My Everything.
Press spokesman for P&O, Brian Rees, said: “Unfortunately, from time to time pet owners arrive at Calais with animals that don’t meet DEFRA’s requirements for entry into the UK.
“This is invariably hugely frustrating for the pet owner who has to decide whether to travel without the pets or to visit a vet in France to put matters in order.
'We have to decline around 300 people a year at Calais out of about 40,000 travelling with pets.' - P&O spokesman Brian Rees
"We have to decline around 300 people a year at Calais out of about 40,000 travelling with pets.
“In this instance, the customer did not appear to be aware of the requirements.
“We had to refuse to carry the pets because the US Third Country Certificates were not valid for entry of the animals into the UK, due to irregularities with the required treatment for Echinococcus.
“We had some difficulty in explaining the situation but eventually our supervisor gave travelling companions a lift back to the ferry terminal with the pets, explained what would need to be done, and provided details of the nearest vet so arrangements could be made for the animals to be properly certified for travel at a later date.”
More by this author
Victoria Chessum