A French Bulldog who was reunited with her family after being missing for two years has enjoyed a much-needed holiday in France, courtesy of ferry company Stena Line.
Baja and the Nawrocki family made headlines earlier this year after she was found on a busy Dublin street, more than 200km from her family home in Athenry.
Baja was brought to the Dublin SPCA and a scan of her microchip revealed she had been reported as lost/stolen by Adam Nawrocki just before Christmas 2020.
Having been reacquainted with her family and introduced to its newest addition – another French Bulldog called Diabolina – Baja and the rest of the Nawrockis set off across France in a campervan for a much-needed holiday.
Baja and Daibolina travelled in one of the 42 pet cabins onboard Stena Line’s Rosslare to Cherbourg service, after the ferry company had read about Baja’s ordeal.
Adam explained that he and his wife, Justyna and their children, Maks and Mia, rented a big camper van and travelled to France with Stena Line, before heading to Lyon and then on to Avignon and Saint-Tropez.
“Both Baja and Diabolina loved France, they love the sun. We visited friends and they just couldn’t quite believe how much the two of them love sunbathing.”
He said that for Baja in particular, it seems to have been just what the vet ordered.
“When we got her back in January she was in a bad way. She had been neglected, had a limp and was suffering with a really bad ear infection but two weeks in France sunbathing and topping up her vitamin D seems to have done her the world of good.”
Her ear infection has since improved and the warm weather seems to have done wonders for her limp too.
Having never travelled abroad with dogs before, Adam is certain it is something he would do again.
“We drove down to Rosslare and had a fantastic time onboard the ferry. We were given a cabin with four beds and both Baja and Diabolina were allowed in with us,” he said.
“The crew were brilliant and the food onboard was stunning. It was really quite the experience for the whole family.
“Maks and Mia had never been on such a big boat before and having the dogs with us in the cabin added to the sense of adventure and meant we knew they were content, safe and sound by our side.
“They’re such a massive part of our family. We’ve never taken them on holiday with us before but after this experience we definitely will in the future.”
Baja and Diabolina were just two of more than 70,000 pets to have taken a ferry trip with Stena Line this year after the Swedish-owned ferry company enhanced its Irish Sea options for pet travel to include a dedicated pet lounge, pet cabins, lodges and kennels along with the opportunity to keep pets in the car during the journey.
Crossings to France in 2024 are on sale now and until 14 December those who use the code FRANCE10 at checkout can enjoy up to 10% off their trip with a deposit of €100. For more info or to book your trip, visit www.stenaline.ie/france24.
