housing for pets in Ireland

[slfarnsw]

My husband and I are wanting to do my clinicals in Ireland. However, we have three dogs. I'm curious as to how the housing in Ireland compares to SXM in terms of size and price since we'll still be on the same financial aid budget. Can you get the same size of apartment there for the same price that you do here (or cheaper)? Are most places pet friendly? Do most apartments have at least a little bit of a yard for dogs to run around and use the bathroom? Also, if anyone is there that brought their dogs with them...how much of a pain is it to get the dogs there? I'm most concerned about getting my 90 lb. German Shepherd there because it was a huge pain in the rear (and cost a fortune) just to get him to SXM.

[julestx]

I wouldnt doubt that the cost will be high for flying a large dog to Ireland! But the PET travel scheme details the rules they have for bringing pets to Ireland/England. You have a handful of things you must do in order to avoid being forced to quarantine your pets for 6 months at a location mandated by the gov't.

Do a Google search for the "PET travel scheme" and you will find these rules. I know you had to get your pets microchipped, have blood drawn, shots given, and so on...but they mandated a time-frame for these things as well as a particular order to them. Its not impossible at all so dont feel overwhelmed. I think you might have to pay around 35$ to get the microchip, though. But if your pets are your 'kids' then you wont mind the cost.

Jules

[julestx]

I forgot the other part of your question. Housing here is much more for your money compared to St Maarten. In St Maarten we paid 900 $ for a 2 bedroom condo with very little space but a decent balcony. Right now in Ireland, our house is 640 euros (maybe 780 $?) and we have a 3 bdrm house that is a good size, and a large yard. We are in a great neighbourhood, with loads of space for walking dogs including open grassy areas where they can run and play. There are alot of families here with dogs, and you'll see them out walking their dogs in the evenings all over the place. So yeah, for the money, in Ireland you'll have a larger home which will have a good back yard for dogs. Most yards are completely fenced in, too. I know two students who have bought puppies while in Ireland! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you, or help out with.

[anencephalic]

Hey Shanna,

I dunno if you're going back to the states while studying for Step I, but you can get alot of the paperwork and waiting done while you're there...you figure it will be at least 3 months if not more before you get your placement and you can actually knock some time off of the 6 month quarantine if you start early enough (a friend of ours did this and she's got her dog in ireland now with no problems...PM me if you need her contact info!).

Don't forget that you and hubby will need to apply for your visas as well...



Good luck, and enjoy 4th!



ALoha,

[grace]

As with many other places, it is more difficult to find housing that will allow dogs in Ireland. It's quite funny though because there are TONS of dogs in Ireland. A lot of us used letting agents, such as Book-a-Room, and they don't deal with pets at all. However, there is a student in Ireland right now who flew in, stayed a few nights in a hotel, and was able to find housing pretty quickly that would allow her dog.