Scylla’s view – Month one

Through the lens of Scylla, our pet Labrador, on tour with us

Scylla’s take
New smells everywhere. Circus tents, sandy beaches, roast dinners. Fields to run in. Gulls to watch. Biscuits to beg for. A cut paw slowed me down — not happy. Vet visit. Bandage. Treats after. Now I’ve got a passport. Important, they say. Europe means more rivers. More biscuits. Tail wag.

Our notes on travelling with Scylla

• Stopovers: Always check for safe walking nearby. Pub car parks and farm shops can be great, but a stretch by water or woodland is ideal.
• Health: A cut paw reminded us how quickly things change — vets need to be accessible wherever you are. Carrying dog first aid equipment helped too. She hurt herself outside vet hours so. I cleaned the wound and disinfected it before bandaging with vet tape. We are constantly checking the heat in the vehicle and have strategies and equipment to keep her cool.
• Paperwork: Scylla now has her EU pet passport. Without it, Europe in November wouldn’t be possible. This was a ferry-day trip to Ballymena, arranged with an approved vet. We still have to sort a Rabies Titre test and get the results to guarantee the Morocco leg of our journey.
• Comfort: Storm Floris showed the importance of secure, sheltered stops. She stayed calm, but only because we chose the right site.
• Cognitive and physical needs: We recognise the importance of keeping her brain active and not just her body. She has a selection of toys including puzzles to give her problems to solve. Even simple things like scattering her breakfast onto the grass gives her lots to think about and enjoy.

Looking through Scylla’s lens keeps us honest: it’s not just our journey. Her needs for exercise, comfort, safety, and care shape our route as much as maps or ferry bookings do.

AI and pet care: Another area of human/AI collaboration. Having fed AI with lots of details about the trip, the travellers, and the equipment we are taking, it offers contextualised support. In the case of Scylla, AI is constantly including her needs in plans, approaches and processes.

Each month there will be topics about travelling with your pet. We’re not experts, but learning fast. Let us know in the comments the topics you’d like. Also share your experiences with us.