The Journey to the UK — How Ten Little Legends Crossed Continents

Before the puppies could begin their new life in the United Kingdom, an enormous amount of preparation had to happen behind the scenes. Bringing rescue dogs from Taiwan to Europe is not something that can be done casually. Every step must be carefully planned and completed legally, with strict veterinary requirements and official documentation.

For me, it was essential that everything was done properly and transparently.

The preparation began months before the journey itself. With the help of two dedicated Taiwanese rescue organisations — Mary’s Doggies and Eve’s Doggies, both working tirelessly to protect and rehome Formosan Mountain Dogs — the dogs received all the veterinary care required for international travel.

This included:

• Full veterinary examinations

• All required vaccinations

• Microchipping

• Spaying and neutering

• Rabies vaccinations and mandatory waiting periods

• Official health certificates

• Export documentation required for international transport

Every single step had to be completed correctly before the dogs were legally allowed to leave Taiwan. It was a long process, but it was the only responsible way to ensure that everything was done properly and in full compliance with international regulations.

Once the paperwork was finally completed, the next challenge was the journey itself.

Many people do not realise that dogs cannot simply be flown directly into the United Kingdom. The UK has strict animal entry rules, which meant that we had to carefully plan a different route.

The dogs first had to fly into mainland Europe.

For the first journey, I travelled with six of the puppies, and we flew from Taiwan to Amsterdam. The flight itself lasted close to sixteen hours. For such young dogs, that is an incredibly long and unfamiliar journey. They travelled in airline-approved travel crates, each one carefully prepared so they would be safe during the flight.

Watching them being checked in at the airport was an emotional moment. Each crate represented a life that had started in uncertainty, now about to cross continents toward a safer future.

After landing in Amsterdam, the journey was still not finished. Because the dogs could not enter the UK directly by air, we then continued travelling overland. From Amsterdam, we took the long journey onward until we finally reached the United Kingdom.

Two months later, the remaining four puppies followed the same route and completed the journey as well.

For dogs so young, it was an extraordinary undertaking. Sixteen hours in the air, followed by continued travel across Europe, is not something many animals would find easy. And yet they endured it.

When I look back on that journey, it becomes very clear why this project came to be called Legend of Puppy.

These little dogs are true heroes.

In the photographs you will see puppies who are already six months old, ready to travel across continents. But their journey actually began much earlier. The preparation for their travel started not long after they were born, with months of veterinary care, vaccinations, documentation, and careful planning to ensure they could legally and safely make this journey.

When I think back on it now, I often feel that they had to be incredibly brave, and in many ways I had to be brave for them as well. But what I admire most is their quiet resilience and the dignity with which they faced everything that came their way.

For that alone, they deserve so much in return — love, safety, and care for the rest of their lives.

In my next post, I will share more about the preparation that these brave little puppies went through before they could begin their journey from Taiwan to Europe.

Because long before they ever boarded that plane, they were already showing the resilience that would shape their story.

True little legends.

How You Can Support Their Journey

If you would like to support the dogs as they continue their journey here in the UK, one of the most helpful ways is by sponsoring training sessions, dog park time, or training treats.

These structured sessions at Beau’s Pawsitive Dog Training in Sandringham help provide safe exercise, training, and stability for the pack.

You can support their dog park sessions, training classes, and training treats here:

https://www.beauspawsitive.com/supportlegendofpuppy

Even sponsoring a single dog park session makes a meaningful difference for the dogs and helps us continue building a structured and sustainable future for them.