The Pet Bus is to end its transportation service between the UK and the Channel Islands, blaming rising operating costs and the loss of a regular inter-island link.

The family-run service, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, is owned by Lesley and Gary Form and has been transporting pets between the mainland and the islands for several years.

Posting on its Facebook page, The Pet Bus announced: “After many years of helping pets travel safely between the UK and the Channel Islands, we will sadly be ending our pet transport services to the Channel Islands from the end of March 2026.

“This is an incredibly emotional decision for us. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful pets and the people who love them. We’ve watched nervous travellers settle into our arms, celebrated joyful reunions, and shared countless moments that reminded us why we do what we do. These journeys have never been “just trips” to us — they’ve been stories, families, and memories we’ve been honoured to be part of.

“Unfortunately, challenges have made it increasingly difficult for us to continue, including:

• Rising operating costs

• The loss of a regular, reliable inter‑island transport link, which has made the service impossible to sustain.

“We want to say, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your pets. Thank you for your kindness, your loyalty, and the warmth you’ve shown our team. Serving this community has been one of the most meaningful parts of our work, and we will always be grateful for it.”

All trips scheduled and booked up to and including March 2026 will continue as planned.

Picture taken form The Pet Bus' Facebook page.