British family slams 'farcical' pet rules which have left their Ukrainian surrogate mother stranded at Calais

  • Heather Easton, 32, from Rugby, Warwickshire, has lambasted 'nightmare' rules
  • Vita Lysenko, 35, from Ukraine, was a surrogate mother for the British woman
  • The Ukrainian surrogate mother gave birth in January, just before the invasion
  • Mrs Lysenko and her family escaped to Calais before hitting UK bureaucracy
  • 'Farcical' rules in the UK prevented the Ukrainians entering with their dog, Musy

By SUSIE COEN FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Published: | Updated:

A British mother trying to rescue the woman who was the surrogate for her baby has lambasted ‘farcical’ pet rules that blocked her efforts.

Heather and Mark Easton travelled to Ukraine in January to pick up their daughter Sophie after suffering eight years of fertility heartbreak.

They returned a fortnight before the invasion and have since been trying to help surrogate Vita Lysenko, 35, her husband Andrii Shemshur, 62, their son Nazar, three, and family dog Musy find safety in the UK. 

Heather Easton (pictured), 32, from Rugby, Warwickshire, who coordinated the rescue of the Ukrainian woman who was the surrogate for her baby, has lambasted ‘farcical’ UK pet rules that blocked her efforts.

Heather Easton (pictured), 32, from Rugby, Warwickshire, who coordinated the rescue of the Ukrainian woman who was the surrogate for her baby, has lambasted ‘farcical’ UK pet rules that blocked her efforts.

Vita Lysenko, 35, from Ukraine, finally crossed from Calais to Dover by ferry yesterday with her husband Andrii Shemshur, 62, their son Nazar, three, and family dog Musy

Vita Lysenko, 35, from Ukraine, finally crossed from Calais to Dover by ferry yesterday with her husband Andrii Shemshur, 62, their son Nazar, three, and family dog Musy 

UK told the family they could not travel with the dog without a licence, specialist transport and a space in a UK quarantine kennel. Pictured: Nazar, three, and family dog Musy

UK told the family they could not travel with the dog without a licence, specialist transport and a space in a UK quarantine kennel. Pictured: Nazar, three, and family dog Musy

Ex-nanny Mrs Easton, 32, found a sponsor who offered the Ukrainian family an apartment near her home in Rugby, Warwickshire. 

The refugees travelled to Calais and their visas were approved after Mrs Easton spent hours each day on the phone to the authorities.

But UK authorities told the family they could not travel with the dog without a licence, specialist transport and a space in a UK quarantine kennel. 

Mrs Easton said they were all ‘exhausted’ due to the ‘nightmare’ rules. 

The refugees were finally able to take a ferry to Dover yesterday. 

HGV driver Mr Easton, 39, had flown to Paris to help the family collect their visa and drove with them to Calais to get the ferry to Dover.

Mrs Easton has started a JustGiving page to raise money for Miss Lysenko and her family to help them settle in the UK.

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