Question: Pet Travel - Can I Bring My Dog With Me to the UK?
I need to know about Pet Travel to the UK. I thought that if I brought my dog or cat into the UK they'd have to go to a quarantine kennel for six months. But now I hear there is a program that allows pet travel to the UK. What's it all about and what do I have to do?
Answer: The Pet Travel Scheme, known as PETS, has been in effect for several years. PETS is a system that permits Pet Travel to the UK - dogs, cats and ferrets can enter or re-enter the UK from the qualified EU countries, and certain other countries in Europe and elsewhere. Pet travel from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand is also included. There is a list of non-EU qualified countries.
What pet owners must do
Preparing your animal for pet travel under the PETS scheme is not complicated but you need to plan ahead and get the process in the works well ahead of time - at least seven or eight months if you are traveling from outside the EU. Here is what's required:- Have your pet microchipped - Your vet can carry this out and it is not painful for the animal. It must be done first, before any inoculation. If your dog has been inoculated against rabies before being microchipped, it will have to be done again.
- Rabies vaccination - Have your pet vaccinated against rabies after being microchipped. There is no exemption from this requirement, even if the animal already had been vaccinated.
- Blood test - After a sufficient waiting period, your vet should test your animal to make sure that the rabies vaccination has succeeded in giving sufficient protection. That waiting period may vary from a few weeks to a month or more, depending upon the specific vaccine used. Your vet can advise you about this.
- PETS Documents Once your animal has had a valid blood test, the vet will issue PETS documentation. In EU countries, this will be an EU PETS Passport. If you are traveling to the UK from a Non-EU country, your vet must complete a Third country official veterinary certificate which you can download from the PETS website.
- The 6-month rule The first time your pet is prepared to travel under the PETS system, you must wait six months after the valid blood test before the animal can enter the UK.
- Tick and tapeworm treatment Just before you enter the UK, your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworm. This must be done not more than 48 hours before entering the UK and not less than 24 hours. This treatment must be carried out by a licensed vet every time your pet enters the UK.
